There’s much more to know about when it comes to selecting a pavement material option than just what appeals to the eye. Initially, stamped concrete may appear similar to pavers. But for durability and maintenance, pavers take the lead not only in design, but also in the actual long-term costs associated with upkeep over time.

As a responsible homeowner, you want your driveway, patio, walkway, or pool deck to stand up to the weather, require little maintenance, and look like new for a long time to come.  You also want your outdoor spaces to be cost-efficient.  That’s why the popularity of pavers (also referred to as “paving stones” and “brick pavers”) is taking off.  The unrivaled beauty, easy maintenance, and cost effectiveness over time of properly executed paving stone installations are becoming increasingly more evident to homeowners.

Concrete

Concrete (along with asphalt) has been one of the most common paving materials used in the past.  The low cost per square foot makes concrete materials the natural choice for many homeowners, as it initially seems to be a fairly cheaper selection. However, the eventual cracking of concrete leads to a long-term cost that’s far greater than just installing paving stones initially. Plus the homeowner gets to enjoy all of the benefits pavers offer.

Cracked Concrete Driveway

It is almost inevitable that concrete will crack at some point in time. Common causes of cracking are when the base moves due to heavy loads or settlement, and the fact that concrete tends to shrink over time. Concrete can also crack as a result of the expansion and contraction caused by heat, and other changes in temperature and weather. The reason contractors place joints in concrete pavements and floors is to encourage the concrete to crack in a neat, straight line at the joint.  But this doesn’t always happen, and cracks can appear at random anywhere across the surface of the concrete.

As these cracks form over time, it is often difficult to match the color and composition of the original material every time a repair is needed.  As a result, concrete surfaces worsen in appearance with each repair.  The alternative to repairing the concrete is to replace the entire structure when the cracks become unbearable.  By the time it’s dismantled and properly disposed of, it will likely cost eight to eleven dollars per square foot each time you have to replace existing concrete!

Advantages of Brick Pavers/Paving Stones

Interlocking pavers solve all of the problems described above, and are appropriate for any paving application including patios, pool decks, driveways and walkways.  Because pavers are individual units or “bricks,” the natural joints between each paver will “give” with pressure, expansion and contraction, eliminating the cracking inherent to conventional asphalt and concrete pavement.

• Pavers do not require time to cure.  Unlike concrete, which can take 3 to 5 days before being ready for traffic, paver structures can be used immediately after installation.
• The high number of joints in the surface facilitates the drainage of water from rain.
• If deformation should occur due to shifting of the base, the structure can easily be repaired by removing individual pavers, re-leveling, and then reinstalling the same pavers.
• Pavers provide a pool environment that is less slippery, and has the desirable look of natural stone.
• Paver patios don’t crack and will stay beautiful for as long as you’re in your home.
• If a repair ever does become necessary, pavers are manufactured to be uniform and can therefore easily be replaced without leaving ugly patches or scars.

Installed over a base of sand, pavers actually increase their structural capacity over time. With a minimum rating of 8000 psi, paving stones are one of the strongest paving materials available, rivaled only by brick.

To be a paver it must have the following characteristics:

• An average compressive strength of 8,000 psi or greater
• An average absorption no more than 5%
• Resistance to at least 50 freeze-thaw cycles with average material loss not exceeding 1%
• Conformance to abrasion resistance tests
• A length to thickness ratio of no more that 4:1 (that’s right a paver that has a side longer that 4 times it’s height is no longer a paver – it’s just a slab of concrete)
• Unsightly pavers can be replaced (I once had a customer spill rusty water on some)
• They can be picked up to allow for a utility line or pipe to be repaired, and then placed back down and no one would ever know the difference

Concrete (this is true of many different types of concrete – stamped, textured, exposed aggragate etc…)

• Concrete is ordered by the contractor usually between 3500 – 4500 psi and a slump of between 3-7, I like 5 or 6 depending on the weather
• Cracking of concrete is a feature not a flaw
• Different batches of concrete may be different colors
• Unless you have samples taken (think large projects and state jobs) quality control is a mixed bag
• placing something as simple as a wire or pipe underneth can require expensive saw cutting and / or jack hammering

Now that you know a little about the two, lets talk about which is better when.

Poured concrete is great at taking compression loads just not as great at taking tensile loads. For example concrete makes excellent footings for decks – in fact I would say the best. Poured concrete is also great for foundation walls. The walls will surely develop cracks but usually that is acceptable for a basement. And when it is not acceptable such as in a finished basement the walls are covered up anyway.

What it is not good at is being poured 4″ thick and being driven on. It’s not that you can’t do it, it’s just next to impossible to stop it from developing cracks. Have you ever heard of the saying – “Step on a crack – break your mothers’ back”. Try walking down a sidewalk and not seeing a crack.

This is a picture of stamped concrete with a crack in it!

Now what are pavers good at and why?

Pavers are great at taking those loads. They do this because of the way that they interlock in 3 different ways.

1. Horizontal interlock – this is the pavers ability to resist side to side shifting movement, it is created by the pattern of the pavers allong with the tightness of that pattern and at the edges of the project edge restraints. They can be aluminium edge restraints specifically designed for this application set in place with 12″ spikes. Edge restraints can also be the concrete foundation that the patio is up against, a curb etc.
2. Vertical interlock – this is the pavers ability to resist moving either up or down. Vertical interlock is primarily achieved by the tightness of the pattern and the quality of the preperation of the sub-base and base materials inder the pavers.
3. Rotational interlock – this is the pavers ability to resist rotating. We’ve all experienced stepping on a piece of flag stone only to have one side lift up. That is the flag stone rotating. Creating this type of interlock is achieved through the tightness of the pattern and the ratio of the paver height to length. That’s why flagstone lifts, no rotational interlock.

Pavers are also good at being low maintanence – just a few cleanings a year with a blower will keep them looking great! And by the way properly installed pavers will not have weeds growing through them. Buy that’s a whole blog atricle in itself.

Still don’t believe how strong pavers are? Below is a Driveway that we built and drove a 70,000 pound truck on it just 2 days after construction. And we drove it right to edge.

1. US scientists calculated that Santa would have to visit 822 houses a second to deliver all the world’s presents on Christmas eve, travelling at 650 miles a second.
2. The abbreviation Xmas isn’t irreligious. The letter X is a Greek abbreviation for Christ.
3. Electric lights for trees were first used in 1854.
4. In 1999, residents of the state of Maine built the largest ever Snowman. He stood 113 ft. tall.
5. The first Christmas card was designed in 1843 by J.C. Horsley.
6. The poinsettia is a traditional Christmas flower. In Mexico (its original birthplace), the poinsettia is known as the “Flower of the Holy Night”.
7. All the gifts listed in the “12 Days of Christmas” would total to 364 and would cost over $100,000 to buy.
8. According to data analyzed by Facebook posts, two weeks before Christmas is one of the two most popular times for couples to break up. However, Christmas day is the least favorite.
9. Christmas wasn’t declared an official holiday in the United States until June 26th, 1870.
10. In 1962 the first Christmas stamp was issued in the United States.
11. Christmas purchases make up 1/6 of retail sales in the U.S.
12. Christmas shopping may be hazardous to your health. If you are an avid Christmas shopper, statistics say that you will be elbowed at least three times while shopping.
13. It was once believed that any woman who went under the mistletoe and was not kissed would not marry the coming year.
14. The single busiest shopping hour occurs December 24th between 3 and 4 in the afternoon.
15. “Jingle Bells” was originally written for a Thanksgiving celebration in 1857.
16. The definition of a white Christmas in England is when one snowflake falls on the London Weather Center in the 24 hours of 25 December.
17. An old wives’ tale says if you bake bread on Christmas Eve it will never go bad.
18. More than 40% of toys given to children on Christmas are broken by March.
19. The Statue of Liberty was the world’s largest Christmas present, at 46.5 meters high and weighing 225 tons!
20. Christmas trees usually grow for about 15 years before they are sold.

At Houston Pavers, we pride ourselves on being one of the premier pavers in Houston and surrounding areas. We can help you cut through the maze of choices and select just the right materials for your taste and budget.

The Following are some of the options along with a few pros & cons of each:

Natural Quarried stone: Truly the most beautiful, but most expensive choice. Available in enormous ranges of shape & color. For a more formal look choose cut-edge rectangular shapes, for an informal country look go with irregular shapes. Some of the stone types popular in this region are: Bluestone- varies from blue to gray coloration with fairly smooth surface; Chilton or Fondulac-neutral tones with swirls of brown to purple/orange colors, surface is somewhat rough; Granite- traditional dark grey granite color with very smooth cut surface, very formal.

Gravel: A practical low cost alternative for secondary paths and garden walkways. Smaller aggregate loose rock is available in many colors to reflect your taste. Can be laid over a compacted base (or more permanence) Easy to maintain, but difficult for snow removal.

Concrete Pavers: Once considered a poor alternative to natural stone, concrete pavers have taken their rightful place as high quality, versatile paving materials. They come in an endless variety of shapes and colors and are equally at home in a cottage garden or a grand estate. Today’s concrete pavers are long lasting, durable in our harsh Northern winter climate, and easy to repair. Paver bricks can be laid in many different patterns for varied interest.

Poured Concrete: Previously was the standard of choice for all paving, but has fallenout of favor due to maintenance issues and the emergence of other materials. Can be dyed and stamped for more appeal. Consider it a medium priced alternative.

Patio pavers have a multitude of uses and they are much better than using simple concrete. Concrete can crack and fracture from freezing rain or the ground settling. With brick patio pavers they are free to move with the ground as they are small and aren’t mortared in place. Usually they are held together with a sand filler. Other times they lay there on their own. It depends on the paver and how you are using it. Pavers are cheaper to install than concrete too, however you can still spend a small fortune on certain types of patio paver.

Installation is fairly simple if you want to do it yourself. Just pick out the kind of paver you want to use and then draw up a design. It will require you to haul away a lot of dirt so be prepared for that kind of landscaping. This could require a Bobcat to dig up the dirt and a dump truck to haul it away. Selecting the pavers can be daunting if your staring at a landscape yard full of them. The prices have severe swings depending on the material, blue-stone being the most expensive.

Brick looks the best no matter what kind of design you decide on. It’s also the cheapest way to go. Once you level the ground and lay your sand buffer you can begin to set the bricks. Once you have them all in place you just brush more sand over them to fill in the cracks. Rinse it down to get the sand to settle and keep doing this until the sand stops settling. Then you have your very own do-it-yourself patio pavers installed and there to enjoy for years to come.

Save Time And Effort In Maintenance

The biggest benefit of sealing pavers is that they do not require high maintenance. Dirt does not tend to tick on them stubbornly and hence, a simple wiping of the surface or pressure washing if stains are too greasy gets rid of any unwanted deposited. In fact, the water board recommends sealing concrete pavers in order to save water.

Sealing Lends Long Life To Pavers

By sealing a pavers, you are essentially putting a shield that protects it from being damaged due to various factors such as reaction with acid and fungal infestations. Further, it prevents sand and cement in the joints from washing out due to heavy rains and storms, thus preventing loosening of stones. The hazardous effects of freezing and thawing, that tend to ruin most of the pavers is eliminated due to sealing. Sealing pavers protects them under all weathers and high traffic loads. As a result, your pavers is well preserved.

Sealing Enhances Appearance Of The Pavers

Once sealed, the pavers wear a clean and glossy look. If you have used color pigment while laying the pavers or a naturally colored stone, then a coat on it enhances the appearance of the color. Sealers that use UV protection elements prevent fading of the pavers due to exposure to sunlight. Further, since sealing pavers keeps them protected from effervescence and formation of microorganisms, they look well maintained and clean, because of which, the appearance of not only your pavers but also your entire house or office is enhanced.

Sealing Pavers Saves You Money

If the estimate for sealing your pavers inclines slightly to the higher side, you do get discouraged. Think of it as an investment that gets you great returns. Pavers that are sealed neither require high maintenance, nor are they damaged easily. You do not have to pay for pressure cleaning and disinfection frequently. Pavers remain stronger and well preserved for longer durations. Further, sealers are flexible and versatile in their usage and the same sealer can be used for different kinds of surfaces such as cement or stone.

Pavers are the red carpet into your home or office. They make the first impression on visitors. Therefore, they need to be well maintained and kept clean. Sealing pavers is a great way to save time, effort and money. However, make sure that you use a good quality sealer or hire an efficient sealing contractor so that you can make the most of your investment.

Weeds, debris, and wear and tear can damage the pavement’s appearance by forming stains. Different types of stains require different cleaning approaches and it would be better to consult a professional for advice on these matters.

The pavement should be regularly swept with a broom. This will enable you to get a clear view of any change in appearance or damage to the pavement and then decide about the proper course of action. It will also prevent accumulation of debris.

Powdered detergent can be mixed in water and swiveled over the pavement. Use a hand held brush with tough bristles to wipe off any dirt or spots. For food and alcohol stains a neutral or organic cleaner has to be used. It has to be mixed with water and made into a solution. This solution has to be sprayed or swiveled on to the pavement and then washed off for optimal results.

If there are oil stains they have to be covered with saw dust or litter. After allowing sufficient time they should be removed and the pavement cleaned using bleach or any other appropriate cleaning product. Make sure that the products for cleaning pavers do not have any hydrochloric acid content as it can impart a rusty appearance to the pavement.

Rain water and water left over after cleaning pavers has to be removed immediately. Stagnant water leaves behind a whitish-yellow salt deposit on the pavement. This is referred to as efflorescence. This normally affects pavements made of clay and concrete. The pavement has to be swept with a broom and then washed thoroughly using a hose pipe to get rid of efflorescence.

You can mix white vinegar and water in 1:10 ratio and pour it on to the pavement. After ten minutes direct a jet of water using a hose pipe and wash off the solution before it dries.

You can also use a pressure cleaner or power washer for cleaning pavers to eliminate any stubborn lichens or other debris. Use the pressure cleaner as per the guidelines provided or you will end up spoiling the pavement rather than making it spotless.

Bleach of strength between 3 to 8 per cent can be used after diluting with water to clean pavements. Never use the thick gelatinous bleach as it might have other chemical constituents that will mutilate the appearance of the pavement.

Fill up sand in any of the loose joints and use a joint stabilizer to glue together any loose blocks of the pavement. Always make sure that the whole pavement is cleaned and not just the affected part as it will otherwise give a mottled appearance. Gather the debris obtained during cleaning pavers at one place and dispose it off properly.

In the Southeastern US, most suggest using at least a 4-6 inch base of crushed stone, and even up to 7 inches is suggested in areas prone to harsh winter weather. For brick pavers, this means that you’ll need to dig down to about 9″ in depth, since the pavers are 2 inches in height. Since this is a lot of digging, it may be one of the primary reasons to hire a professional.

Before digging, make sure that you understand where all underground utilities are identified. To find out, you can order a “utility locate,” by calling 811.

Next, measure and mark the area that you will be paving. Allow an extra 6-8 inches beyond the farthest dimensions of the patio to provide a firm base for the entire area of pavers and to allow for minor adjustments during the laying and cutting in of the pavers. Place stakes at the edges of the markings and attach a string line to the stakes at the final height.

Now, firm up the subsoils using a compactor with a least compressive force of 3200 pounds and begin adding 6-7 inches of crushed stone on top. Add thickness of 2-3 inches at a time until within 3 inches of the string line.

Finally, after laying out a 1 inch conduit pipe on both sides, fill the area with paver base and, by means of the pipes as a guide, begin the screeding (or leveling) procedure using a long board. The conduits will later be removed and the trenches left behind filled in with sand.

At last, you can begin laying pavers in rows and patterns selected. When all have been placed, the cutting in process may be started if needed, using a cutoff saw. Paver edge restraint and soldier course should be added to prevent dispersion and a layer of joint sand employed, which is to be swept into the cracks. Polymeric sand is suggested, which will harden after it has been added. Although not mandatory, this is a good idea to minimize insects “moving” the joint sand and week growth in the cracks in the patio.

Belgard provides pavers to fit every hardscape project, design style, and budget. Belgard pavers are divided into three categories based on texture: natural, classic and antique. For this week’s blog, the Classic Collection will be featured.

Mixing Colors

Today, with an uneasy economy and travel prices high, “stay-cations” are all the rage. Creating your vacation backyard can provide you with years of enjoyment. The two products in the Classic collection are Holland Stone and Cambridge Cobble pavers both offer various color combinations to bring your outdoor space to life. “Belgard puts in 20,000 hours to keep up with the trends of colors to stay ahead of the curve,” Laurie Smith of Belgard said. Outdoor pavers are not only easy for a selection color combinations but also for add ons. When you need to add electric or plumbing under concrete, you must tear it up and repour, causing “patches.” With pavers,future construction is as easy as pulling up a few pavers, doing the work and reinstalling them – leaving no marks. Plus, all Belgard pavers offer a lifetime warrantee – bet your concrete can’t do that!

Holland

The Holland Stone pavers are extremely durable and easily integrated into any style. With a simple rectangular shape, a handful of choices in patterns are just a design away. When you use Belgard products, many collections can be mixed and matched due to the consistency of color. Consider beyond the paver and look to Belgard’s collection of walls, steps, firepits, and an entire outdoor kitchen. Take a look through our Lifestyles catalog to get ideas.

Cambridge

The Cambridge Cobble collection has more of a tailored architectural look and provides the elegant European design to your home. Available in rectangular, squared and circular shapes, you can create numerous patterns and designs creating interest in your outdoor space. The Cambridge Cobble collection gives off a woodsy feeling with its earth tone color scheme.

Cambridge

These pavers will have you feeling like the woods are your very own backyard. Consider installing Cambridge Cobble pavers from your house out into the backyard to provide a long pathway. Look to have more of a neutral color for your furniture choice such as an iron bench with a lighter colored pillow. Also, think about adding a small, dark colored pergola to enhance the feeling of your backyard. Japanese hydrangeas are a great plant selection along your Cambridge Cobble walkway.

All collections have color choices, each with variations mimicking a natural feel, and your local Belgard dealer can provide samples for your next project.

Belgard takes pride in offering a lifetime warranty on all its pavers. With unsurpassed standards in the industry and an artisan’s attention to detail, these products are sure to add value to your home for years to come. And, when it comes to installation, count on a Houston Pavers. They have been trained on the latest techniques and methods of installation so you can be assured of a quality outcome with a product that is as durable as it is beautiful.