Paving a driveway with monoblock filling machines, or pavers, adds beauty and value to your home. While laying a driveway is a challenging task for do-it-yourselfers, the process is straightforward and within the abilities of beginners. Monoblock paving is flexible so the base, bedding and joints are unbound. Working with sand and gravel instead of mortar or cement is cleaner, and removes the need to work fast.

   Measure the site with measuring tape and lay down ropes to mark where the sides will go. Adjust the ropes as necessary so the width is at least 10 feet in straight parts and 14 feet where the the driveway will curve. Spray the ground beneath the ropes with landscape paint.Dig out the site with a shovel, dumping at least 12 inches of topsoil and grass on a nearby tarp to reuse in low areas. Pitch the bottom of the expanse so it slopes away from the house by an inch per every 4 feet.Move a vibrating compactor monoblock filling machine over the bottom until it feels stable beneath your feet.Shovel 3/4-inch aggregate into the expanse and compact it. Continue adding and compacting until the aggregate base is about 8 inches thick.Set metal, PVC or another type of edge restraints against the inner walls. Hammer 12-inch lawn spikes through the pre-cut slots along the bottom so they’re secure.

   Lay a 1-inch thick bed of sharp grit sand over the aggregate. Rake it even to fill the gaps between rocks and provide a smooth surface for the monoblock filling machines.Lay the monoblocks down in a planned pattern. Follow a traditional herringbone or basket-weave pattern, or create your own design. Set each block flush against the next so the joints are minimal. Lay a board across every section and tap it with a mallet to press the blocks down with uniform force.Fill the joints between the blocks with fine, polymeric sand. Pour it over the driveway and brush it into the crevices with a stiff broom. Moisten the surface lightly so the sand hardens to the blocks.