Paving fails at the base far more often than at the paver. Here is what we see when we are called in to redo someone else’s work.
1. No compaction plan
Sub-base needs to be laid in layers and compacted in layers. One thick dump of aggregate will settle unevenly within a monsoon.
2. Missing edge restraint
Without a kerb or a concrete edge, the outer rows creep outward and the whole field loosens. Every failed driveway we have lifted started at the edge.
3. Wrong thickness for the load
60 mm is for footpaths and light cars. Loaded trucks need 80 mm or more, laid in a proper interlocking pattern.
4. Bedding sand used as a levelling filler
Bedding sand should be a uniform layer, not a way to hide a bad base level. Fix the base instead.
5. No slope for water
A minimum fall of 1 in 80 keeps water moving. Flat paving holds water, and standing water washes out joint sand.
6. Skipping joint sand compaction
Joint sand is what makes interlocking pavers act as one surface. Sweep, vibrate, sweep again.
7. Mixed batches laid in blocks
Shade varies slightly between production batches. Draw from three pallets at once so any variation reads as texture instead of patches.
