Can I use Pavestone pavers over my old concrete patio?
Yes you can as long as the existing patio is in good condition. There can be cracks in the old patio as long as it is still level and has not "heaved" up in any areas. Concrete makes a great base for our products. You will still need to retain the border of your project. Since you will not be able to stake in an edge restraint around it, a heavy-duty silicon based construction adhesive is recommended. Use this on the bottom of your border stones only to adhere it directly to the existing concrete. IMPORTANT NOTE: Any time your are overlaying an existing patio it is important to recognize how much room you have between the existing patio and the threshold of your door. Our typical paver is 2 3/8 inches tall. There has to be enough room for you to overlay the patio without raising the new level above your door's threshold. If a typical paving stone will not work for you, check with your local Pavestone dealer about ordering PavestoneΓÇÖs thinner overlay pavers.
Are Pavestone pavers strong enough to drive a car on?
Yes, our pavers are commonly used for streets, parking lots, developments and roadways. Our pavers exceed the industry standards for strength and low moisture absorption.
Why do you recommend that I till in dry Portland cement into the ground before putting my one inch bed of sand down on a paver project?
By tilling dry Portland into the ground 4 to 5 inches, compacting and
moistening it, you are creating a strong sub-base that will resist ground movement and keep your project looking great for years to come. This process is only recommended if you have sandy type soils. If you have the clay type of soils it is recommended that you excavate enough material out to put down 4 to 6 inches of crushed limestone or road base material and compact it before you screed your 1 inch of bedding sand. On paver projects, the base preparation is the most important part, so take a little extra time and effort on your base to make your project look great.
Can you make curves with pavers for round designs?
This is possible with Pavestone products. The best way to handle curves is to outline your curve with a border stone like Holland. Then place as many whole pavers as you need up to the border stone. Next, cut the pavers to fill in the leftover gaps, using a guillotine splitter or diamond blade wet saw, which are both relatively inexpensive to rent. For more precision cuts the diamond blade wet saw is preferred.
What about water drainage off my patio?
Water actually runs off the surface of the pavers as if it were a solid slab; very little water drains into the sand. It is important though to consider slope when planning your patio. A 1 inch drop for every 8 ft. to 12 ft. of slope should be sufficient.
Can I use concrete pavers near a tree? Will it hurt the tree?
We do not recommend paving around a tree that covers more than 20% of the drip line. Do not use base material inside your drip line of the tree or raise the soil more than a couple of inches. Use sand as your base around a tree, no Portland Cement or aggregate base.
How hot are concrete pavers if I use them around a pool as a pool deck?
Concrete pavers wonΓÇÖt be as cool as a cool deck, but it will be the next coolest thing that can be used instead of cool deck. In fact cool deck isnΓÇÖt as cool as it used to be because of the requirement to remove the asbestos used to give it some of its coolness. Concrete pavers, being individual pieces wonΓÇÖt build up heat like a solid sheet of concrete and the heat will tend to dissipate between each stone making pavers a cool product to use around a pool. One cool tip is to always use light colors for a pool deck.
How many pieces of paving stones does it take to do a square foot of paving?
Depending on your project the best way to figure your project is to use our ΓÇ£Materials Estimating Help BookΓÇ¥ from your local retailer or check our website at www.pavestone.com.
Which type of edge restraint do you recommend I use around my patio, plastic or aluminum?
We recommend the aluminum Greenline or Edgeall plastic edging, both will do an excellent job of restraining your project.
What type of sand do I need to use between my pavers?
Use a sharp course river washed sand or sharp sand with multi-sized grains. The course sand will bind together when you go over the pavers with the compactor. This will make the joints between the paver solid and prevent moisture from getting under the pavers. The problem with using fine sand is that it will wash out easily and not create a locking friction joint between the pavers. Look for PAVESTONE brand paver sand at your retailers; it will work for all your landscape needs.
Do pavers need to be mortared into place?
Never mortar the joints of concrete pavers. You must use course granular sand, which will bind the pavers together with a friction joint. This sand is swept into the joints and compacted to achieve the proper installation.
What is the white residue on the pavers?
The white residue on top of the pavers is a condition called efflorescence. This condition is greatly minimized with the use of Pavestone pavers because of an additive that Pavestone uses to control this condition. Efflorescence will wear off in about 2 to 3 months naturally but it can be removed with Whitewall Cleaner and a brush. Ask your Pavestone dealer about other professional cleaners.
Where can I get a plate compactor and what do I need it for?
Just about any equipment rental yard will have a plate compactor usually renting for about $45-$60 per day. One of the final steps in completing your Pavestone paver project is running a plate compactor over the top of your paving stones. Simply put, this helps lock your pavers into place. The compactor helps seed your pavers down into your base sand evenly (they will drop approximately 1/4") and also helps to vibrate your joint sand down to fill the entire joint securely locking the paver into place. There is also no better tool for compacting your sub-base after you have tilled your Portland cement into your soil. This is a big time saver from which you can really get your money's worth.
How do I control weeds and grass from coming up in my paver patio and walkways?
For the most part, if the pavers were installed properly and a compactor was used on the pavers to lock them into place, you have cut off much of the growing environment. There will still be times when seeds can blow in and start growing in the sand between the cracks. When this happens you can usually pull them out very easily or spray them with a weed killer like Round Up and then remove them.
Do concrete pavers stain?
There is no way that you can prevent stains from getting on your concrete pavers, but because they are more dense than regular poured concrete, they will be easier to clean if the stain is cleaned soon after it happens. You should try an all purpose concrete cleaner.
How do I replace a paver?
One of the benefits of a project built with Pavestone pavers is the ability to replace a paver should it become permanently stained. Simply take two flat head screwdrivers and insert them between stones and pry the soiled stone out. If the installation is mature, it may be necessary to break the stone and then pry it out.
Should I use a sealer on my pavers?
Normally the reason for using a sealer is to prevent the concrete from absorbing to much water and the freeze thaw cycling can crack or spalled (when the top layer of your concrete peals off) your concrete. Pavestone pavers are manufactured to a high density standard that allows no more than 5% water absorption which will prevent the problem with freeze thaw. The only reason for using a sealer on pavers is to deepen the color or to minimize staining. If you choose to use a sealer just remember that you will be setting yourself up for maintenance once you use it because after that they will have to be resealed every one to two years depending on the traffic.
Does the water drain through the sand around the pavers?
No, the water does not drain through the sand around the pavers. If they are installed properly, you will only get a little bit of seepage for the first few weeks but after that the silts and dust in the air will seal that off entirely. So you need to build in a natural slope to your paver project for water run off. Typically it is recommended that you allow for a slope of 1 inch for every 8 to 12 feet of paving away from your home. This should be enough slope to carry the water off naturally.
