Paving The Way To A Remarkable "Stay-Cation"

By Kimberly Whitman

"Pumping" can be a major issue in sand-set installations according to Mike Henjum, President of Concrete Paver Systems. "Pumping" happens when water collects beneath pavers and is pumped out when the underside of the pavement shifts with use. Sand is carried away in the water, eventually creating base failure. Creating a slight slope on flat areas to ensure proper drainage prevents this problem. All Images Courtesy Pavestone.

Many families will be spending more time at home this summer than ever before. Without vacations, landscape contractors may have success selling them on taking a few extra steps to transform their yards into wonderful retreats.

The most effective step your clients can take is to pave a patio area in a dramatic and eye-catching pattern created with pavers. Whether they have a sleek, modern home, a humble Tudor-style cottage, or grand chateau, there is a perfect paver possibility.

 

According to Joey Guedea, Architectural Sales Specialist, a big difference in labor exists between 90-degree herringbone patterns versus 45-degree herringbone patterns. He also claims much more waste occurs in a 45-degree pattern. In vehicular applications, you would have to install a border to move small trapezoidal cuts away from edges.

Holland & Plaza Stone: Keeping it Simple

Mike Henjum, President of Concrete Paver Systems, says "The Holland Stone pavers are the absolute easiest to lay and they carry the least amount of labor cost because of their straight edges and their 1 to 2 ratio. Straight edges allow us to begin laying almost immediately along straight borders which is the case for most jobs." Holland Stone can be installed in a checkerboard, zigzag, herringbone, classic stripe or contemporary grid format. It can also be combined with other styles to make a border or frame.

Henjum believes that the Plaza stone group is great because "laying the rectangle is almost as fast as the Holland Stone." Combining the various shapes and sizes can take your client back to the days of ancient Rome, or maybe just their last trip to Italy. Either way, your clients home can reflect Old World traditions. Using the same Plaza Stones, you can turn a corner and achieve a clean and modern look by placing only square Plaza Stones in a grid like pattern.

According to Roger Henjum, Partner in and Estimator for Concrete Paver Systems, the initial step in creating this compass was to lay the whole field of lighter, cast stone pavers. Chalk lines were then snapped to mark the points of the compass. These lines then guided cuts made with a quickie and table saw, making it possible to drop in the terra cotta, tan and dark brown pavers forming the compass rose.

Complication vs. Simplicity and Labor

Repetitive patterns and uncomplicated patterns are easier to install and can be among the most profitable projects. More detailed patterns are obviously more difficult and therefore have a higher labor cost associated with them. Henjum points out that "difficult detailed paver patterns are often thrown in with the overall project and we often don't make money on these extra details. On the flip side of that, if the entire job is a very detailed paver project then the job is actually bid more accurately." He also points out that the "machine laying of pavers can be an additional factor in profitability as it brings the costs down significantly and makes the overall costs of the paver project less and more competitive toward other types of enhanced paving."

Different patterns have different costs associated with them. There are labor cost differences as well as waste from the various cuts required. Holland Stone is among the most efficient styles to lay because of its simple ratio and the fact that it typically has the least amount of waste. Of course, everything is a trade off. By adding unique circular designs to a pattern, hand placement and continuous layout decisions are required, increasing labor. As a result, adding unique aesthetic qualities can cost a little bit more.

The random pattern here uses four different paver sizes, all 3 1/8" thick: 10 15/16" by 10 15/16", 2 11/16" by 5 7/16", 8 3/16" by 5 7/16" and 13 11/16" by 10 15/16". It's key with random patterns to balance the use of different sizes; otherwise you'll end up with tons of one, none of some and a little bit of the others. Keep an eye on how fast stacks of different sizes are coming off the pallet to avoid this pitfall.

Trade Tips

Because it is a sand-set material, installing paver patterns requires careful attention to slope and drainage. Henjum has twenty years of experience and a few key pieces of advice. He explains, "The more the slope, the sooner the water moves off of the surface. The flatter the slope, the more the water has time to percolate down through the sand joints. If water is allowed to seep down into the sand bed and traffic continually rolls over it, a failure due to ???pumping' will occur. This is where the sand is pumped up out of the bed through the paver joint with the water thus causing settling and eventually failure. Areas subject to flatter slopes need to be drained."

It is also important to use the proper base materials and soils for your particular climate and conditions. These vary drastically due to the variety of minerals, weather conditions, and natural occurrences around the country. Do your homework and make sure that you are preparing for the perfect installation in your neck of the woods.

Henjum also claims "self-placing" pavers" are most efficient to lay. He identifies these units as ones that fit together without any complex thought. The running bond pattern depicted is just such a paver layout, only requiring that "stretchers" be laid so end meets middle from course-to-course. A paver is termed a "stretcher" when the long side of the brick is oriented facing outward from the course.

Guiding Your Client

With so many paver pattern options available, the decision making process can be difficult. Suggest your client surf travel websites for images of their ideal vacation destinations. Have them look for resorts and hotels that they find intriguing and choose a paver pattern that reflects the patterns they use in their drives, patio spaces and pool decks. Then you can really bring their favorite escape to life in their own backyard.