Blocks for Driveway, can stone blocks be used?

[revelation]

I am struggling to find suitable blocks for my driveway. 
 

I have been looking at blocks for my drive, I really don’t like the appearance  of concrete paving blocks. 
 

Our plan was to lay on MOT/Sand as you would do with normal block paving. 
 

I have been advised that stone blocks shouldn’t be laid on sand, and should be on a wet mix.  Is there any reason why concrete blocks are ok on sand but not a limestone block? 

[nod]

No reason 

[revelation]

1 hour ago, nod said:

No reason 

could you elaborate? 

[nod]

8 hours ago, revelation said:

could you elaborate? 

You can bed anything on sand 

But if your not going to wacker it down level the sand and sprinkle dry cement Prior to laying 

[ToughButterCup]

18 hours ago, revelation said:

... stone blocks shouldn’t be laid on sand, and should be on a wet mix.  Is there any reason why concrete blocks are ok on sand but not a limestone block? 

 

Maybe the advice was given in the context of increasing adhesion of the limestone block.

You can - as @nod suggests above - dust some cement on top of the sand before laying, or make a weak mix of cement (only) and water and coat the bottom of the limestone blocks before laying. 

In simple terms, make the blocks 'stickier' before laying them. 

 

I'm edging a path with limestone setts at the moment. I 'butter' each sett before laying it. 

Bit of water and some cement in a bucket, mix well ( weak gravy ) and drop the sett in that mixture while I'm laying the current sett. I was very surprised to see the amount of 'butter' some of the setts absorb. Occasionally I forget (gone for a coffee) that I've left a sett in the bucket with the cement mixture in it. Half an hour later it's noticeably harder to take the sett out of the bucket. 

 

Here's a video of the type of thing I mean ( but a slightly different technique again)

 

 

Edited May 8 by ToughButterCup

[revelation]

Thank you for the information.  Doesn’t the video show the blocks being laid on a concrete mix using the cement stuff as a primer? 
 

As in my case the plan was to build up the driveway with 150mm of MOT, then sand (all compacted of course) then lay the blocks. 

Edited May 8 by revelation

[revelation]

 O

Edited May 8 by revelation

[ToughButterCup]

17 minutes ago, revelation said:

...

As in my case the plan was to build up the driveway with 150mm of MOT, then sand (all compacted of course) then lay the blocks. 

 

Yes. I'd call that a dry mix . Not sure everyone would use that term but hey.... you get used to it.

 

Your suggestion above is perfectly OK.

A really good reference site for this sort of thing is by a guy who runs this website (Paving Expert)  here.....

He's a Lancastrian (of course)

 

[Mr Punter]

If you don't like concrete (as it is prone to fading and looks like concrete) have you looked at clay paviours?  Keeps its colour well and looks good for years.

[revelation]

On 08/05/2025 at 18:35, Mr Punter said:

If you don't like concrete (as it is prone to fading and looks like concrete) have you looked at clay paviours?  Keeps its colour well and looks good for years.

Thanks for the suggestion, they’re super expensive. And look a little better than concrete, but as you’ve suggested they have the longevity factor.  

[revelation]

On 08/05/2025 at 16:04, ToughButterCup said:

 

Yes. I'd call that a dry mix . Not sure everyone would use that term but hey.... you get used to it.

 

Your suggestion above is perfectly OK.

A really good reference site for this sort of thing is by a guy who runs this website (Paving Expert)  here.....

He's a Lancastrian (of course)

 

Thanks for the help.  Every company who supply the stuff have said no to the idea of laying anything stone on sand.  And have all said they must be laid on a cement mix, but didn’t give any sound reasoning as to why concrete blocks are ok but not real stone.  

[Temp]

Scroll down here to the links for

 

Rigid Construction 

Flexible Construction 

 

https://www.pavingexpert.com/setts02