Paver Installation

One of our most popular projects is pavers-- and for good reason! Pavers often come with a a lifetime warranty, they are durable and when installed correctly can last for a very long time. When we install pavers, we follow ICPI standards and this is the process we use:

PLANNING Determine the area to be paved. Measure for square footage and sketch a diagram of the shape & pattern of paving stone desired.

PREPARING / EXCAVATING Before beginning excavation, make sure there are no utility lines within the area to be paved. Excavate area to the proper depth depending on the type of traffic. Refer to cross section diagram.

ALLOW FOR DRAINAGE  Establish the finish grade and slope or pitch of pavement to allow for drainage. Lay out the lines and corners with string line and stakes. Compact sub-base with mechanical compactor.

BASE INSTALLATION Spread aggregate base uniformly throughout the entire excavated area and 8 in. beyond perimeter lines. Base aggregate material should be processed 3/4” minus gravel or crushed concrete blend.

BASE COMPACTION Compact the base aggregate evenly throughout the area with a mechanical plate compactor. Do not compact the base aggregate in more than 4” layers. The compacted base should conform to the contour of the finished paved area. The grade of the base aggregate should be 3” to 4” below the finished paving stone surface depending on the thickness of the paver.

SAND SCREEDING Spread 1” of concrete sand evenly over the compacted base. Screed the bedding sand to a level, smooth surface using a screed board.  For areas wider than the width of the screed board, use 1” conduit pipe as screed guides 4’ apart. Screed sand, remove screed rails & fill in depressions with fresh sand. You should end up with a complete layer of smooth sand.  Do not disturb sand bed after it has been screeded.

EDGE RESTRAINTS Install edge restraints as required. Pavers butting against curbs or foundations will not need an edge restraint. Various types of edging materials can be used. Nicolock recommends a Snap Edge edge restraint system since it is easy to install and will not rot or decay.

PAVER PLACEMENT.
Begin placing paving stones on the screeded sand bed in the desired pattern. Hand place the paving stones with a hand tight joint.  Work from the paving stone side of the installation as they are set. To achieve the best mixture of colors and blends, remove pavers from delivered bundles section by section, not layer by layer, and work from several bundles at a time. Cut pieces as needed to fill in the pattern.

FINISHING.
When all pavers are placed, sweep surface clean. Spread a fine jointing sand over the entire surface and broom sweep to fill all joints.  Leaving excess sand on the paving stone surface, tamp the paving stones into the setting bed with the mechanical plate compactor with a rubber pad. Broom sweep more sand to fill any open joints.  Backfill over the top edge restraint and grade. Your installation is complete and ready for use.

Note: Concrete dust created by saw cutting pavers can stain the surface. Be sure to cut pavers away from your installation. The use of an approved safety mask is recommended when cutting any concrete products.

Source: http://www.nicolock.com/homeowner-tools/installation/paving-stone-installation

All About Pavers

One of the products we most commonly recommend for hardscaping is pavers. While pavers are a little more expensive than concrete or asphalt, they are often a better investment. Here's why: concrete and asphalt are poured in large slabs so they tend to crack more easily. Changes in the weather, ice and water accumulation cause small cracks in these materials that can become larger over time. In addition, changes in the earth also cause movement and cracks to the large slabs. Pavers are considered a moveable pavement and they are smaller so they tend to adapt to changes in the earth.

Pavers also tend to come with a lifetime warranty from the manufacturer. Asphalt and concrete are not warrantied. The labor on pavers can also be warrantied longer because the product tends to last longer.

In addition to their durability, pavers have a more luxurious aesthetic. Since outdoor features have one of the highest re-sale values, you can bet that an investment in pavers will get you a larger return on your investment when/if you decide to resell your home.

If you have sustainability on your mind, permeable pavers also offer a green option that can be used to earn LEED credits. While there is also the option of permeable concrete, asphalt does not have a "green" option available.

For all these reasons, we think pavers are one of the best options out there for hardscaping. Although they are slightly more expensive than concrete or asphalt they are cheaper than natural stone or flagstone and their benefits far outweigh the cost difference.

If you are considering installing a hardscape call us at 301-603-1080 to explore all of your options and to weigh the pros and cons of each.

Water Polution

With the recent oil leak in the gulf cost I have been thinking a lot about water pollution. Water is essential to all life forms on this planet. However, polluted water causes more harm than good. Thankfully, modern technology has come up with ways to filter water for our consumption, but that still leaves much of the world's water susceptible to nutrients, toxins, and other harmful chemicals that cause permanent damage to our ecosystems.

I read recently that in a study conducted by the Canadian Freshwater Institute, scientists placed birth control pills in a Canadian lake, which caused male fish to begin developing ovaries. The research was meant to mimic the effect of birth control that filters through the sewage system. However, it is clear from this study that contaminants in the water system create huge implications for our ecosystem.

This issue really hits home since I grew up in the Chesapeake area where all kids in Maryland were forced to watch a video about the watershed and the dangers of erosion, run-off, and water pollution. I have even seen my brother catch frogs and turtles with 5 or 6 arms and legs, deformed, no doubt, from contaminants in the water. It's sad to see the kind of damage that can occur first hand, knowing that the cause is human carelessness.

With that said, there are many ways that we can reduce the number of contaminants that infiltrate our watersheds. Since we deal with landscaping and construction, my focus will be on preventing water pollution in that way.

One good way to prevent, run-off, which is when contaminants wash away into the watershed, is to plant vegetation with a sturdy root system. The roots bind to the soil to keep it in place so less contaminants are washed away.

In addition, retaining walls can be built to prevent erosion, since they hold dirt it place and prevent things like fertilizer from washing into water systems.

Likewise, mulching helps prevent run-off by keeping the layer of topsoil in place. It is also important to use a brand of mulch and fertilizer that is gentler on the environment. Some nutrients in fertilizer can enter the watershed and create an overgrowth of algae that kills sealife.

New permeable concrete and pervious pavers that I talked about in the last blog are also good options since they let water pass through the soil to allow for natural filtration.

I hope these ideas inspire you to be more conscious of water pollution and maybe give some of the ideas a try for your next landscaping/ construction project!