This article describes the activities required to install the long awaited heated driveway.
Background
When I built the house, I also intended to install a heated driveway, however since some of the areas were backfilled with new material (i.e. the stairs/landing to the front door, etc.), it was decided to wait for the ground to settle before installing. However, we then got delayed by the sale of the neighbours house and the COVID pandemic. The neighbours house is stalled, but it is finally time to have the driveway completed.
The Current State of the Driveway:
The driveway was left as crushed limestone (basically screening). The main portion of the driveway is approximately 640 square feet with a 4" drop on the high side and a 10" drop on the lower side.
Design
The design is to include 5 heating loops (using a 6 loop 3/4" PVC header - which will leave us with a spare loop) using 3/4" Glycol PVC loops to heat the area. 4 Loops are designed in for the main driveway space (640 sq feet) and a single loop under the front steps and landing leading to the front door which is a shorter loop of approximately 50 square feet. So in total about 700 square feet of heated areas. This will require about 1,000 feet of 3/4" PVC pipe.
After debating the cheaper option to use patterned concrete (in one pour) versus the more expensive 80 mil pavers with a concrete base, and taking into consideration the fact that we are late in the season and will have to use the more expensive 'winter concrete', the final decision was made to use the pavers.
Project Updates
Even before we started work, a repair is required to the Water Box valve in the middle of the driveway. The repair is needed to repair a slightly bent and corroded pipe. A simple coupling, pipe extension, threading and welding is what is needed to do the fix.
Water Box Repair
With the Water Box repaired, it is time to focus on getting the orders in for the driveway materials.
Driveway Materials
Pucks
We are using the styrofoam "Pucks" system to insulate and manage the PVC pipes.
Pavers
Ordered the Trevista 80mil pavers sold in 3 sizes to be placed in a pattern to match the house ‘stone work’.
Header and Pipe
We are using a 6 port header and plan to install it just inside the Garage on the wall and run 2 pipes (hot and cold) back to the gas boiler. In order to have the PVC heating loops enter the garage I needed to “chip out” the concrete floor in the corner of the garage and then tunnel through the block under the front of the garage so as not to have to cut the threshold.
More updates to come....