1. Choosing from a small sample alone
A single unit cannot show the rhythm of a large driveway. Compare a sample layout, the main field and any border beside the house. Look at the approach from the street as well as the close-up color.
2. Leaving vehicle use out of the brief
Everyday cars, turning movements and occasional heavier vehicles are design inputs. Describe that use before a paving system is selected. CMHA’s application guide treats paving as a system with supporting layers and edge details, rather than a decorative surface alone.
3. Treating every paver layout as permeable
Permeable interlocking pavement uses specified openings, joint material and underlying layers to handle water. Ordinary paver joints do not by themselves establish a permeable drainage system. The design must address the actual site and intended water path.
Source: CMHA: permeable pavement systems
4. Comparing incomplete prices
Removal, preparation, installation, edges, transitions and restoration may be described differently in two proposals. Put the scopes side by side before deciding that one total is a better value. Keep options and exclusions visible.
5. Assuming there will be no maintenance
Keep care information for the selected materials and address changed conditions. CMHA identifies joint loss, edge movement and uneven units among the issues that can need attention. A repair should address its cause rather than simply disguise the surface symptom.