[BSD]

I picked up a new lawn client that has a gravel driveway and walkway... left over from their addition they put on the house 5 years ago. They never had it paved because they constantly have groundwater coming up through the drive. I've almost sold them on a paver walkway and SRW for the front. Now I'd like to sell them on the paver driveway as well.

I was @ their house on a dry day, several days from the last rainstorm too. It was clear as day; there was water coming up through the driveway and running down to the street. My thought would be to put in a series of rows of 4" drainpipe/filtersock surrounded by trap rock in 3/4" traprock 12" thick. The driveway is 53' long, so I would put 11 rows (every 5') and daylight the pipe to the street catch basin. Then geotextile, 12" of base, and the normal 1" of sand.

I've never done a paver driveway before, but other than the upward groundwater movement here this one is pretty straight forward.

Thoughts & Comments Please.

[Matt Kulp]

First I would try and find out where the water is coming from. Is it from a spring, or is it just standing water that does not drain?

If it is a spring, I would do what you mentioned as well as sell them a permeable paver sitting on at least 12" of clean gravel. I would go over top of your pipe with Ballast stone and then 12" of clean 3/4, then use rice stone for the setting bed. I would be very worried even if you pipe it to use modified stone and sand, I think you could get some wash out or pumping of the base down the road. With the method I explained you could technically have 10" of water under the drive and you would never know it and it would not compromise the base.

[AZTLANLC]

I would do it just like matt.
Also would get a 6" heavy duty pipe

[BSD]

Sounds very good to me too. I am playing telephone tag with a rep from Unilock currently trying to see how they like to do it since I'm trying to become an authorized installer.

[cutntrim]

I'm a city guy, but my first thought was to call the city/town engineering dept. and see if they have an answer as to why there is a water problem there. Maybe that's not an option if they live out in the sticks?

Second thought was, what about Unilock Turfstone? It's certainly a different look, but water shouldn't then be an issue.

[AZTLANLC]

If that sales rep is Mike Zengen tell him I say hello, he was the sale rep for our are but was promoted around you I think he is the best sales rep I have know so far

[BSD]

I believe that's his name. The factory just gave me his first name of "mike" and his cell #. I hope I hear from him soon as I don't want this lead to get cold.

What's involved in becoming an authorized installer from unilock? I see on your site you are already.

[AZTLANLC]

They changed the conditions a little bit.
Now you are required to be "ICPI certified" also he has to see your work and previous jobs, he most likely go to your job site and interview the homeowner as well asking how they feel about your company.

Once you start dealing with Mike he will be there for you anytime and to answer all question and treat you like you are his best customer.

Tell him George from Aztlan says hello.

[BSD]

I will tell him you said hello. I'm not currently ICPI cert'd but was planning on getting that anyway. I'm still playing telephone tag with him. I like the ideas that have come from this site and others, but I want to involve Unilock since I would like to become an AI by them.

[BSD]

George, I met with Mike today. He came out to inspect a current site I'm on and introduce himself. Seem's like a nice guy. He was curious about my suppliers and such. I guess he's used to working in NY still, he wasn't familiar with 3/4 QP for the base. He was expecting to see Item #4. the 3/4 QP pack's damn hard like item #4 does, only its not as bulky and its easier to do final base grading with.

I asked him about the driveway and he didn't seem to have a concrete answer. He actually asked to hear if you had put your two cents into the ring. I told him my idea of ~18" of 3/4 traprock with fabric above and below sandwiching perforated pipe. Then the 12" base and 1" sand like normal for a driveway. He thought it might be better to use all clean stone right up to the bedding sand, but my question is how do you keep that from settling into the stone? I would guess another layer of geotextile?

Any more thoughts/comments?
Matt

[AZTLANLC]

Mike and I know this guys that show us how he does driveways and most any paver job he does real nice work and warranties all his jobs 10 years, I did try it couple of years ago and last year we did 90% of our jobs like that, instead of concrete sand or stone dust we use 1/4" chip gravel spreads so smooth and you can even walk on it without disturbing it like sand, that will not migrate down.
I'm a believer of that method regardless what ICPI says well actually that is the right method for permeable pavers according to them but I use it for all my jobs.
Regarding him not having a concrete answer I'm pretty sure he's just testing your knowledge, cause he knows a lot and has seeing pretty much all kinds of jobs.

Also do a search and look for Bill and Paul posts they really know this stuff.

[Pelican]

Check with the highway super about running the drainage to the sewer, some allow it some don't. You don't want to find out after the fact that they don't. I'd also figure about 12" of base for the drive.

Last I heard Mike was the sales manager at the Goshen yard. I guess he's back on the road?