Pavers are pre-cast bricks or blocks that are made from various materials like clay or concrete. They come in many different sizes, shapes, and even colors. Pavers were developed before WWII and have enjoyed a slow and steady building in popularity that has exploded over the last few years and with very good reason. According to current trends, the paver revolution has begun and the popularity of pavers will explode in 2014. Here are the seven main reasons you will see more beautiful pavers projects in your town and neighborhood this year.
1. Sick of Stains
One of our readers said it best in a recent email. “I get sick to my stomach every time I pull into my driveway and see that big, ugly oil stain that simply will not come out of the concrete. Pavers are unique in that they have the benefit of being able to repel such stains when they are treated with a pavers sealant. Pavers sealant applies a protective coat over your driveway or patio pavers so that spills cannot soak into the material and set to stain. If you have a spill, simply sop up and wash with warm soapy water. The stain is no more!
2. Endurance
Your pavers project, if done correctly, can last a lifetime with limited maintenance. Many homeowners must replace driveways and patios as often as every five to ten years. Your paver patio or driveway may still be going strong after 30 years of use. Repairs are easy and undetectable. (See below)
3. Adding Some Color to Your Life
Whether you are installing a driveway or patio, the days of drab concrete color or black asphalt are gone. Any color you can imagine is achievable through pavers. This opens an entirely new world in designing your unique drive or patio. Show the world your true colors with pavers. If you are not a big fan of patterns but like colors, pavers are for you.
4. Patterns and Design
How would you like your favorite NFL sports team logo right in the middle of your driveway? How cool would your patio be with the initials of every member of your family in them? With pavers, any pattern that you desire is a pattern that can be made. Create your unique patio using your own design or a classic design. You can even advertise your home business in your driveway for the world to see as they pass by.
5. Repairs are Incredibly Easy
It used to be that if your concrete patio or driveway was damaged, the repair was more obvious than the damage itself. You had three options.
- Leave the cracked or broken area alone (Trying not to use it and make it worse)
- Repair it and put up with the glaring obvious patch
- Replace the entire project, costing thousands of dollars
This is not the case with pavers. In fact, repairing pavers is so easy that the homeowner can do it in a day or less without calling for professional services that cost more. When you replace pavers, you cannot tell where the damage was or where the replacement pavers are. It costs far less than repairing concrete and very often, it can be done with any pavers left over from the original project.
6. Easy Installation
The installation of Pavers is an easy process for the professional landscaper or as a DIY project for the homeowner that knows what he or she is doing. There are several steps involved and each step is vital to the overall success of the project. The most important part of laying pavers is the thorough tamping of the ground after each layer of sand or gravel. The entire process can be done by the homeowner if he or she is familiar with construction or is a very handy person with tools and similar work processes. The installation steps vary from company to company but all include compacting the work area completely after each step.
7. Pavers costs vs. Concrete and Asphalt
Since each pavers installation project comes with its own unique challenges, it is difficult to place a general price range, however, the cost is usually well below the cost of excavation, laying rebar, and pouring concrete or asphalt. The following is a list of possible steps that may or may not apply to your project.
v Project type: If your pavers project is a simple square design with no surprises or frills, the price is obviously much lower than one that is large and has detailed work or includes building paver walls or steps, has multiple levels, and/or has a curvilinear shape with intricate patterns
v Conditions on Site: Building a pavers project on a lawn with no surprises is less expensive than if there is an existing structure that must be moved or demolished and hauled away or a landscape with a steep incline that must be leveled.
v Access: If there is plenty of room for construction equipment, the cost is lower than if the project location includes areas of limited access such as between buildings or other existing structures that prohibit access to much needed large equipment. This could not only raise manual labor costs but extend the number of days needed to complete the project.
v Demolition: If the destruction and safe removal of concrete slabs or building is involved the costs could rise in demolition, removal, and reconstruction of the landscape. Landfill costs and heavy equipment including dump trucks can add greatly to the cost of a project. Even the price of gas can affect the final tally.
v Soil Conditions and Excavation Depth: add to project costs. If you are installing pavers on a sandy beach-like area, the ground will have to be excavated and rebuilt to firmly reinforce your pavers project. Driveways require more excavation as they must support more weight than a patio or other project. This means deeper excavation and more gravel and sand as well as compression.
Many of these extra costs will not apply to every project and may not apply to yours. A simple straight driveway or square or rectangular shaped patio presents fewer challenges, fewer cuts, and a lower cost. The average cost for a pavers project with no surprises is $2 to $5 per SF in Base Material and approximately $5 to $10 per SF in Installation fees.
The difficulties that arise also apply to laying concrete or pouring asphalt, which means that the extra costs also apply to those methods. The cost of laying down a pavers project is still less than any other method. When you look at all of these factors, it is easy to see why the popularity pavers is exploding when compared to traditional methods of adding a new driveway or patio to your property.