Paver Patios
Are you dreaming of a gorgeous paver patio for your outdoor living space? Paver patios are one of the most beautiful and function investments you can make into your space!
We build our patios custom to perfectly meet your needs and fit your space. Whether you want a herringbone brick pattern, a cambridge cobble three piece, or large travertine style pavers, we have you covered!
Benefits of Pavers
If you're looking to add an outdoor living space to your landscape, you have options! More turf? A pea gravel or mulched natural area? Poured Concrete? As you consider the best option for your property, here are 5 of the benefits of paver patios to consider.
1. High-End Look and Feel
Be honest - when have you ever seen a paver patio that you didn't like? It's rare. Pavers provide a custom and luxurious feel that just can't be beat. Poured concrete can provide the same functionality at a lower cost, but concrete doesn't add to the beauty of your landscape; in fact, concrete can actually make your outdoor living space feel industrial, cold, or uninviting. Pavers, on the other hand, will always catch your guests' attention. If pavers fit in your budget, you'll never regret it!
2. No Cracking!
One of the biggest drawbacks of concrete patios is that they crack, and when they crack, there's no going back. A good concrete installation can certainly help to prevent cracking, but there's no way to absolutely avoid it. Pavers, on the other hand, don't crack! Between each paver comes in it's pre-manufactured size and shape, the patio has lots of natural joints. These joints dramatically decrease the chance of irreparable damage. If any pavers do eventually deteriorate, you can replace a single paver; no need to completely re-do the project!
3. Increased Durability
When installed properly, paver patios can and should last beyond your lifetime! Concrete cracks, flagstone mortar chips, mulch deteriorates, and pea gravel washes away, but pavers will be reliable day in and day out for many, many years. If you plan to add extra weight to your paver patio - like a hot tub or parking for a vehicle - let your us know when we provide an estimate; we can add additional base material to ensure that your pavers will hold up against whatever you throw at them!
4. Low-Maintenance
You want to enjoy your outdoor living space, not maintain it! Well there's good news for you! Paver patios require very little maintenance. To finish the installation process, we will fill the joints and seal the patio together with polymeric sand. When the polymeric sand dries, it is hard to the touch, meaning that you have a truly "hard" surface - no loose sand to deal with! It also prevents weed growth on your patio. When installed correctly, this seal will last 10+ years. If desired, the pavers can be sealed 6-12 months after installation to prevent staining.
5. Wide Variety of Color & Style Options
If you decide to install a paver patio in your outdoor living space, you will have options galore! We work primarily with Belgard and Techo-Bloc pavers, but there are more supplies. Each of these manufacturers has dozens of color and style options. Do you love the herringbone brick paver walkways common in high end urban centers? Maybe you prefer a three-piece Cambridge Cobble set. Or perhaps your motto is "go big or go home" - you've love Techo-Bloc's Sleek Pavers or Belgard's Lafitt Rustic Slab collection. Whatever your style, we have something perfect for you and your space.
Paver Patio Construction
Proper paver installation is absolutely essential. Patios are not just decorative; they have to be able to withstand any forces that are or could be applied. Sadly, many, many patios are built with insufficient structural integrity, causing them to sag, sink, and deteriorate far too quickly.
Here are the steps we take to help ensure that your new patio with stand strong decades.
1. Excavate the Area
If your home builder began the building process by laying your wood floors directly onto dirt, would you feel good about buying that house? Of course not! Neither should you pay someone your hard earned money is all they are going to do is smooth out some sand and lay out your pavers. That kind of paver patio will not last. The first step is to dig out approximately 8 or more inches of soil to prepare space for the sub-base material.
2. Install the Sub-Base
When the dirt has been removed, sub-base can be installed. The most common materials used for sub-base are 57 stone and crusher run. Both products have a high compaction rate, meaning that they are unlikely to shift after the patio is finished. At least 4 inches of sub-base material should be installed and compacted with a plate compactor. This step gives the patio is strength. Our installation crew will be making sure the area is as level as possible as they compact the base material.
3. Install Paver Base
Now that the sub-base has been installed, one inch of 89 stone or granite sand (M10) will be installed and screeded at the proper slope for water drainage. When this step is complete, there will be a perfectly smooth surface. The pavers will be installed directly onto this smooth surface; this means that you won't have any hills or valley's in your patio.
4. Lay the Pavers
Now the fun begins. After all the tedious, underground work is done, the pavers can finally be installed. There are many patterns to choose from. Our designers can help you decide which pattern will be best for your paver selection and your space. If you've chosen a 3-piece paver set, we recommend a random pattern; random patterns prevent the patio from looking formulaic or boxy. Your installation crew will be extremely careful not to put excess weight on the pavers as they work; too much pressure on one paver before the installation is complete can cause the paver to dig into the base, creating an uneven surface.
5. Install Edging
When the pavers are cut and laid in place, a strong plastic edging in installed and held in place by stakes to keep the pavers from shifting. It is possible to use mortar to hold the outer edges of the patio in place, but this is not ideal. Mortar can cause uneven settling and prevent grass from growing near the edge of the pavers.
6. Install Polymeric Sand
The final step in the process is the installation of the polymeric sand. Polymeric sand includes polymers that, when activated by water, act as a binding agent in the joints between the pavers. This locks all the pavers together into one cohesive unit. First, our crew will sweep the polymeric sand into all the joints. Next, we will run over the patio again with a plate compactor, pushing the sand all the way down into the joints. The patio must be completely dry during this process so that no sand binds to the top of your pavers. After ensuring that there is no excess sand on top, we will carefully wet down the patio, activating the polymers. When the sand dries, your patio is ready for use!
