A block paving driveway, also known as a brick driveway or a block cement driveway, is a domestic or commercial driveway that is made up of manufactured concrete blocks and kiln-fired clay brick pavers. The paving blocks are available in a range of thicknesses, shapes, sizes, designs, textures and colors, and are capable of withstanding a great amount of load. These types of driveways are easier to install than a traditional asphalt driveway, look great, and are generally very long-lasting.
Given the wide available variety in paving blocks, the design choices are limitless. It is possible to install a custom block driveway that will exactly match a specific look or a particular building structure. It is wise to select blocks for a block paving driveway after seeing some installed samples, rather than just going by catalog photographs.
It will also help to read up on the differences between concrete and brick block pavers. Both types of pavers usually come with two presentable sides, which means, in case of any damage to the block paving driveway, the blocks can simply be removed and reversed. Concrete blocks are generally colored using metallic oxide dyes, and these dyes are prone to fading with time. Brick blocks, on the other hand, usually have natural coloring and are not prone to fading.
The price of the blocks can differ by manufacturer and quality. They should be ordered in enough quantity to allow for some accidental waste during installation. There are two main ways to install a block driveway, flexible laying and rigid laying. The first involves laying the blocks on a sand bed, filling the joints with sand and applying a sealant over the joints, while, in the second laying method, the blocks are placed on a concrete or mortar bed and the joints are filled with mortar. It is important, unless porous blocks are being used for the block paving driveway, to keep a slope or a gully to drain away water.
Since individual blocks can be replaced whenever necessary, it is quite easy to repair a block driveway. With regular maintenance, however, problems can usually be kept at bay. Daily sweeping will get rid of dust, and any algae and weed growth should be removed when spotted. Driveways that have not been cleaned in a long while may be cleaned using pressure washing, but this method of cleaning can unsettle the joints and sometimes damage the paving surface.