DIY Asphalt or Paver Driveway
- 1). Measure out the site with a measuring wheel. Mark the corners with garden stakes and tie string around them to outline the shape. Adjust the sticks as necessary so the width is a minimum of 10 feet for one car and 16 feet for two.
- 2). Dig out at least 12 inches from the entire site with a shovel or excavator. Pitch the bottom at a slight slope of an inch down for every 8 feet of length. Go over the bottom with a compactor or hand tamper in small sections at a time until loose dirt feels firm.
- 3). Shovel 3/4-inch aggregate over the dirt and spread it with a rake. Compact the aggregate and continue adding it until the base layer is 8 inches deep.
- 4). Fit edging restraints around the borders only if you're laying pavers. Use a strong material such as field stones or metal strips, and hammer lawn spikes through edging slots to keep the strips down.
- 5). Pour an inch of grit sand on top of the aggregate only if you're laying pavers. The sand creates friction against the pavers to help hold them still.
- 6). Lay pavers on the sand in a pattern such as basket-weave, herringbone or another design. They should be flush beside each other and pressed into the sand. Check that they are level with a bubble level before moving on to the next section.
- 7). Dump fine sand on top of the paver driveway and brush it down into the joints with a broom. Sand joints pad the pavers and block debris from seeping into the foundation.
- 8). Install the asphalt by having the hot, loose material delivered on top of the aggregate foundation in small piles beginning at the end of the driveway near the house. Spread it evenly over the site with a rake. Once the material begins to cool, go over each section with a compact roller so the entire pavement has a uniform thickness.
- 9). Seal the paver driveway about one week after laying the pavers. Wait at least six months for the asphalt to cure before sealing it.
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