Driveway Apron

[infiniti007]

Anyone familiar with using pavers for a driveway apron? Is there a certain brand - e.g., EP Henry, Cambridge and/or minimum thickness of paver that would be recommended?

Any installation advice or things to ask contractor also appreciated.

 

[rharman]

We did pavers for the driveway but not the apron. If, by apron, you mean the sloped approach from the street. City requirement was concrete for that.

We just used regular Holland Pavers over a sand base. Edges were concreted.

 

[jkuro]

Yup,, apron and sidewalk are usually city property. You have to play by their rules.

 

[Montauket]

I have Cambridge on the apron and driveway. No special requirements on the paver but make sure the base is rock solid. We did rebar reinforce concrete rather than RCA.

 

[infiniti007]

Thanks for the replies! Do any of you have issues with weeds coming through the joints/edges? How often do you need to re-apply the sand in the joints?

 

[Cairo94507]

I always considered the area directly in front of the garage an "apron" too. I have a paved driveway we are going to replace that runs right up to the garage doors. We are going to a put in a 25-30' cement "apron" and then go with blacktop for the rest- approximately 150'.

 

[rharman]

We get the occasional weed but, that's why God invented Round-Up.

Don't think we've ever redone the sand except when we've had to repair a small section that sunk due to monster rain. Maybe 3-4 times in 30 years.

We did the driveway, a courtyard in the front, and a patio (about 20'x20') in the back.

Not a great picture but you get the idea. All in a herringbone pattern.

 

[Bucko]

If memory serves me correct you want at least a 60mm thick paver. The base prep is the most important but it can vary by location on your exact needs.
For the weeds you will get them, I've seen them grow out of rain gutters, back of a pickup truck, it don't take much. You can use a polymeric sand but its not super cheap. Putting good sealer over the pavers will help too as it will work into the joints a little, just make sure and don't mix water based and solvent based or you could have issues.ive seen it happen when a contractor puts down one and then the homeowner reseals it a year later with the other. I prefer a solvent based myself.

 

[ycgoat]

I put a concrete driveway at my house and both the transition from the street to the driveway and driveway to garage were 8” thick. We recently put a gravel driveway in with storm Drain pipe at a new rural property, which required 8-10” of gravel. The apron into the garage was not thickened only because I did not require it

 

[Montauket]

Thanks for the replies! Do any of you have issues with weeds coming through the joints/edges? How often do you need to re-apply the sand in the joints?

I don’t get any weeds but occasionally a little moss in the shaded walkway. Mine has been down about 7 years now an a couple of weekends ago was the first time I hit it with the pressure mainly get up some of the black from the acid rain. Looks brand new. My 40x22 took a smidge more than a bag of sand to top it back off after the pressure wash and my grass is right up to it. I’ve had 1500sq ft in the back yard for about 16 years and have only had to wash it twice this year being the second time. The polymeric sand has helped eliminate the weeds. You shouldn’t need to re apply the sand unless you pressure wash.