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9 TIPS FOR PATIO PAVING

1. HAVE SOME EXTRA PAVERS AROUND

Whether it is during the cutting process, or through simple wear and tear, pavers can get broken. You should always purchase extra bricks or stones so that you can quickly replace any damaged ones.

If you have already laid your pavers and you need to remove a cracked one, you can get them out with good leverage using a pry bar.

Or if you don’t have one of those laying around you can use two flathead screwdrivers. Wedge them in the crack on one side of the broken paver. Push down on the handle and this should cause it to lift up.

2. THE DENSER, THE BETTER

To set patio pavers in place a layer of sand is applied. The granules build up in the crevices between stones. They should be compacted repeatedly until water does not wash away the sand so they will stay in place and allow your patio to drain properly.

Dense sand is also a great way to prevent weeds from growing in between your beautiful design.

3. MAINTAIN YOUR EDGE

No matter which of the garden paving ideas you select, you will want your design to be flawless.

To create some of the more complex patterns multiple cuts may be required on the same stone.

It is possible to use a cold chisel for this, but renting a wet saw isn’t prohibitively expensive. In the end, this rental can save you a lot of time and reduce the amount of strain laying pavers causes on your body.

4. VARIETY IS THE SPICE OF LIFE

Like any product made from natural materials, stones and bricks used in these garden paving ideas will have color variations. These slight changes in hue can help to create a more fluid looking design. If they all were perfectly uniform, your patio could end up resembling a checkerboard. It’s best to avoid this patchwork appearance.

5. THE BRICK STOPS HERE

No matter how well you pack in the sand, pavers are known to shift as they settle.

It is important to set up a very firm perimeter to outline your design. This can save you a lot of stress later when you don’t have to redo everything. These borders are especially important in climates with an intense rainy season. Even the most solid pavers are porous and subject to the same erosive forces that shaped rivers.

6. THINK LIKE NOAH

Everyone thought he was crazy when he built the Ark. But when the storms blew in, Noah was happy he had built a sturdy ship.

Your patio may not be saving the animals of the world from extinction, but it will be weathering some pretty severe storms.

Plan ahead by creating a level foundation that slopes away from your home. Experts recommend that you allow a quarter inch elevation drop every two feet.

7. WACK THAT BASE

Nothing is more rewarding than the satisfaction of properly packing your foundation.

By renting a Wacker plate compactor, you will be able to create a level base for your paver design. A tamper could also be used.

8. BLOCK OUT THE WEEDS

For years people had to go outside periodically and pluck individual weeds from the ground.

Today, due to innovations in agriculture technology, we can eliminate weeds with much less effort.

Beyond the traditional elimination sprays, landscaping cloth can create a great barrier for your unwanted vegetation.

You should add about ten percent to your square footage estimation to allow for variations in the topography of the area you are covering.

9. DIG DEEPER AND DOWN

If you want a long lasting end result, digging deep to lay your foundation can be a great choice. The goal is to get below the root level of the vegetation. If you can get about six inches below this level then you can be assured you will have minimal weeds erupt between your pavers.

It is a good idea to give your local utilities and cable companies a call before you use any garden paving ideas.

They can come out with flags and cans of spray paint to mark where each of their lines is running underground. Having this information before you start digging can save you a lot of hassle in the end.

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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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