To pave or not to pave… that is the question! You’ve heard so much about the pros and cons of paving, that you’re confused.
We understand. Some of our customers felt the same way before their paving was installed, too. We spent some time answering their concerns before they made the ultimate decision, and turns out, there was quite a bit of false information out there that needed clearing up.
Here are some misconceptions we heard the most often from our customers. Maybe the real story will help you decide whether or not to go with paving yourself.
1. Paving doesn’t last long.
Paving stones or brick pavers are individual sections made from various materials like natural stone, concrete or clay. The way paving is laid, makes for a flexible system that is extremely durable. Compared to outdoor building options such as concrete and asphalt, paving is just as durable. Also, pavers move and flex as the ground does, and aren’t as likely to crack. And, paving materials are up to three times stronger than a poured concrete slab.
2. Paving become uneven.
If the paving base is installed properly, pavers won’t shift much over their lifetime. The installation process includes excavation, grading, sub-base compaction, base preparation, base compaction, sand preparation, paver laying, border cutting, bond beam preparation, and stone compaction.
If grading happens to be a little off or if settling occurs after installation, pavers can be easily readjusted by removing the pavers, re-grading the problem area, and replacing the pavers.
3. Paving isn’t good pool surround material.
If you have a pool surround or are in the process of installing a new pool, then you know all the pipes and so on that lie underneath the surface. Imagine that a pipe breaks or the skimmer needs to be replaced and your deck is made with a rigid surface like concrete. In this case, you will have to saw-cut the area and then re-pour the concrete in an attempt to match the older concrete. With pavers, repairs are as easy as lifting the pavers, fixing the problem, and replacing the pavers. Another important factor to consider is that pavers are non-skid and non-slip, which is very important around pools.
4. Paving comes in limited colour choices.
Paving comes in hundreds of different combinations of colours, styles, sizes, thicknesses, patterns, and textures, so you can customize a design that integrates with your home’s aesthetics and your personal taste.
The most popular colours tend to be earth tones like sandstone, cream/brown, tan/buff/brown, grey/charcoal, limestone, cream/brown, and grey/moss/charcoal, but if you are interested in making a statement, dominant colours such as reds and terracottas are also available.
A good rule of thumb is to pull in the roof colour and trim of the house in your paver colour as an accent.
To further design your own look, paving stones also come in a variety of styles which include brick, tile, cobble, weathered stone, and flagstone.
The sky truly is the limit when it come to the versatility of paving design.
5. Paving colour fades.
Most quality pavers are coloured with quality oxides, and their colouration is consistent and congruent throughout the entire stone. Over time, and in under our harsh African sun, paving does eventually fade. QPave offer a sealing option that will enhance and protect the colour. Sealing of your paving is ideal to protect the colour, as well as your investment. Sealing will also add a few more years to the life and colour of the paving.
