How To Install Interlocking Stone Pavement The Right Way

Your driveway must be able to withstand any kind of wear. Good composition of different materials means that the entrance is not deformed over time. As you are building a new driveway from scratch, it is important that you take into account its function, the house’s façade, the environment around and not least for your own taste and taste. The diligence and accuracy with which the work is performed is one of the most important parts when constructing a driveway, and at our company you will find a wide range of different materials available.

Constructing durable interlock driveway: Toronto experts dish their secrets

Ensuring that your interlocking driveway stays strong and looks sparkling new as years go by starts with hiring the right team of professionals to lay it. Making the interlocking driveway surface strong and durable requires skillful performance. The work is divided into different parts.

  • Preliminary work – measure and mark
  • Leveling
  • Laying the edges
  • Laying the basis
  • Paving
  • Creating a stylish finish

 

If the outdoor flooring is designed for patios, terraces, arcades, driveways or even walkways in the garden, it is important to choose a material in harmony with the style of the interiors. Continuity is important in general for all external areas: especially if the spaces are not large, it is good to avoid the use of completely different materials or in any case different finishes (for example for the pool side different from the pedestrian path that reaches it). When choosing the material it is necessary to take into account the climatic conditions: in an area with a high risk of frost, it will be necessary to orientate on tiles with high resistance, while in areas with frequent rainfall it will be more suitable for outdoor coatings with low water absorption. These specifications, such as for example the resistance to slipping and the resistance to bending or the visibility of the fingerprints, are also indicated with intuitive pictograms on the technical data sheets and in the product catalogs.

Failproof instructions for laying pavers

Before buying the materials and proceeding with the work, it is essential to carry out a survey of the area and a preliminary outline of what will have to be done. An important precaution in the preparation of the pavement is to create a slight slope in the opposite direction with respect to the walls of the dwelling, equal to at least 2%, to allow the drainage of rainwater and avoid stagnation. To make your future work easier, create the edges of the area to be paved, possibly using bricks or square stones.

Here are our tips to perform the laying of the lining properly, depending on whether it is on sand, grass or gravel, the latter indicated for large surfaces, for laying with joints of reduced width or without grass. In the case of elevated laying (on terraces or practicable floors) it is possible to realize a raised floor level, but able to allow the evacuation of rainwater.

  1. Level and compact the surface and remove any raised elements (stones or raised roots). In the case of grass, it is possible to prepare a special substrate. Excavation is carried out in depth (approximately 10-12 inches) and is filled with gravel (grain size 3/4 inches) or sand to be compacted before dry laying.
  2. The stoneware elements are placed side by side, leaving 1/8-1/4 joints. In the case of turf, the aesthetic result will be enhanced by the growth of grass at the joints. The result will be of good duration but subject to the movements of the ground.
  3. Dig the soil to a depth of at least 8 inches in dry climates and with draining soil, or higher in cold or rainy climates. Compact the bottom of the excavation and make sure it is slightly sloping. Laying a layer of non-woven fabric is recommended. Position and compact a layer of gravel (grain size 3/4 inches). Overlap and compact a layer of fine gravel (grain size 1/4 inches) to make it easier to level the surface.
  4. Check the flatness of the surface with a straight edge. It is advisable to leave a slope of at least 2% to ensure the flow of water from the floor.
  5. Install the stoneware elements, leaving joints of at least 2 millimeters. When laying, spacers can be used that are usually applied for laying tiles.
  6. After checking the flatness of the floor with the straight edge and possibly using a rubber hammer to correct small differences in level, fill the joints with very fine sand (grain size 0-3 mm) or with fine sand with added polymers.
  7. After making the floor and its slopes, install the waterproofing sheath.
  8. The number of supports required varies according to the format and the geometric characteristics of the environment in which it is installed. It is advisable to follow the instructions for the provision provided by the manufacturer. In the case of laying near a wall, cut the base of the supports with a hose or hacksaw, without damaging the central circular part. During installation, adjust each support to obtain a planar floor. If necessary, use slope correctors.