ᐅ Remove concrete and lay paving

Hello dear community,

We are planning to remove the existing concrete and asphalt surfaces in our driveway and garden and replace them with paving stones.

What do you think: Is it absolutely necessary to remove the current surface before installing the paving stones, or is there an alternative that could make the work easier?

Here are a few pictures to illustrate:

Simply put gravel down and then pave over it. For the stair step and driveway entrance, use a bent stainless steel sheet metal to prevent the paving and gravel from shifting. Raise the grass areas by about 10cm (4 inches) so that the grass and paving are level again.

Replace the car with an SUV, then the step up to the street won’t be an issue.

Jokes aside, this can be done if all the connections can be properly and logically adjusted in height. That’s not possible at your driveway, and definitely not at the stairs. Removing a few square meters with an excavator takes about half a day’s work, so that should be manageable.

Thank you for your response.
So you mean it is not necessary to remove everything? It is enough to do so only at these critical points?

No, seriously: move everything out. This is not a large area.

In the driveway: Renovate the asphalt surface.
In the garden and on the terrace: Build a wooden deck (or WPC) on top.

It's a matter of cost. For example, if the driveway is excavated, I can imagine what will happen to the bentonite walls at the edge... cracks, leaning... so they would have to be removed with the digger as well. The garden (after the guys have rampaged there with the excavator) won't look as good anymore either. In the end, it will turn into a complete landscaping project that can't be finished in just one weekend.