It's true. The long-standing perception of pavement as "bland and unexciting" has been replaced by a new bolder vision. The wide range of shapes, vibrant colors, and surface textures now available in interlocking concrete pavingstones is literally revolutionizing the entire scope of hardscaping design.

Driveway Drama

In the past, driveways were generally looked upon as a strictly functional element of landscaping. They served as a place to park your car and provide convenient access to the front door. Today most homeowners regard hardscaping as an extension of the indoor living space. It is often the unique signature of the home (and the homeowner) in a time when many homes look much the same.

However, Staten emphasizes that proper installation of pavers requires skill, experience, and attention to detail. For the Landscape Architect, this means developing a workable design, selecting the right contractor and ensuring that on-site inspection is thorough. "This is an area where Pavestone offers a range of technical support services and specifications for the benefit of the design professional," says Staten.

Main Entrance Sets the Tone

The approach to the main entrance of a home creates a first impression and sets the tone for the entire residence. It must be wide enough for practical use but also in scale with the site.

Matching the Hardscaping to the Façade

Driveways and walkways are spaces that serve in the transition from public space to private space and are inseparable from the overall landscape design and layout. The materials used for these installations are extremely important in achieving the desired effect.

Recent studies show that high-quality professional hardscaping adds 7 to 9 percent to the value of residential properties.

Human Patterns in Landscape Design

Successful landscape designs should consider factors affecting human use and perception. The more you know about your client's lifestyle the better. How large is the extended family? How much entertaining do they do? How will people approach the home? Where will they park their cars? All of these factors affect the patterns of human movement including both vehicular and pedestrian traffic.

Driveways should be at least 10 to 12 feet wide when straight, and a minimum of 14 feet when curving. Where possible it is a good idea to provide space in front of the garage for vehicle turnaround, or for parking an extra car.

Interlocking concrete pavingstones offer designers and specifiers exceptional beauty, proven durability and long-term performance. Their patterns, colors, and textures enhance both the character and value of residential properties.

Landscape Architects frequently choose paving stones because of their color, texture and aesthetic appeal. However, an understanding of how these systems function is an important part of the design procedure. It is also an important part of quality control and inspection on-site.

According to Staten there are a number of important factors that should be considered when selecting concrete pavingstones and other materials used in interlocking concrete pavement construction:

• Environmental factors including moisture, freeze-thaw cycles, drainage and proximity of large trees and underground infrastructure components.

• The effect of traffic over the predicted 20 to 30 year pavement life, depending on the weight and volume of vehicles.

• Soil subgrade strength, bedding sand and obtaining an adequate level of compaction.