Accent Your Driveway with Pavers

Licensed landscape contractor and Team STIHL member Sara Bendrick shares how to expand your driveway space and increase your curb appeal in just one day.

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Materials

  • Class II Paver Base: Gravel*
  • Paver Sand*
  • Landscaping Pavers
  • Rubber Mallet
  • Plastic Edging
  • Polymeric Sand*
  • Push Broom
  • Hose

Instructions

  1. Measure out and mark area.
  2. Using a shovel, remove the top layer of grass.
  3. Once the grass is removed, use the MM 56 C-E YARD BOSS® to loosen up the dirt, making it possible to move and level ground six inches below the driveway.
  4. Use a shovel to roughly dig and level out. Over excavate so it's at least six Inches wider than the paver design. Compact and level off the dirt.
  5. Add in a minimum of four inches of Class II base gravel. Use tamper to compact and level.
  6. After the base gravel is even and level, add in around one-to-two inches of paver sand (not playground sand as it doesn't compact as well as a paver sand layer). Use tamper to compact and level the sand.
  7. Once sand is leveled, it's time to start laying in your pavers. Every project is different, so find the best place to start your pattern.
  8. Use a rubber mallet to tap your pavers into the sand to level and make as snug of a fit as possible.
  9. Continue the process all the way to street. The outside pavers should be locked into space with an edge. You can do this by using a plastic paver edge with stakes.
  10. Lay down polymeric sand. Use push broom to push into seams and wet down with hose.
  11. Enjoy your refreshed driveway.

*Check manufacturer's instructions for proper handling and PPE.

Sara Bendrick

Licensed landscape contractor, author, and TV personality Sara Bendrick is best known for her work as the host of I Hate My Yard where she tackles the tough yards of homeowners and shows them the possibilities that exist for their exterior spaces. She is also the author of “Big Impact Landscaping: 28 DIY Projects You Can Do on a Budget to Beautify and Add Value to Your Home.”