What's Underneath Is What Matters

Unilock, as North America's oldest concrete paver manufacturer has had the opportunity to study the process of quality installations and how they have performed over the last 35 years. In addition to that, we have gained immeasurable knowledge from our European affiliates who have accumulated 400 years of installation knowledge and experience. Our customers have benefited by this experience as we have passed it on through our specifications and training.

A driveway is only as good as what you put underneath it...

It may not be a Chinese proverb, but it certainly has a ring of truth to it. That being said, the base of a driveway is the most important aspect of the installation and we recommend a minimum of 10-12 inches of 3/4 inch crusher-run gravel. (If your subsoil is soft, un-compacted fill, you may want to excavate deeper and put in more gravel.) This will provide the necessary drainage as well as load-bearing support. This base must compacted in two layers. First compact the subsoil after excavation and then compact a 6 inch layer of gravel and then compact another 6 inch layer on top of it. Never compact more than 6 inchesat a time. The compactor that we recommend for driveways is much larger than what is normally used for patios. It should be a 1 or 2 ton vibratory roller. If you are not able to access this type of compactor, a jumping jack is the next best think but it will take you longer. Spend the time compacting. The better the compaction, the longer your driveway will remain flat and unchanged. In technical terms, we recommend that you should compact to a density of 95% PSD (Standard Proctor Density).

Adding sand and edge restraints

The next part of the installation is critical too. We recommend a bedding course of concrete sand half to 1 inch thick on which the pavers are laid. Once the pavers are laid they must be restrained on all sides so that the outer edges will remain straight and intact. A paver edging made from concrete, metal or plastic is recommended. Of course, where there is a building or an existing concrete curb, no additional edge restraint is required.

Once the pavers have received their final compaction, the joint sand must be put in. We recommend Unilock Polymeric Sand so that erosion, weeds and ants will be eliminated or at the very least minimized.

Finishing touches...

And lastly, you can seal your installation with Unilock Paver Sealer in order to enhance and further protect your beautiful investment. Remember, sealer darkens the color and adds a bit of shine to the surface. If the shine is undesirable, we recommend that you use Unilock's new matte sealer.

For more detailed installation information, view our installation videos and/or download a copy of our Unilock Tech Guide.