How we supply it: Paver blocks are arranged through a partner block maker who quotes, supplies and bills them and pays us a referral commission. The base is ours: GSB, WMM, crusher dust and 6 mm chips come from our crusher by the tipper load, so the sub-base can be laid and compacted before the pavers arrive.
In one line: A paver block is a precast concrete unit, made to IS 15658, laid dry on a sand bed so that its joints interlock and spread wheel loads across the neighbouring blocks.
How interlocking pavers carry a load
A paver block is a precast concrete unit, made to IS 15658, laid dry on a sand bed so that its joints interlock and spread wheel loads across the neighbouring blocks.
Interlock needs three things: tightly butted blocks, sand packed into the joints and a firm edge such as a kerb. Lose the edge and the blocks creep apart.
Thickness and grade by traffic (IS 15658)
For a house driveway used by cars, 80 mm is the safe pick. If our 18 MT tipper will ever unload on the drive, treat it as medium traffic: 80–100 mm on a WMM base.
| Use (traffic category) | Minimum grade | Block thickness |
|---|---|---|
| Non-traffic: footpaths, sit-outs, terraces | M30 | 50–60 mm |
| Light: car driveways, residential lanes, small car parks | M35 | 60–80 mm |
| Medium: city streets, small market roads | M40 | 80–100 mm |
| Heavy: bus depots, industrial yards | M50 | 100–120 mm |
| Very heavy: container yards | M55 | 120–140 mm |
Shapes and laying patterns
| Shape | Interlock | Laying speed | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rectangular 200 × 100 mm | Good in herringbone | Fast, easy cuts | Driveways, courtyards |
| Zigzag (unipaver) | Strong | Moderate | Driveways, yards |
| I-shape (dumbbell) | Strong | Fast | Parking, approach roads |
| Square and grass pavers | Weak or open | Fast | Footpaths, lawns, drainage strips |
The base: where our materials go
Base thicknesses above are typical for house work. Heavy-use yards need a proper pavement design.
- Dig to firm soil and compact the subgrade.
- Lay and compact GSB, typically 100–150 mm for cars and 150–200 mm where lorries go, with a WMM layer on top for heavy use.
- Fix kerbs or an edge beam before laying a single paver.
- Spread 20–40 mm of bedding (crusher dust or coarse sand) and screed it level without compacting.
- Lay the pavers, cut the edges, then vibrate them into the bed with a plate compactor.
- Brush fine dust into the joints and vibrate again.
Quantities for 1,000 sq ft
Typical estimate: for rectangular 200 × 100 mm pavers (50 per m²), using our bulk densities.
- Pavers: about 4,650 blocks, 4,880 with 5% wastage
- Bedding at 30 mm: about 2.8 m³, roughly 4.7 MT of crusher dust
- GSB at 150 mm compacted: about 14 m³, roughly 28–30 MT, close to two 18 MT tipper loads
Paver delivery checks
- Measure ten random blocks; thickness and size must be uniform or the surface will step.
- Ask for the lot's compressive-strength results to IS 15658 and the grade.
- Look at edges and corners: chipped arrises become trip lines after laying.
- For coloured pavers, check shade across pallets and plan to mix pallets while laying.
- Count by pallet and record broken pieces before signing.
Stacking and staging
- Unload pallets by hand or forklift; tipping chips the edges.
- Stack near the laying face on level ground.
- Keep the bedding dust covered so rain does not soak it unevenly.
- Draw from several pallets at once to blend colour.
Why driveways sink and rock
- Laying on loose fill with no compacted GSB; ruts show up in the first monsoon.
- No kerb or edge beam.
- Bedding pavers in cement mortar, which cracks and traps water instead of flexing.
- 60 mm blocks where tankers or lorries turn.
- No fall for drainage; aim for about 1 in 40 to 1 in 50 away from the house.