Outdoor Kitchen Design Hardscaping with Concrete Patio Pavers

An outdoor kitchen is an excellent addition to your outdoor living space that can be the perfect place to spend those warm summer nights with family and friends relaxing and enjoying great food and conversation.In the California Bay area, a well designed outdoor kitchen can help you enjoy preparing meals al fresco practically all year long!

At its best, your outdoor kitchen should be as beautiful and functional as your indoor kitchen. Whether you choose to create a simple kitchen with a dining area and a grill, or an elaborate fully fitted outdoor kitchen with built-in appliances, counter space for food prep, a smoker or even a wood burning pizza oven, and relaxing seating, it’s really up to your creative vision and budget.

Working with a professional can help you to create the ideal design based on your needs and existing landscaping, as well as choosing the proper materials and ensuring the highest quality construction. Here are some tips to get you thinking about your kitchen project.

START WITH A GOOD OUTDOOR KITCHEN DESIGN: WORK FROM THE GROUND UP

Before you begin, you’ll need to design a floor plan. Think about your flooring. It’s the foundation on which the rest of your kitchen will rest. It’s also a major element in the aesthetics of your design. An excellent flooring option is concrete pavers. They’re available in a wide variety of sizes, shapes, textures, and colors. They are a durable material that can take the weight of any hardscaping, like grill surrounds, countertops and islands.

Remember, you’re building outside so you want a material that can stand up to the rainy, Bay area weather and offers a non-slip safe surface to walk on and work on. Concrete pavers can take plenty of traffic and stand up to everyday use. It’s a material that will stand up to grease spills and dropped foods, and if it is ever damaged, fixing the surface is as easy as popping out the damaged tile and replacing it with a new one.

CHOOSE YOUR LOCATION WITH CARE

Consider any existing hardscaping when choosing the location for your outdoor kitchen. Think about how you’ll use the space. You can purchase stakes and string and mark the area you’re considering for your kitchen. This can help you to visualize the size of the space and can help you to determine how many features you can fit into the available space.

Take into consideration the placement of items like the grill so that smoke doesn’t blow into your home. Will you need access to your indoor kitchen, or will you have the space for an outdoor refrigerator? Finally, consider the overall flow of your outdoor space and any future expansion, for example, adding a concrete paver and river stone walkway to an outdoor fireplace and seating area.

Also, take into account the infrastructure you’ll need. For example, a wet sink can be a great amenity when it comes to time to clean up. You’ll also want access to electricity for the margarita blender and outdoor lighting! The wiring and plumbing can be placed under concrete pavers. If there is ever a problem, you’ll need to remove the pavers over the utilities, unlike a poured concrete patio which would require a jackhammer to access the lines.

CREATE PLENTY OF WORKSPACE IN YOUR OUTDOOR KITCHEN

Like your indoor kitchen, you’ll want plenty of workspace, counter space and storage to keep your kitchen clutter-free. Make sure the materials you choose are waterproof and can stand up to the weather year round. Consider materials like stainless steel and stone or concrete countertops. Concrete pavers are an excellent material for covering not only the floor but even the grill surround or counter. Creating a long curved countertop with seating is easy using the same pavers as the flooring or incorporating a complementary color or texture.

Concrete pavers are the perfect solution for your outdoor kitchen. They’re a durable, beautiful and affordable way to create the perfect environment for enjoying your outdoor space with family and friends.

If you’re thinking about adding an outdoor kitchen to your home, give the experts at Bayside Pavers a call. We can help you design the perfect outdoor space to compliment your homes existing design.

Top 10 Reasons Why Using Pavers Around Your Pool Is A Great Idea

Nothing beats relaxing by the pool on a hot day in the California Bay Area. Installing a beautiful pool in your backyard is pretty exciting, and very labor intensive. While working with your landscape architect, contractor or design-build professional, the topic of hardscaping your pool surround, and patio will inevitably come up. Odds are your landscape professional will offer you several choices for materials like wood decking, stamped concrete, and concrete pavers.

There’s a bit of a debate in the hardscaping industry as to which of these materials are the best choice for around the pool. Here at Bayside, we believe that when you’re hardscaping the pool area, professionally installed pavers are always the best choice! Here are the top ten reasons why.

THEY WILL LAST A LIFETIME

When professionally installed, nothing can outlast high-quality pavers. They’re incredibly durable; in fact, no other material can withstand the wear and tear of daily use better. Wood can splinter and needs annual staining or painting, concrete slabs can crack, and natural stone can chip, but professionally installed pavers can last a lifetime.

THEY’RE PERFECT FOR AN OUTDOOR ENVIRONMENT

Here in the Bay area, you pool decking is subject to many factors that can contribute to wear and breakage like extreme weather, heat, drastic temperature changes, sunlight and of course water. Lesser materials can fade or fail, but color-through pavers won’t wear or fade even with constant exposure to the elements.

FAST, EASY INSTALLATION

A professional installer can prepare the site and install your decking in days, not weeks like other materials. Once placed, you can begin to enjoy your pool the day your decking is complete. Concrete can take days or even weeks to cure, and stained wood decking can’t be walked on for at least 48 hours after the last coat!

EASY REPAIR

When professionally installed, pavers can last a lifetime. However, accidents happen and a paver may get damaged. Luckily, because they are individually interlocking elements, it’s fast and easy to remove and replace a damaged paver.

THEY’RE SAFE

Tile or stone can be slippery when wet. Because of their texture, pavers are one of the safest alternatives for pool decking.

THEY ARE FLEXIBLE

Pavers are available in some textures, and sizes and can mimic natural stone. They can be arranged in a variety of patterns or designs. This gives you the flexibility to create a look that fits in perfectly with the rest of your landscaping and can meet your aesthetic needs.

PAVERS ARE AFFORDABLE

Installing a new pool is expensive. Pavers are an affordable option that can keep your project on budget. They rival the cost of stamped concrete or wood but are a much more durable, lower maintenance, affordable alternative.

PAVERS CAN BRING NEW LIFE TO AN OLD SPACE

Sometimes it’s time to renew or replace your existing pool decking, for example, if your old concrete decking is cracked and faded. Using a thin profile paver to create a layer on top of your existing decking can bring your pool area back to life.

PAVERS CAN BE MADE FROM A VARIETY OF STONES

Just because you’ve chosen to use pavers doesn’t mean you can’t have the look of natural stone. They can be constructed from a wide variety of stone allowing you to bring the sophistication and style of natural stone to your outdoor space affordably.

PAVERS ARE BEAUTIFUL

The most compelling reason to choose pavers for your pool surround is simply that they’re beautiful! They come in a wide variety of colors, textures, styles, and sizes. You can use pavers to create intricate designs that can bring a sophisticated and elegant look to your landscape, creating a beautiful outdoor environment that the whole family can enjoy.

Professionally installed pool deck pavers can improve the look and add value to your California Bay Area home. If you’d like to learn more about the benefits of using pavers around your pool, give Bayside Pavers a call and ask for a FREE ESTIMATE.

If you’re in the East Bay stop by our location in Concord, CA at 2455 Bates Ave, Ste K or if you’re in the North Bay, our Santa Rosa location at 1619 4th Street Ste 12.

Interlocking Pavers Are Better Than Concrete For Driveways In California

Adding a custom driveway to your property is a great way to welcome your guests in style. Here at Bayside Pavers, we build long-lasting driveways using top-quality pavers that offer durability and add aesthetic appeal to them. Our team can also create a 2D or 3D design rendering so you get a preview of how the finished project will look before we even build it. Contact us today at (866) 225-3512 to learn more about how driveway paver installation can transform the look of your home.

A great feature to add to your new driveway is outdoor lighting. We can install LED lights to light it up at night and showcase its aesthetics! We offer our driveway installation service to homes and HOAs in all of the Bay Area.

We can create a design of your driveway to ensure it meets your goals.

The design process is one of the most important parts of our driveway installation service. When you work with us, we’ll discuss your goals and style to ensure we’re on the same page. Then, we can create a 2D or 3D design rendering of your driveway. This design rendering will give you a preview of what it will look like before we even install it. That way, you can catch small details you want to tweak before we start building it, making the entire process more seamless while giving you peace of mind knowing you’ll receive just what you want!

We have been designing and installing driveways and other outdoor features since 2009!

Why Use Driveway Pavers?

We are often asked, “Why choose driveway pavers over other materials?” The answer lies in their unique combination of durability and aesthetic appeal. Driveway pavers offer a robust alternative to traditional concrete or asphalt surfaces. Their strength surpasses that of typical driveway materials, enabling them to withstand the heavy load of vehicles more effectively. As an experienced driveway paver installer in Concord, we know that the interlocking design of pavers allows them to adapt to temperature fluctuations, providing a flexible yet durable surface. This flexibility means they can adjust slightly as temperatures change, reducing the likelihood of cracking. As a result, driveway pavers maintain their aesthetic appeal and functionality through various seasons, ensuring a consistently attractive driveway year after year.

Driveway Pavers

Pavers Are Durable!

Driveway pavers offer four times the load-bearing capacity of concrete or asphalt. Their flexibility allows them to move with any shifting of the earth, and if a paver or even a section of pavers is damaged by a spill, it can be easily replaced by just removing the damaged pavers and replacing them with new ones. When concrete or asphalt cracks, patching and repairs can be costly, and your driveway will never look exactly the same again.

Add Value to Your Home

Pavers can be made from stone, brick or concrete, come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, colors, and textures, which means you can create the exact look that’s perfect for you! Adding a paver driveway can up your curb appeal like no other material and can give your home a unique look unlike any other. Paver driveways are smooth, comfortable, and easy to drive on, and they’ll last for decades!

Driveway Pavers
driveway paver pricing near san francisco bay area

Stronger than Concrete

Properly installed interlocking driveway pavers offer up to four times the load-bearing strength of poured concrete, or asphalt, up to 8000 psi! Along with their superior load-bearing capacity, concrete pavers are aesthetically beautiful, flexible regarding design, and available in a wide range of colors, styles, sizes, and shapes to meet any need. They’re a low-maintenance surface that, when properly installed, can last for decades!

What Kind of Pavers do we Use to Build Your Driveway?

At Bayside Pavers, we use top-notch pavers so you get a high-quality driveway that is built to last. We want to make sure that your driveway can withstand frequent foot and car traffic while also enhancing the visual appeal of your property. So, our team offers the following paver options:

  • Permeable Pavers: This paver option creates a driveway that imitates the way the ground absorbs water. We install water-permeable pavers with different sizes of stone or aggregate underneath to improve stormwater drainage. This material will prevent water from gathering on your new feature.
  • Porcelain Pavers: Our porcelain pavers will give you a stunning, contemporary driveway that can perfectly complement your outdoor living space. These pavers can look like wood or stone and come in different sizes, like planks and large modular shapes, to make your driveway look modern and beautiful! Our porcelain pavers are also easy to install and exceptionally durable!
  • Interlocking Pavers: These are traditional pavers that fit together like a puzzle and can come in various shapes, sizes, and colors. Plus, we can arrange them in eye-catching patterns to turn your new driveway into a unique focal point!

Why Choose A Paver Driveway?

Variety of Materials

Pavers can come in different materials: concrete, clay, and natural stone. Each has its own benefits, can greatly change the look of your driveway, and comes in different pricing ranges.

Concrete pavers, for example, are generally the cheapest material choice. You should be careful to seek out quality concrete pavers, as cheaper varieties are prone to chipping.

Clay brick pavers are the middle-man in terms of cost and can weather away more steadily than the other options. However, brick has a certain aesthetic quality that you can’t replicate very well with the other two options.

Natural stone, on the other hand, is the most expensive choice but is incredibly durable and beautiful.

Many Shapes and Sizes

No matter which type of material you choose, you can find pavers in any kind of shape or size imaginable. Most often they are in a square or rectangular shape, but you can also find some in circular shapes or even shapes that don’t have a name.

Most often, they are in a square or rectangular shape, but you can also find some in circular shapes or even more freeform shapes that don’t have a name.

Intricate Patterns

Because pavers come in so many different shapes and sizes, you can create a nearly infinite amount of styles and patterns to give your driveway its own special and unique look.

You can create a style that suits your home perfectly or you can take inspiration from the patterns that other homeowners have come up with. Speaking with your installation company could help in choosing the right kind of pattern for your home.

Eco-Friendly Option

A paver driveway is a great choice for anyone who is environmentally minded. You can choose to have permeable pavers installed which allow water to soak in between the gaps of the rock or clay.

Connect Your Outdoor Living

Paver stones aren’t just for your driveway. They’re an essential part of your home’s landscape design and garden décor. Adding pathways to connect the various outdoor spaces of your home can create cohesion in your landscape design.

LOW MAINTENANCE

Because of its high durability, these kinds of driveways have little to no maintenance unlike other types of driveways which require a lot of work to keep them looking good.

To make matters even easier, you can use a pavers sealer to help stop any staining from oil or rubber. With the use of this sealer, all you need is a hose and running water to clean up any spills.

EASY TO REPAIR

If, however, there is a crack or some other type of damage done to your driveway, repairing that damage is incredibly easy. Instead of needing to put on an ugly patch over the crack or digging up large sections in order to fix the problem, pavers are much easier.

Because this kind of driveway is made up of smaller parts, you only need to pull up those particular areas and then lay down new pavers in order to fix the damage. This makes it much more cost-effective and easier. You can even do the fixes yourself.

NO CURING PERIOD

Asphalt and poured concrete driveways often have a long curing period in which you will not be able to use the area until that period is finished. With pavers, however, there is no wait time. Once the stone or clay is in place, you are able to use the driveway with no problems whatsoever.

MORE TRACTION

The small bits of rock or bricks that make up a paver driveway allows for you to have a lot more traction underneath your tires than a smooth concrete driveway. This is especially important in places that have a lot of rainfall or snowy winters.

Pavers provide an extra bit of security to your driveway and ensure that you don’t need to worry about your wheels slipping as easily during stormy weather.

LONG LIFESPAN

Typically the lifespan of a driveway made of pavers can last up to 20 or more years. This kind of longevity relies on the driveway being installed correctly, however. To ensure that you get the most out of your driveway, get into contact with a professional pavers installation company.

Choosing The Right Material For Your Pavers

Today, you have a wide range of styles, colors, textures, and sizes when it comes to driveway pavers. Choosing the right paver depends on several factors. You need to look at your home’s exterior style, color scheme, and any existing hardscaping in your yard to choose a complementary or contrasting paver style for your driveway.  With pavers, you can mix colors and textures to create striking patterns or choose the perfect color to complement your home’s style. Here are four popular options of driveway pavers to help you create the ideal look for your home.

COBBLESTONE PAVERS

Cobblestone pavers are a luxurious classic look that is both traditional and rustic. If you live in an older home, like a beautiful Victorian, or a rustic modern cabin, cobblestones turn back the hands of time and give your home an elegant look and feel. They showcase your personal style and sophistication, can be stained any color you choose, and incredibly durable and practically maintenance-free.

As a bonus, if you’re over 60, walking on cobblestones has been shown to drop your blood pressure and improve your balance. With their beautiful appearance and surprising health benefits, cobblestone pavers are an excellent choice.

CONCRETE PAVERS

If you want durability and longevity, concrete pavers are a great choice. Concrete is one of the most popular driveway pavers for a good reason, they’re flexible, versatile, and cost-effective. Pressed concrete pavers offer homeowners a wide range of patterns, and they can be painted or stained, textured or smooth. With a wide variety of colors, sizes, shapes, and textures available, you can find a concrete driveway paver to fit any budget.

BRICK PAVERS

Brick pavers are elegant and offer a polished and finished luxurious look for your home. In fact, they are one of the most popular choices for Easy Bay homeowners. They’re so popular that many pavers are cast in a brick style. Brick is the symbol of craftsmanship, so a brick paver driveway gives you a beautiful finished look.

In terms of paver materials, brick is one of the most durable out there. Brick pavers last for years, throughout the seasonal changes. With minimal maintenance and occasional repairs, a brick paver driveway will look great and last a lifetime.

RUBBER PAVERS

Today, we’re all becoming more environmentally conscious, and so are manufacturers. If you’re seeking an environmentally friendly material, rubber pavers are a great choice. Rubber pavers are made from recycled car tires. They help reduce the number of car tires tossed into landfills by more than 300 million each year! They’re not only a socially responsible choice, but they also are durable, look great, and offer excellent performance. When you decide to purchase rubber pavers, you’re not only getting a superior product, you’re contributing to the planet by lowering your carbon footprint. If you’re trying to live a green-lifestyle, give rubber pavers a serious look.

The Downside To A Paver Driveway Is Minimal

The only real downside to concrete pavers is the initial paver driveway cost in the Bay Area. A professionally installed concrete paver driveway can cost more to install than poured concrete. That’s because the installation process requires proper site preparation which includes excavation, laying a substrate of gravel and compacting, placing a weed barrier, adding a layer of sand and the placing each stone by hand.


However, while the upfront cost can be higher, the fact that concrete pavers can last 30 years or more, are easier to maintain and repair, are more environmentally friendly and can increase the value of your home, more than offset the higher initial cost.

A Unique Aesthetic To Match Your Home

A Nod To The Days Of Cobblestone

It’s interesting how your outdoor paver pattern connects to your indoor activity. If you enjoy sitting by the fireplace with a cup of tea and a Tolstoy novel, a cobblestone driveway can reflect your vintage sensibilities.

A paver pattern can be used to create this effect easily. While you obviously can’t drive your car over cobblestone every day, using gray stones on your driveway is a perfect way to mimic this theme.

It works especially well if you combine it with other elements of your decor. Things like vintage torchlights and an older looking wooden doorway can really complete the effect. Overall, it’s vital to consider the various ways your driveway can become cohesive.

Match Your Home’s Exterior

Along with the matching of an overall aesthetic, there are plenty of other ways to create a cohesive look using a paver pattern driveway. If you have a home made of brick or other types of stone, it’s particularly true.  It isn’t hard to find material that matches the pattern on your house. Putting it in your driveway, particularly if it’s the same color, is a vital part of creating the cohesive look you want.

Think about it as a form of magical realism. With a home that matches the color of your paving stones, you have the effect of a magical plant. Your home will appear to be sprouting from the Earth in a surreal yet wonderful way. It’s the perfect choice for the artistically minded person looking to reflect their personality. While most of us will never have a home designed in the style of Antonio Gaudi, we can still embrace the sense of wonder we seek.

Your home is a place to be inspired. Let your paver pattern driveway help you on the road to that feeling.

7 Misconceptions About Concrete Pavers – Color, Cost And More

Here at Bayside Pavers we always try to work with our Bay Area customers to help them to understand all of their options when it comes to creating the perfect outdoor living space to fit their family’s needs and lifestyle. When considering a new patio, walkway or driveway, it’s important to understand all of your options when it comes to design, features, materials, and color choices. After years of listening to our customer’s concerns, we’ve learned that there are many common misconceptions about concrete pavers that we’d like to address.

Here are seven common misconceptions about concrete pavers that you should be aware of when researching hardscaping materials for your Bay Area California home.

1 – PAVERS ARE TOO EXPENSIVE

While the initial cost of installation can be higher than other materials, in the end, concrete pavers are actually a more cost-effective and aesthetically pleasing option. Concrete pavers are more durable and beautiful option than other options like poured concrete, or in the case of a driveway, blacktop. Blacktop will deteriorate over time and poured concrete can crack, requiring costly repairs. Concrete pavers need less frequent repair, and when they do, repairs are easier. Over the long-term, concrete pavers are the true cost-effective solution. And you’ll love the way they look!

2 – PAVERS DON’T LAST

The fact is, concrete pavers are a durable, flexible material that is up to three times stronger than a poured concrete slab. Correctly installed interlocking concrete pavers move and flex as the ground does. When professionally installed, high-quality concrete pavers can last 30 to 40 years with no significant issues.

3 – PAVERS ARE DIFFICULT TO REPAIR

This has been a concern for many of our customers over the years. The fact is, unlike hardscape which can need to be repaired in large section when it fails, or must be matched in order to patch repair, concrete pavers can be “spot repaired.” This means that the damaged paver can simply be removed and replaced. In fact, it’s so easy that most homeowners can perform the repair themselves without the need of a professional. Concrete pavers are durable, reliable and resilient. They absorb pressure, weight and force differently than other materials and as a result are less susceptible to damage in the first place.

4 – CONCRETE PAVERS FADE AS THEY AGE

In this case, the old saying “you get what you pay for” is true. While there are plenty of cheap, inferior quality bargain pavers available, that are susceptible to fading, chipping and cracking. Always invest in the highest quality paver you can afford. Make sure any paver you purchase is “colored through.” Pavers that are colored throughout will not fade. Ever.

5 – CONCRETE PAVERS PROMOTE WEED GROWTH

This seems to be a persistent belief, but it’s entirely not true. Any exterior hardscape joints have the potential for weed growth, but you shouldn’t expect to see any more weeds in a paver installation than you would with any other material. Often, weeds thriving on a hardscape are a result of seeds falling on top of the material and germinating where they land. The truth is, if your pavers are properly installed by a professional installer using polymeric sand you should see less weed growth than with other materials.

6 – PAVERS WILL HEAVE WITH WEATHER CHANGES

This is a common complaint from homeowners who have done the installation themselves and often cut corners. Professional installation eliminates any slipping or heaving. The secret is proper preparation before installation. A professional landscaper will excavate, grade, install and compact the sub-grade, add a geotextile layer to inhibit weed growth. They will then prepare the base layer and again compact, perform sand prep, lay the pavers, perform a final compaction and then finish with polymeric sand. When professionally installed, concrete pavers will not heave, period!

7 – CONCRETE PAVERS OFFER LIMITED CHOICES

The truth is, pavers come in hundreds of different combinations of colors, sizes, thicknesses, styles, patterns, and textures. No matter what your taste, aesthetic and home design, pavers are available in a range of colors from neutral and earth tones, to reds and terracotta. To further personalize your look you can choose from a variety of styles including brick, tile, antique, cobble, weathered stone and flagstone.

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I recently had my driveway paved by Bayside Pavers, and I couldn't be happier with the results. The team was professional, efficient, and the quality of work was outstanding. I highly recommend them to anyone looking for paving services.
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I cant saw enough about Bayside Pavers! The reason I ultimately chose Bayside was the passion & enthusiasm.
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Shelley B.
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They were professional, friendly, and did excellent work. The patio looks great!
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I COULD NOT HAVE ASKED FOR MORE!
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I was impressed by the professionalism of the Bayside Pavers team. They were knowledgeable and helped me choose the right materials for my project. The end result exceeded my expectations, and I would definitely hire them again.
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Emily D.
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From start to finish, my experience with Bayside Pavers was excellent. They provided a clear estimate, worked within my budget, and delivered on time. The new walkway looks fantastic and has added so much value to my home.
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Michael J.
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Bayside Pavers did an amazing job on my property. Their crew was punctual and worked diligently to complete the project ahead of schedule. The new parking lot looks great, and I've received numerous compliments from my clients.
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Bayside Pavers transformed my backyard into a beautiful outdoor space. Their attention to detail and commitment to customer satisfaction is truly commendable. I love the new patio and can't wait to host my friends and family!
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