Excavation
- Ontario One Call locates booked first
- Existing surface removed and hauled away
- Excavated to depth, not to the minimum that fits the budget
- Subgrade proof-rolled and compacted
Interlocking driveways in Markham and the GTA.
FOUR40 builds interlocking driveways across Markham, Richmond Hill, Aurora, Vaughan, Stouffville and the wider GTA on a 300 mm compacted Granular A base, laid in 75–100 mm lifts over non-woven geotextile, with 80 mm driveway-grade pavers and polymeric sand. Free on-site estimates, written scope before work starts.
Based in
Whitchurch-Stouffville
Estimates
Free & on-site
Before we start
Written scope
On site
Same crew throughout
What's included
The scope, not the adjectives.
Base & bedding
- Non-woven geotextile over the subgrade
- 300 mm Granular A in 75–100 mm lifts
- Plate-compacted between every lift
- 25 mm HPB bedding, screeded
Surface
- 80 mm driveway-grade pavers
- Soldier course and border detail
- Edge restraint spiked at 250–300 mm
- Polymeric sand swept and set
The spec
Our driveway section, published.
No competitor in this market publishes theirs. Compare it against any quote you have in hand.
- 80 mmDriveway-grade pavers80 mm units under vehicles, 60 mm on walkways and patios. Using 60 mm on a driveway is the most common shortcut in the trade.
- 25 mmHPB bedding courseScreeded high-performance bedding, kept to one inch. A thick sand bed is a rutting problem waiting to happen.
- 300 mmGranular A base, compacted in lifts12 inches under a driveway, 150 mm under walkways and patios — placed in 75–100 mm lifts and plate-compacted between each one. One deep dump of gravel compacts on the surface and stays loose underneath.
- FabricNon-woven geotextileSeparates base from subgrade so your clear stone doesn't slowly migrate into the clay. Cheap on install day, impossible to add later.
- EdgesRestraint spiked at 250–300 mmPolymeric sand swept and set into the joints. Edges are where interlock starts to walk apart.
One question separates a good quote from a cheap one: how deep is the base, and how many lifts is it compacted in?
Our work
Driveways and walkways we've built.
Before
After
Driveway — full set
Reserved: the same driveway before, at base depth, and finished.
Driveway — detail
Reserved: soldier course, cuts and edge restraint close-ups.
What it costs
What moves the number.
Typical range
Ask for a figure
We publish real numbers rather than "it depends" — but only once they're ours to publish. Our written ranges are being finalised; call and we'll give you one over the phone in a minute. What moves the number:
- Square footage, and how much of it is cuts and curves rather than straight runs
- Base depth and what's underneath — clay, fill or rubble all change the excavation
- Access: a wheelbarrow-only backyard costs more than a driveway a machine can reach
- Disposal volume — what comes out has to go somewhere
- Paver tier, from standard precast through to premium and natural stone
- Steps, walls, lighting or drainage tied into the same job
Working with us
Five steps, no surprises.
01
Site visit
We measure, check drainage and grade, and talk through what you actually want. Free, and no pressure to sign anything.
02
Written quote
Scope, materials, base depth and price in writing. You'll know exactly what's included before a shovel moves.
03
Schedule & locates
Ontario One Call locates booked, materials ordered, start date confirmed. A realistic window, not an optimistic one.
04
Build
Excavation, base, compaction, install. Site cleaned at the end of each day — you still have to live there.
05
Walkthrough
We walk it together before final payment. Anything on your list gets fixed, then we're back if settling shows up.
Questions
Interlocking, answered.
How deep should the base under an interlocking driveway be?
Under a driveway we build 300 mm — twelve inches — of compacted Granular A, placed in 75–100 mm lifts with the plate compactor run between each lift. Walkways and patios get 150 mm. Depth alone isn't enough: gravel dumped in one deep layer compacts on the surface and stays loose underneath, which is exactly how a driveway sinks in year three.
How long does an interlocking driveway take?
A typical two-car residential driveway runs three to five working days: a day to excavate and haul out, a day or two building and compacting base, then laying, cutting, edging and sanding. Weather and access change it. Your written scope gives you the window before we start.
What's the difference between interlock, stamped concrete and asphalt?
Interlock is individual units on a flexible base, so a settled or stained area can be lifted and reset without touching the rest. Stamped concrete is one slab — it looks excellent and costs less to install than premium pavers, but a crack is permanent and repairs always show. Asphalt is cheapest up front and needs resealing every few years. In Ontario's freeze-thaw the flexible system is the one that tolerates ground movement.
Will my interlock sink or heave over the winter?
Properly built, it moves very little. Heaving is a base and drainage failure, not a paver failure — water held under the surface freezes and lifts. That's why we build to 300 mm, compact in lifts, separate the base from the subgrade with geotextile, and slope everything a minimum of 2% away from the foundation.
Do I need a permit for an interlocking driveway in Ontario?
Replacing an existing driveway in the same footprint generally does not require a building permit. Widening it, or cutting a new curb, does need municipal approval and the rules differ between Markham, Richmond Hill, Vaughan and Stouffville. We'll tell you which applies before quoting. Ontario One Call locates are booked on every job — that part is legally required and free.
Do you handle disposal and cleanup?
Yes. Excavated soil and old material are hauled off as part of the job, and the site is swept and tidied at the end of each working day. You still have to live there while we build.
How far ahead should I book for spring?
Spring fills from January onward. If you want work done between April and June, the quote should be signed over the winter. Booking late is the single most common reason people end up with whoever happens to be free.
Service area
Across the GTA, based in Stouffville.
Driveway work concentrated across York Region and east Toronto.
MarkhamStouffvilleRichmond HillAuroraNewmarketVaughanUxbridgePickeringAjaxScarboroughNorth YorkKing City
Elsewhere in the GTA? Call and ask — we travel for the right project.
Related
Other things we build.
Free estimate
Get a driveway quote.
Fill this in and we'll get back to you to book a site visit — usually the same day.
Or call directly(647) 473-3454