Choosing Concrete Paving Stones
Concrete paving stones are one of the most popular additions to a landscaping project. Made up by molding the concrete in different forms, the pavers are available in a wide variety of colors, textures, sizes and shapes providing an ability to compliment and match with stone and brick veneers utilized elsewhere in adjacent buildings.
Concrete paving stones are widely used on residential and commercial properties. There are several advantages of using them, such as:
• They are quite easy to be installed
• They can be applied almost immediately
• There is no need of special tools required for its installation. All that is needed is a vibrating compactor to prepare the base and pave cutter to make it faster to size the units.
• The entire installation process can be accomplished by a single person
• Projects can be finished over an extended period of time without any evidence
• It is very easy to remove and reinstall it in case underground service is needed.
By choosing a texture, shape, color and size as per your choice, preferences and requirements, you can easily communicate your own creativity of design.
Concrete paving stones can be used in a variety of applications, such as driveways, walkways, sidewalks, patios, roadways and pool decks. However, it is wise to select the paving stones as per the design and structure of the building, and there are certain factors that should be kept in mind while selecting them.
The color of paving stones that you choose should be two shades lighter as compared to that of the building. If you are looking for paving stones for a stone or wood home, then it is better to install brick pavers. Combining the paving stones with a variety of textures is able to create a massive visual appeal. It is also not recommended to lay the concrete paving stones in straight long rows. Use edge pavers in between, if a straight run is required.
Paving stones are heavy in weight and that is why they are fabricated regionally for reducing their shipping costs. Usually, concrete paving stones are available in two thicknesses: 2.375 inches pavers for residential and 3.125 inches for road and commercial applications. This is because residential areas receive less traffic as compared to roads and commercial areas.
There are certain standards of quality pavers that spell out their compression, thaw/ freeze, absorption and strength characteristics. It is wise to make sure that the concrete paving stones that you are choosing are made by a manufacturer who takes care of these basic standards.
As with other products, concrete paving stones are also fabricated in batches and have lot numbers that are associated to each bath. It is not uncommon to notice color variations between batches and if you are planning to lay more than a single pallet of paving stones, it is wise to alternate stones from every pallet so that the color variations are blended when the project gets completed. As with other projects of home improvement, knowledge and planning are the keys of success.
