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Bricks WILL work, depending on the kind… They do make PAVER bricks designed for the weight of traffic (actually this is what was used befor the cheaper concrete pavers came on the scene). The brick pavers will last much longer than the concrete (in the case of some pavers in our little town here, 50years and counting), but will be a good deal more expensive up front. Lifetime projections for the concrete pavers are getting better and better as the products improve. Used to be you could count on just 10 years from them, but I’ve heard that you can easily double that now. Check the warrantee info for the product you buy (saving $100 on materials today only to get a paver that will last 1/2 as long, is not much of a savings…. Labor will be your big cost anyway.
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Bricks WILL work, depending on the kind... They do make PAVER bricks designed for the weight of traffic (actually this is what was used befor the cheaper concrete pavers came on the scene). The brick pavers will last much longer than the concrete (in the case of some pavers in our little town here, 50years and counting), but will be a good deal more expensive up front. Lifetime projections for the concrete pavers are getting better and better as the products improve. Used to be you could count on just 10 years from them, but I've heard that you can easily double that now. Check the warrantee info for the product you buy (saving $100 on materials today only to get a paver that will last 1/2 as long, is not much of a savings.... Labor will be your big cost anyway.
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Brent,
Have you considered acid stained or colored and stamped concrete? It is not inexpensive but the results can be spectacular. Lots of pattern and color options. Bomanite http://www.bomanite.com/ is a widely franchised system. For more information try a search on "stamped concrete".
Steve
*have fun.. this is a DIY project.. especially for the limited scope you want.. Brick PAVERS especially modular pavers..don't go to HD.. go to a masonry supply yard..they'll set you on the right path.. and they'll deliverand .. the nice thing about pavers.. if you screw it up , you can pull them up and relay them..
*Brent,Attempted to post earlier but it did not take.Pavers can stand up to heavy loads with cracking or being displaced. I have seen a backhoe carrying a load of retaining wall blocks up a sloped paver driveway without damage. The key is to prepare a good base. For a residential driveway that is a minimum of 8" of 3/4-1" crushed rock with the fines compacted in layers using a plate compactor (rent).Allow 1" for sand and 2-3/8" for the paver. This means that you will have to excavate 11-3/8". I like to use fabric between the rock and dirt to prevent migration of material. If you can but your pavers direct from the manufacturer. You will have a greater choice of colors and styles than at a big box or landscape supplier. Have you see the cobblestone look? The most important thing is planning and layout. Laying out the pavers is hard work but good planning will make it go faster.
*Brent - Herb's right on the subbase fill of 8" minimum. I think by fabric he means landscape fabric, which keeps things from growing up through. Don't underestimate the amount of excavation required as noted - it's a lot.Look at Cushwa - they make a fine paver. Here's a linkJeff
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I need to replace the broken cement at the base of my driveway (see photo) and was wondering if it could be done with bricks so as to match the zig zag pattern of the bricks on the sidewalk (rt. of pic. - slate sidewalk is to the left of driveway). I have never seen a brick driveway and was wondering if it can be done. As you can sort of see from the photo there is a slight upward slope from the street. Can brick be layed in such a manner so as not to be displaced from the car's weight? Thanks for your help.
Brent
*Bricks no. But "pavers", a surfacing material made out of compressed concrete, yes. Also known as interlock paving, this is very popular (most of the houses on our street have interlocking). They're all kinds of patterns, including the classic brick-look available. Check them out at HD, or look under "paving" in your local Yellow Pages. Oh, this is not a do-it-yourself job for the timmid; while the degree of difficulty is low, it does require a rather thick layer of highly compacted stone which must be screeded level. And then it's back-breaking time to place those pavers in one at a time.