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Question

I'm in Ottawa, Canada. My driveway asphalt is old and crumbly, but the bed beneath is solid and compacted by 26 years of settling and cars. Can I just scrape off the asphalt and replace with 3 inches of rock-dust and a topping of small paving bricks? Or must I rip out three feet of solid, un-shifting, compacted gravel and stone and re-build (and tamp) just to put a different kind of topper on it?

If I must "waste" the current solid base, only to build basically the same thing again before topping, please explain mechanically why it's required.

Thanks.

Submitted: 120 days and 4 hours ago.
Category: Home Improvement
Value: $15
Status: CLOSED
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Accepted Answer

Thank you for using Just Answer!

It is not necessary to rip out the current base of your driveway as long as it is still solid and functional. When removing the current asphalt driveway it may be slightly disturbed and those areas should be redone and compacted. It would also be a good idea to compact the top layer of soil after all of the asphalt has been removed. This will prevent any settling of the paver bricks.

It is important to have at least 12 inches of compacted soil underneath your paver driveway. If your current base is this deep then you can add a 1 inch layer of bedding sand and level. This provide a setting bed for the pavers.

Feel free to post any follow-up questions you may have.

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Expert: Home Improvement Jay
Pos. Feedback: 99.0 %
Accepts: 
Answered: 7/25/2009

General C&ontractor

6 years exp. residential home and pool construction; mold, fire and flood remediations.

120 days and 2 hours ago.

Reply

That was the answer I hoped for... :-)
Small follow-up. The asphalt was pretty-much water-proof, but the pavers will have gaps between 'em.

Do I want to lay down any kind of waterproof barrier between the base and the new setting bed (like a plastic sheet)?

- K

Posted by Home Improvement Jay 120 days and 2 hours ago.

Answer

No, you want the pavers to be set into the sand bed. Once the pavers are set you can then spread a thin layer of dry mason's sand evenly over the surface of the paver driveway. Sweep the mason's sand into the cracks between the pavers. Then lightly spray the driveway with water to pack down the sand and wash it off the surface of the pavers. Not too much pressure or you will just wash out the sand that you swept into the cracks. I suggest applying the sand in small sections at a time so that the mason's sand does not harden on the pavers itself. After it drys you may have to repeat it in some areas that you missed. This can be repeated every year or so if necessary to make your driveway look well maintained.

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