pave

Pave is a verb that means to cover a ground surface with a hard, flat, durable material to create a smooth, traffic-bearing surface. In civil engineering and construction, paving refers to laying materials such as asphalt, concrete, brick, or natural stone to form surfaces used for roads, sidewalks, driveways, and plazas. The related noun paving describes the material or the act of laying it, while pavement denotes the finished surface itself.

Etymology traces pave to Old French pave, from Latin pavimentum, meaning a floor or covering. In modern practice, paving encompasses both traditional stone and brick surfaces and modern slip-resistant materials designed to meet drainage, load-bearing, and maintenance requirements.

Common paving materials include asphalt concrete, Portland cement concrete slabs, brick pavers, and flagstone or other natural stones. Interlocking concrete pavers are also widely used for driveways and plazas due to their ease of replacement and design flexibility. Permeable paving systems, which use open grids or porous materials, are adopted to improve drainage and reduce surface runoff. Selection depends on factors such as load type, climate, drainage, aesthetics, and maintenance.

The paving process typically involves site preparation, including grading and drainage provisions, followed by the laying of a base and subbase layers, installation of the surface layer, and compaction. Finishing steps may include edging, sealing, or joint filling. Maintenance ranges from crack sealing and resurfacing to cleaning and sealing of porous surfaces, aimed at extending service life and preserving safety and appearance.