How to Lay Block Paving

Premium Landscaping — Durham

Block paving is a great way to add value and kerb appeal to a driveway or patio, and with the right preparation it can last for decades. Whether you're planning a DIY job or want to know what's involved before hiring a contractor, here's what the process actually involves.

1. Prepare the site. Clear the area of debris, roots and stones, then compact the ground with a hand tamper or plate compactor.
2. Mark out the area. Use stakes and string lines to set straight, even boundaries.
3. Calculate materials. Block paving is sold by the square metre — measure carefully and order enough to cover the full area, plus a little extra for wastage.
4. Lay the sub-base. Spread a compacted layer of hardcore (gravel, sand or crushed stone) roughly 5cm deep as a bedding layer.
5. Install edge restraints. Any paved area with an open edge, such as a driveway, needs restraints pinned along the sides to stop the blocks creeping over time.
6. Lay the blocks. Start in a corner and work outward, keeping joints tight and even with no overlaps.
7. Compact the base. Run a vibrating plate compactor over the laid blocks to bed them in securely.
8. Add jointing sand. Brush kiln-dried sand into the gaps to lock the blocks together and discourage weed growth.
9. Final compaction and clean-up. Compact once more, then sweep away excess material. A sealant can be applied afterwards to protect against staining and water damage.

Edging finishes off the look of a driveway or garden and helps stop the paving sinking or spreading over time. Dig a trench roughly 8 inches deep and 4 inches wide along the boundary, level the base, and fill with 2–3 inches of compacted gravel topped with a levelled layer of sand. Lay the edging blocks along the trench, checking each one is level and using a string line to keep the run straight, leaving a small gap (around ¼ inch) between blocks before backfilling with sand and compacting again.

Once laid, block paving needs relatively little upkeep — cleaning and resealing every couple of years keeps it looking sharp and protects it from weathering, and it's worth checking periodically for loose or sunken blocks so small issues can be fixed before they spread.

Block paving is a job many keen DIYers can tackle, but getting a solid sub-base, correct falls for drainage, and tight, even joints right takes some practice — mistakes here are expensive to correct later. If you'd rather leave it to experienced paving specialists in Durham, Premium Landscaping offers free quotes and can show you examples of previous work.