Pavers are all about the base. You cannot overdo the base. But if you "under-do" the base it will be obvious in less than two years. The base, especially in anything in the snow/frost/ice belt must have at least an 8" base of compacted gravel (at minimum) on top of compacted subsoil. Then, about 2" of screeded sand atop the compacted base, then a layer of weed block fabric, then after setting the pavers, use a compactor on top of the pavers to set them into the screeded sand. Then use the right polymeric sand to broom into the pavers joints. If you don't use polymeric sand, as I found out, eventually the damn ants WILL dig through the sand and create their domains under the pavers, leaving little sand mounds atop the pavers. Over time the pavers will then sag into the cavities dug out by the ants. Also, weeds WILL grow into the regular sand between the pavers and then your maintenance changes to eliminating/pulling weeds, which leaves distrubed sand between the pavers, which invites the ants, which,...well you get the idea.
I do like the look of a paver driveway, carport or patio. But without all the extra work to do a proper base, it'll look like **** within five years.
LOTS more work up front to do it right the first time will avoid LOTS more work about three years after you laid the pavers.
But go to Europe, and many roads in the cities are some form of pavers or quartz cut stones set on a very stable base.
