---
title: "Jointing and Compacting Block Paving, Gloucester | Solid Ground Paving"
description: "Case study: the jointing and compaction stage of a Gloucester block driveway, using kiln dried sand and a plate compactor to lock the surface."
canonical: https://solidgroundpaving.co.uk/projects/block-paving-jointing-compaction-gloucester
url: https://solidgroundpaving.co.uk/projects/block-paving-jointing-compaction-gloucester.md
section: "Projects"
date_published: 2026-08-06
date_modified: 2026-08-06
author: Solid Ground Paving
robots: noindex
---

# Jointing and compacting a block driveway

A block surface gets its strength from interlock, and interlock comes from full joints. This record shows the last stage on a grey herringbone driveway: kiln dried sand brushed across the whole field and vibrated down until every joint is packed.

## Key facts

- **Town:** Gloucester
- **Year:** 2025
- **Surface:** Grey blocks, herringbone
- **Stage:** Kiln dried sand and plate compaction

## Why is kiln dried sand used for jointing?

It is dry and finely graded, so it falls straight down into 2-3mm joints instead of bridging them. Damp building sand clumps at the surface and leaves joints half empty, which is where movement and weed growth start.

## How many times is the surface compacted?

At least twice. The first pass beds the blocks and drops the sand, then more sand is swept in and a second pass fills what settled. The drive is left with a light covering of sand that traffic and rain work in over the following weeks.

- Plate compactor used with a rubber mat to protect faces
- Surface swept clean of debris before each pass
- Joints topped up until they stop taking sand

## Should block paving be sealed?

It is optional. Sealing stabilises joint sand and makes oil marks easier to lift, but it needs redoing every few years. An unsealed drive jointed properly performs perfectly well and is simpler to repair.

## Questions and answers

Q: Why is there loose sand left on my new drive?
A: It is deliberate. That surplus works into the joints as they settle; sweeping it all off early leaves joints short.

---

Human-readable version of this page: https://solidgroundpaving.co.uk/projects/block-paving-jointing-compaction-gloucester


## Site records

- Video: Jointing sand barrowed onto the finished herringbone field, with the plate compactor waiting to vibrate it into the joints.
  - Description: Kiln dried sand and a plate compactor on a finished grey herringbone block driveway in Gloucester
  - File: https://solidgroundpaving.co.uk/__l5e/assets-v1/3da74585-f6ab-48e2-b85f-686b9da70519/block-paving-jointing-compaction.mp4 (poster: https://solidgroundpaving.co.uk/__l5e/assets-v1/db9b906b-d3c2-4d94-8a94-24d3ab4a41a5/block-paving-jointing-compaction-poster.jpg)