Paving Stone Patios and Walkways
Paving stones are a good way to get a long-lasting patio or walkway in Nanaimo. When installed correctly they can often add value to your home.
You can use paving stone for many different purposes such as paver patio, driveway, walkway as well as steps and brick paver-edge. Paving stones are a great way to be creative with your hardscape.
What makes laying paving stones better for hardscaping than other products on the market, such as aggregate and stamped finish. The truth is that paving stone can take water over the surface area, which allows for drainage immediately, unlike concrete. Paving Stones are easy to repair quickly if anything was to happen ie chipped, cracked or sank. This option is not possible with concrete as once it cracks there isn’t any way of repairing that will last.
Paving stone considerations
When building a paving stones patio or walkway there are many things to consider, Design, Area, Location, Slope, etc. Putting extra effort into all of these areas will only give you a better and long lasting paver patio, that will last you for many years to come. More and more homeowners around Nanaimo, are replacing there existing concrete hardscapes with paving stone to get a better, unique and longer lasting hardscape. Paving Stone built and installed correctly will always be superior to a concrete product on the market.
How to choose what paving stones to use
When it comes to paving stone, there are many brands, styles and finishes to choose from. We can help you decide what brand and which style would work best for you. One of the biggest things to consider is, what would match best with your home and also any other hardscapes you already have ie walls, existing surfaces etc. Check out Barkman paver products or Expocrete pavers to see an extensive choice.
Building paving stone hardscapes that last!
We have been using a tried and tested method for the last 10+ years, which has proven to stand up to the test of time. Using this paving stones installation method we can ensure that you will have a patio, driveway or walkway that you will enjoy for many years to come. Our installation ‘step by step’ process is below, showing what goes into a hardscape.
What makes a good paving stones installation
One of the biggest failings in any installation is lack of prep-work. Creating a good solid base will instantly give you better longer results. This achieved by making sure there is no organic matter under your finished product ie loam. Getting right down to the clay before compacting a crush base means less movement over time. Also using the least amount of sand possible will also give you longer results. Sand isn’t a stable structure and you cant compact it, so having the least amount under your paving stones will benefit you in the long run. We like to keep it down to 1/4″-1/2″ maximum. Also we have found that having a clean edge of concrete around the patio will keep it strong for longer than plastic edging. it not only keeps the pavers in place, but also keeps everything under the paving stones which helps for longevity.
Cost & Pricing
There are several options available for creating a paver area on your property. The advantage is that you likely already have a specific purpose in mind for your patio. Whether you envision it as a venue for summer gatherings or as a low-maintenance functional space, Paver’s can significantly enhance your yard.
Below are some considerations to keep in mind while planning your paver patio. The cost of a paver installation can vary based on the design you choose. One of the primary decisions you will encounter when designing your paver patio is whether to use smaller pavers or larger slabs. Another option for a patio is to build it with natural stone:
How much to install a paving stone patio?
Numerous factors influence the pricing of a paving stone patio, which complicates the establishment of a fixed price per square foot. The majority of patios we build are less than 500 square feet, typically costing between $28 and $34 per square foot.
Below are some points to consider when determining the pricing:
Unlevel Yard (Elevation Changes) – Extra time and materials for the patio installation maybe required if there are alot of grade changes in your property.
Curves vs. Straight Edges – The shape of the patio will dictate the quantity of cuts required. Alot of cutting will result in higher overall price.
Access – A 4-6 inch base of crushed gravel is the base of all our paver patio’s as well as the paving stones needed for the patio. Problems with access will increase the time required to transport materials for the project, also adding cost
Existing Material Removal – Heavy machinery maybe required to excavate the area if the existing area is compacted or dense.
How to install your own paving stones
Here you can find our professional 9 step process to install paving stones for a longer lasting result. This tried and tested method stands up over time. We are your local trusted residential paving stone contractor in Nanaimo, we only want the best results for our clients.
Many people install their patio and walkway on a 6-8 inch base of compacted gravel and then set on a 1″ plus base of sand. This method was how I installed paving stones for years until a local installer from Vancouver showed me another way and explained what made his way superior. His way was to use the usual base of 6-8 inches, but instead of putting it all down and compacting it in layers and setting grades with a laser level. His method was the following:
9 step guide to installing paving stones:
- Install your road base in layers with water and compaction, until you’re approximately the thickness of your screed bars away from the desired finished height.
- Once your base is tamped, set screed bars on the new surface and set to final height, slope etc. using extra crush to hold them in position. (you may need to firmly pack road base around your grading poles to hold in place, until step 3)
- Once done, add enough crush so you can use a straight edge to run along it, as you would if you were levelling sand.
- With the area now flat, soak area moderately and tamp (making sure NOT to hit the poles which are still set in the ground!!)
- Repeat step 4 if any areas compacted more than others. Once the whole area is compacted properly and evenly, the grade should now be approximately 1/4inch lower than when you started.
- Add sand and do the same again, and remove the metal pipes. Trowel in the sand, to fill where the pipes were. Now you have an area ready to install your patio or walkway
- Once the paving stones are laid and cut in, go around the edge of patio/driveway etc and use a trowel to cut away any excess material down to the base. Add a bead of concrete all around the area and smooth. this will setup and keep area tight and prevent any movement in the paving stones.
- Once that has set, add polymeric sand to fill all gaps and sweep in. Plate tamper the entire area and sweep off any excess.
- Wash paver area as to polymeric product directions, and let dry.
Installation complete!