Laying paver blocks: driveway, yard, paths and how to avoid mistakes
The base matters more than the block
Paver blocks last long only when the base under them is right. First the topsoil is removed, a trench is formed, the subgrade is compacted, then crushed stone and a sand bed are laid and compacted, sometimes with geotextile. The blocks go on top, and the joints are filled with sand. Skimp on this and the paving can sink within a few seasons.
That is why a price “per square foot” without a description of the preparation explains nothing: one quote covers a deep base, another only laying on sand.
What to choose: pedestrian or vehicle use
The thickness of the blocks depends on the load. Thinner blocks suit paths; a driveway for a car needs thicker ones (60 mm is often used), and heavy vehicles need stronger still. There are also different colours and shapes. A block suited to the load matters more than the pattern.
What to put in your request
- Area in sq ft and the shape of the plot.
- Material — thickness and type of block, colour, shape.
- Purpose — paths, yard, driveway for a car or parking.
- Base preparation — whether excavation, crushed stone and a sand bed are needed.
- Kerbs and drainage — length of kerb, channels, slopes.
- Materials — blocks yours or the contractor’s.
- Address, timing, budget, for example a price per sq ft with material.
Example: “Abu Dhabi, private house. I need 60 mm paver blocks laid on a car driveway of 800 sq ft, with excavation, crushed stone and a 40 m kerb. I will supply the blocks. Finish by the end of the month, budget up to AED 3.67 per sq ft for labour and base.”
How to compare offers
- How many layers of base and how thick each is.
- Whether surplus soil is hauled away and who buys the stone and sand.
- Whether the base is compacted with a plate compactor, and whether slopes for drainage are set.
- How the kerbs are set: in concrete or just in sand.
- What warranty applies against sinking.
How searching works on BlaBlaPrice
You write a request on the home page, and crews in your city reply in chat with prices and dates. They see where their offer stands and can improve their terms. Reviews appear next to the offers, and nobody sees your number until you choose a crew. More on the “How it works” page.
Pattern, spare blocks and common mistakes
Patterns and colours also affect the price: a complex layout, a mix of shades and decorative inserts increase cutting and waste, so buy blocks with a margin and ask how much extra to add. Before the work, mark where the manholes, pipes and posts will be so the crew allows for them.
A typical mistake is not thinking where the water will run: without a slope next to the house you will have puddles, especially in the rainy season. Another is laying on a wet or uncompacted base. One more is buying the cheapest blocks for a driveway: they crumble quickly. If you need related work, see construction services or turnkey construction.
