We find it everywhere, we walk on it every single day, at home, at the office, at the mall – and we hardly ever pay attention to it. But have you ever wondered exactly how paving started out? For the answer, we turn to the Romans.
Around 500 BC the Romans devised a simple system for building roads. Essential to the Roman Empire for trade and for moving armies, their roads began with a well compacted base, usually lime and gravel, which was then covered with a tight fitting cut stone. It is said that their road system covered thousands of kilometres and at one point helped connect all 113 provinces – quite a feat considering the mountains and ravines that had to be traversed and overcome to build the roads.
While the Romans used natural cut stone to create their snug surface, and then later through the centuries others used clay bricks, it wasn’t until the mid-1940s that the development of concrete pavers truly came into its own. They say necessity is the mother of invention, and the necessity in this case was a country below sea level – Holland. Because the ground shifts and moves below sea level, poured concrete was not a viable option for the Hollanders. A more feasible plan was to lay individual units in sand and concrete pavers turned out be more cost-effective and stronger than brick. Shaped just like a brick, the concrete pavers were called Holland stones – a name still in use today. In 1973 Canada became the first country in North America to produce pavers, the trend soon moved into the US and the rest as they say is history.
Today paving is ubiquitous – we use it around our pools, on our driveways, walkways, patios and courtyards. It’s everywhere we look, it’s aesthetically pleasing, low in maintenance and it adds value to our properties. So, if you’re in need of paving of any kind, whether it be residential, commercial or industrial, remember to use only the best – QPave has over 40 years’ experience in paving installations, their products are of the highest quality and they offer a 30-day money back guarantee, so sure are they of delivering exceptional service. For the best paving in Cape Town, Durban or Johannesburg, call QPave today.
