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What is under your pavers, and why it matters
The industry reference is ICPI Tech Spec 2. It calls for at least 4 inches of compacted granular base for pedestrian areas and 6 inches for a residential driveway, on well-drained soils. It also calls for adding 2 to 4 inches more in freeze-thaw climates.
In Quebec, that means in practice:
- Patio or walkway: 6 to 8 inches of compacted 0-3/4 stone.
- Driveway: 8 to 10 inches.
- Heavy parking area: 10 to 14 inches.
Compaction is done in lifts of 8 inches maximum. Any thicker and the plate does not reach the bottom, so the soil keeps settling after the contractor leaves. That is exactly what causes the dips that show up after two years.
Our method, step by step
- Excavation to the required depth, not the fast depth.
- Geotextile between native soil and base, so fines do not migrate up into the stone.
- 0-3/4 stone compacted in 8 inch lifts.
- One inch bedding layer of concrete sand, screeded and uncompacted.
- Pavers laid, clean cuts.
- Edge restraints, the part that keeps the perimeter from spreading over the years.
- Final compaction and polymeric sand in the joints.
Repair rather than replace
A winter heave or a dip that holds a puddle is almost never the paver itself, it is the base or the drainage underneath. We lift the affected section, rebuild the base, and reset the same pavers. It costs a fraction of a new driveway.
Act early: a small dip becomes a large section, and a spreading perimeter works its way toward the middle.
Maintenance, simple and gentle
- The first days: no walking for 24 hours, no vehicle for 48 to 72 hours, while the polymeric sand cures.
- Washing: water and mild soap. Never acid or bleach, they discolour the stone permanently.
- Snow removal: plastic or rubber bladed shovel, and sand rather than salt, especially the first year.
- Sealer: every 2 to 5 years. When water stops beading and stains soak in fast, it is time.
A properly built paver surface lasts about 30 years
An asphalt driveway lasts 15 to 20 years in Quebec, and gets sealed every two years in between. Our 20 year comparison tool shows you the full calculation, maintenance included.
Where we travel
Laval and all its districts, the Lower Laurentians, Deux-Montagnes and Lanaudière. Your town not on the list? Call anyway, we often travel a bit farther for a good project.
Frequently asked questions
What does a paver driveway cost?
Our online estimator gives you an order of magnitude in seconds, before taxes and for normal conditions. The firm price comes with a written quote after the visit. A minimum applies to small areas, because moving the equipment costs the same for 100 square feet as for 500.
How much access width does your equipment need?
The Kubota U25 excavator fits through 5 feet, the SVL65-2 loader through 6 feet. Below that, we have a mini loader that fits through narrow gates, and part of the work is done by hand. Measure the tightest passage between the street and the work area.
Do I need a permit from the City?
Widening a driveway or altering a curb cut generally requires municipal authorization. A like-for-like replacement usually does not. We go over it with you at quote time and tell you plainly what is needed, before we start.
Do you guarantee your work?
One year, and our civil liability insurance is $2,000,000. The deposit is 25 % on booking, the balance at the end once you have walked the job with us.