What To Expect When Considering Patio Pavers?

Answer 1

Patio pavers can provide an easy alternative to actually installing a full-blown professional outdoor patio. However, you need to know what you are getting into before deciding to use them.

Patio pavers come in many different materials and have different installation instructions. Exactly how you install them and how much work that will need to be done will rely on the type of pavers you purchase. You can get interlocking wood, metal or plastic pavers. You can even get pavers made from recycled tire rubber, or pavers made from manmade composites. This is mostly an aesthetic choice.

The first thing to understand is that all of these pavers will only be as flat and solid as the ground underneath of them. Some manufactures actually suggest that you dig fourteen inches down and lay a flat concrete surface to act as the foundation. This may not be necessary for the pavers you purchase, however. The best policy here is to dig a few inches down and flatten the area with a rented dirt packer.

Depending on the manufacturers instructions, you will probably have to do this for each layer you add. Sometimes sand and gravel have to be added on top of the soil.

You will want to put some type of tarp or plastic sheeting underneath of the pavers in order to prevent moisture from coming up through the pavers and damaging them over time. Controlling the moisture that comes in contact with your pavers will be a constant fight.

You may notice, perhaps while purchasing your pavers, that there are probably going to be color discrepancies within the batches. This is natural and cannot be avoided. Just try to work the differing colors into each other to make it less noticeable.

The last thing to consider is how you will treat the edge of the pavers. The easiest way will be to buy extra pavers and cut them down into pieces that are a few inches wide and line them perpendicular to the pattern that you have already established. However, if this is not satisfactory, you could find stone or bricks and have them cut to specification to line the edges.

Patio pavers are a great time saver. Unfortunately, some people do not realize that you do not just purchase them and lay them outside. There is a fair amount of work that must be done, even with their intrinsic convenience.