Paving your driveway can add curb appeal to your home with a few simple steps. If the installation is done well, paving will last many years. If you’re thinking about adding brick pavers in your driveway, Neighborhood Garage Door of San Jose has a few tips for you.
Using Brick Pavers
If you’re looking to upgrade your garage door style, consider adding pavers to your driveway. These pavers are made from clay and are usually a rectangular shape.
Some people use regular brick for the exterior of their home. The clay for this brick is heated to form a smooth finish. The result is a flat paver that doesn’t have any holes. You can use any color for these pavers to create a unique look for your home.
Installation Process
The process is fairly easy to understand when it comes to laying brick pavers. However, it is a long process that requires a skilled person to lay the bricks. We recommend you use a professional company for this project.
Here are the 2 basic things that have to happen:
1. Laying The Foundation
The most common bases for your foundation are mortar or sand. Once you choose the base, you need to dig at least 1 foot below the soil. This requires removing your current driveway. After removing the driveway, layers of sand and gravel and added until the base is nicely compacted. A tightly compacted base is the first step before making your brick layout.
2. Placing the Pavers
Once the base is finished, you can lay out the pavers any way you like. The easiest way is to start with the perimeter first. Some of the pavers will need trimming with a saw. This helps them to fit better. Consider using concrete to set these pavers. Concrete helps them to stay in place longer. You can use concrete to set the entire driveway or use sand for the remaining pavers.
What Is The Cost?
The average cost of brick pavers is about $5 per square foot. This cost depends on the paver designs and the type of labor you hire. Fancier designs will cost you more. Installing brick pavers is less expensive than other options.
If you do the installation yourself, that’ll save you some money. Professional installation usually costs about $10 per square foot.
How to Maintain Brick Pavers
The great thing about brick pavers is that they last a long time. They’ll last at least 25 years if you keep them well-maintained. Over time, the elements will wear out the pavers unless you seal them right away. If you don’t want the appearance to change, use a siloxane-based sealer. These sealers penetrate the concrete and prevent damage from the elements.
Plan times to landscape your driveway. If you notice any growing weeds or loose pavers, take care of them right away. You should wash your paved driveway a couple of time per year and apply a sealer after the driveway dries. You’ll also need to add more sand around the bricks.
We hope that this information helps you make a good decision on your driveway. The team here at Neighborhood Garage Door of San Jose is always looking for ways to help our customers out. If your garage door stops working, be sure to call us right away for repairs.
