By Michelle Brown, consultant to Pavestone Company

With high density and low absorption, interlocking concrete pavers are resilient even under the most adverse environmental conditions. Whether faced with perfect or dramatic weather, pavers are designed to last for at least 30 years while creating a regal entryway.

It is no secret that interlocking concrete pavers are replacing poured concrete throughout the United States at record rates. If the visual evidence of all the paved surfaces across the country does not prove it, just look at the numbers.

According to the Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute (ICPI), in 2006 approximately 800 million square feet of concrete pavers were sold in North America. Furthermore, since 1998, the North American concrete paver industry has more than doubled. Time and time again, both contractors and consumers are incorporating pavers into applications that traditionally used poured-concrete application.

When selecting pavers, consider the thickness of the paver and potential use. If your paver project must withstand regular, repeat vehicle traffic the paver must be at least 3.125 inches thick. For pedestrian traffic and residential driveways, 2.375 inch-thick pavers are generally acceptable.

Probably one of the biggest amenity trends in the hardscapes industry today is driveway pavers. A European staple, this style is currently taking the United States by storm. First seen stateside in Florida, paver driveways are now being used in Phoenix and Las Vegas with great success. From coast to coast, pavers are replacing the plain and ordinary look of poured concrete bringing excitement and aesthetic appeal to neighborhoods of all sizes.

More and more, contractors are finding that residences with paver driveways are selling faster, thus increasing overall profits. This decorative hardscape application is making the difference in their bottom lines. ?EUR??,,????'??All of our new communities are receiving pavers as part of their new home package regardless of their size, square footage or density zoning,?EUR??,,????'?? says Jeff P. Turk of Lennar Homes in Reno, Nev. ?EUR??,,????'??This factor continues to increase the perceived value of translating our homes into castles”.

The ?EUR??,,????'??zero cure time?EUR??,,????'?? of paver installation allows the application to be ready to go after the repair is completed without a lengthy down time. Damage to a concrete poured application could require costly and wide-scale repairs.

Home buyers are falling in love with communities designed with pave stone driveways leading up to their new addresses. The added elegance delivers perceived home values much greater than the actual builder costs. ?EUR??,,????'??Pavers definitely differentiate a property and buyers choose homes in communities with pavers over others that do not have them,?EUR??,,????'?? says Carlie Maciejewski, a Houston, Tex.?EUR??,,????'??+based regional sales manager for the Pavestone Company.

In fact, a recently conducted a focus group surveyed homeowners in 43 states. An overwhelming 97.7 percent of participants had never even considered a driveway constructed of interlocking concrete pavers. However, once shown photos of driveways made of pavers, 94 percent of them said they would definitely choose this option for their own homes. Furthermore, they also indicated that price would not be a factor in their choice. On average, concrete costs about $3-$6 per square foot installed while interlocking concrete pavers cost about $4-$12 per square foot installed.

When considering all of the advantages of incorporating a driveway made of pavers instead of poured concrete, it is not surprising the nominal price difference between the two is not really an issue. In the focus group, of the 94 percent of homeowners who said they would choose pavers for their own homes, 90 percent said they would not have a problem paying $3-$6 more per square foot than the price of poured concrete.

In a recent focus group survey, conducted by Pavestone, of the 94 percent of homeowners who said they would choose pavers for their own homes, 90 percent said they would not have a problem paying $3-$6 more per square foot than the price of poured concrete.

It goes without saying that pavers are a very attractive and visually appealing addition to any project. Interlocking concrete pavers are available in a wide range of colors, sizes, textures and styles. The sky is the limit when it comes to choosing a product that will complement and harmonize with the d????(C)cor of the adjacent residences such as tile, trim and veneer color. ?EUR??,,????'??These products allow us to coordinate driveway paver color with the color elements in our homes,?EUR??,,????'?? says Allison Miller of Miller Design Centex Homes in Las Vegas, Nev. ?EUR??,,????'??This gives us control of the overall look and feel of the development.?EUR??,,????'??

This extensive selection of shapes, colors, sizes, finishes and installation patterns allows each home to be uniquely distinct, regardless of the development size. As a result, homebuilders are turning to this versatile product in droves for driveway applications. “Customers such as Lennar Homes and Pulte Homes have found the many shapes, textures and colors offered by pavers helps to enhance the overall appearance of their homes, adding value to their customers,?EUR??,,????'?? says Dave Pawl, owner, Southwest Design Group, Inc.

In addition, the versatility of the product allows for a wide selection of tie-ins and add-ons to a residence. Consider the enhanced value that coordinating walkways or patios would bring to projects.

Pavers are an extremely durable product requiring little maintenance and are relatively quick to install. They are strong enough to stand up to the extreme forces of weather, water and traffic. The small, individual units interlocking with one another are tolerant of both horizontal and vertical movements of supportive soils. Because they are designed to withstand freeze-thaw conditions, they are an excellent choice for cool as well as warm climates. With high-product density and low-product absorption, concrete pavers are resilient even under the most adverse environmental conditions. Even under extreme conditions, they are designed to last for at least 30 years.

?EUR??,,????'??Lennar?EUR??,,????'???s decision to incorporate pavers in our production homes as a standard feature was made after rigorous evaluation of the Northern Nevada climate, challenging soil conditions and the existing materials being used by other builders in our target market,?EUR??,,????'?? explains Turk. ?EUR??,,????'??The incorporation of pavers would not only withstand the dramatic weather conditions and the challenging soil composition, but would also offer the majestic presence of a path that welcomed royalty.?EUR??,,????'??

In the event of damage or cracks, individual pavers can be inexpensively and easily replaced. Simply lift the affected area, re-grade compact the base and bedding sand and install the replacement paver. The ?EUR??,,????'??zero cure time?EUR??,,????'?? of paver installation allows the application to be ready to go after the repair is completed without a lengthy down time. Damage to a concrete poured application would require costly and wide-scale repairs that would interrupt the homeowner?EUR??,,????'???s lifestyle for the duration of the restoration.

With their elegance, paved driveways are adding that certain je ne sais quoi to residential communities nationwide, making neighborhoods look like a million bucks regardless of development or residence size. When looking for a way to make the ordinary become extraordinary, consider the value, prestige and aesthetic appeal that interlocking concrete pavers bring to driveway applications and increase your curb appeal of your projects?EUR??,,????'??+and your bottom line.