Keep Your Pavers in Place

By Pat Amrine, Corporate Sales Director, Dimex LLC

A concrete toe is very time consuming to install (as compared to manufactured edge restraints) and can crack easily in areas of the country that experience freeze/thaw conditions. This concrete edge restraint has cracked, allowing the pavers in this walkway to shift.

Many factors go into a successful paver installation, from proper base preparation to placement of the pavers to compaction of pavers. One important step that sometimes gets overlooked is the use of edge restraints.

Edge restraints play a vital role in holding your flexible pavement system together, preventing sand migration and withstanding tremendous forces from even the largest commercial vehicles.

There are a number of options available to contractors today when it comes to edge restraints. Most of those options fall into the category of manufactured edge restraints. This term refers to edge restraint systems, primarily linear edge restraints made from plastic or metal, or those made of wood.

Illustration of a typical paver installation showing a versatile, L-shape plastic edge restraint. Diagram 1 shows the paver restraint with anchoring tabs placed underneath the pavers. Diagram 2 shows the anchoring tabs placed adjacent to the edge of the pavers. Both options are acceptable.

The top of the edge restraint is well below the surface of the pavers, so that it will be completely hidden after backfill. Regardless of the edge restraint system that is used, it is imperative that the edge restraint be installed directly on the compacted base, not on the bedding sand or native soil. This is important to inhibit sand migration from underneath the pavers.

Plastic edge restraints are most common in North America and can take the form of extruded profiles or injection molded designs. The principal materials used are recycled PVC or polyethylene. There are a variety of manufacturers, each with unique looking designs, height options that range from 1?EUR??,,????'?????<

Metal edge restraints are typically manufactured from aluminum to minimize rusting. Beyond the difference in material, metal edge restraints are very similar to their plastic competitors in style, size and ease of installation.

The second concrete option is a curb or border, which is found in larger installations. Unlike a concrete toe, curbs are typically visible at the end of the project. Many streetscapes or crosswalk installations will feature concrete curbing or borders to contain the pavers.

Plastic L-shape restraints allow grass to grow next to the edge of the pavers. Concrete tends to inhibit grass growth to the edge of the pavers, particularly if the concrete toe is wide. The edge restraint is entirely hidden by lush green grass next to the pavers.

If your edge restraint requires anchoring outside the edge of the pavers, make sure that your compacted base is extended far enough from the edge of your pavers to accommodate anchoring into the base. Consult your paver supplier for proper base depth and dimensions. The edge restraint is entirely hidden by the gravel backfill.

Useful Tips:

Regardless of the edge restraint system that is used, it is imperative that the edge restraint be installed directly on the compacted base, not on the bedding sand or native soil. This is important to inhibit sand migration from underneath the pavers.