Are you interested in having a custom paver driveway or paver walkway built for your home? We can create a warm and welcome grand entrance. A driveway or walkway built with pavers makes an inviting first impression your visitors will long remember.
But don’t be fooled by their beauty, landscape pavers are as tough as you’ll find and stand-up to winter’s harsh chill or summer’s blazing heat.
Pavers are the product most commonly used in landscaping today. They can come in many shapes and sizes but are generally several inches thick. They are made of molded, compressed concrete. They are very dense and 3 to 4 times stronger than regular poured concrete surfaces. They are much more durable than a brick but probably less durable than a granite cobblestone. Because they come in a large variety of colors, textures and shapes, they are the most popular choice for segmental paving today. Click on this link to go to our paver picture album to see examples of pavers used in landscaping.
The advantages of segmental paving over solid surface paving are significant in the life of the finished product. This is especially true in northern climates where the ground freezes and thaws in the winter months.
Freeze/thaw cycles causes the ground to move. As the ground freezes (actually the water in the soil), it expands causing the ground to move. In most cases, the most destructive force is when the ground moves upward or heaves. Any surface above the ground moves with it. If that surface is a solid surface such as poured concrete or asphalt, it moves upward as a solid piece. Do this a few times and in all likelihood, that solid mass will begin to crack. This is often cause by the fact that the ground does not move upward equally across the entire solid surface. Because a solid surface above the ground cannot flex to conform to the shape of the moving ground, the ground under the surface will leave low spot. That low spot does not support the solid slab above it and if downward pressure is applied to that spot in the solid surface, the solid surface will break or crack due to lack of support.
Because a segmental surface will move or flex with the moving ground and each segment is relatively small, there is no cracking. When the ground thaws and moves back, so does each segmental piece go with the moving ground. A segmental surface is like putting a flexible surface on the ground that can move and flex as the ground moves.
The major advantage of pavers is the surface, although it may move, it will not crack like a solid pavement. This is why cobblestones, bricks and pavers have been used to pave surfaces that last hundreds of years. Do you know any concrete streets that are still like new after 10 years?
The many shapes, patterns, and colors of Concrete Pavers allow for design creativity, as well as delineation of pavement areas, such as parking lanes, cross walks, and intersections. The beauty of pavers adds value and visual appeal to any property. By adding flexibility not possible with rigid pavement, pavers can flow with existing landscaping to deliver beauty to any property.
Suppliers stock rustic stone-like pavers to hose that look like clay brick. Light colored pavers offer a cooler surface around patios and pool decks.
Cost savings can be achieved for small and simple projects by homeowners installing the pavement themselves with the aid of a good DIY installation manual, usually provided by the manufacturer of the paver products. Generally, concrete pavers are less expensive than clay pavers, granite pavers or sandstone pavers. When considering maintenance and replacement costs, pavers offer an economical long-term alternative to other types of pavement.
Concrete pavers are extremely dense units, which possess exceptional strength and durability, superior stability under severe loads, and are unaffected by the extremes of heat and frost. Each unit has joints that allow for a small amount of movement without cracking. Factory made pavers last for decades. Manufactured to tight dimensional tolerances, pavers are stronger than regular poured concrete surfaces and more durable than black asphalt. They can take more abuse and last for generations. One of the greatest advantages is that a segmental paving system allows for expansion and contraction without producing surface cracks, unlike solid concrete surfaces and stamped concrete.
Remove and reinstate the same pavers with no ugly patches after repairs to the base or underground utilities. Asphalt, concrete, and stamped concrete cannot make this claim. Pavers are low-maintenance and offer low life-cycle costs.
One of the other good advantages is that stained or broken pavers can be easily replaced without patches. Dark colored pavers can help hide stains. Ants and weeds in joints can be prevented with sealers or herbicides. Pavers can be repaired by lifting the affected area, re-grading and re-compacting the base and bedding sand and reinstalling the same pavers. It is an inexpensive procedure that leaves no unsightly repair patches.
Pavers are easy to maintain. Regular sweeping and occasional rinsing are usually the most maintenance needed. For heavy soiling, pressure washing with appropriate clearing solutions (re-sanding of joints will be necessary) or a simple spot treatment with a brush, cleaner, water and some elbow grease will solve the problem.
Pavers can also be sealed. This makes the even more maintenance free and this is a good idea for high traffic areas or areas that are more susceptible to getting stained.
Because pavers have a porous joint between them, they provide excellent drainage. The water can seep down through the joints and into the ground. Ecologically, this prevents water runoff, which may damage the surrounding areas. Water goes into the ground not into the sewer system.
Snow can be plowed, blown or shoveled just like asphalt or concrete pavements. The chamfered (beveled) edge of pavers will prevent you from catching an edge with the plow or shovel. Using de-icing products like salt or calcium chloride will not harm or pit the pavers. Electric or liquid snow-melting systems work well under concrete pavers, eliminating snow removal while reducing slip hazards. Smooth surface allows for easy snow removal. Pavers can be colored dark to help melt snow faster. Snowmelt systems can be installed to eliminate snow and ice removal. Concrete pavers resist deterioration of freezing and thawing cycles and deicing salts better than asphalt and better than ordinary poured in place concrete.
Pavers can be used in any climate and can be trafficked immediately upon compaction. The joints between the pavers eliminate the cracking common with traditional asphalt and concrete pavements.
Interlocking concrete pavers are a flexible system and allow for movement, they are almost indestructible, the pavement system moves in unison with the earth’s usual tendency to swell and contract over the long term thus avoiding any serious damage.
Pavers can be applied in both residential and commercial settings, including surface coverings for driveways, parking lots, promenades, sidewalks, pool decks, patios, streets, golf cart paths and even roof gardens. Interlocking concrete pavers are a sensible and aesthetically attractive choice for all outdoor surfaces.
On both vehicular and pedestrian applications pavers have a non-skid surface even when the pavers are wet they are safe to walk or drive a vehicle over them.
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Commercial Grounds Care and Landscaping Services Minnesota
GroundsCare Inc. and GroundsCare Landscapes
7275 County Road 116
P.O. Box 124
Hamel, MN 55340
Phone: 952-924-2441