Overview of Hardscape Products

by Richard Bodie, Pavestone Company

These multi-shaped blocks (pictured here) have been widely used in concrete segmental retaining wall structures due to the ease of installing pinless/mortarless systems. Concrete segmental retaining wall shapes have primarily consisted in 6'' and 8'' vertical heights, 18?EUR??,,????'?? in horizontal dimension and have been between 12?EUR??,,????'?? and 24?EUR??,,????'?? in depth. Most have been manufactured with a split either in a convex or straight manner to allow for locking in place.

In the past, the Landscape Contractor industry has predominantly based its product and service offering on plant material installation and their subsequent maintenance. Along with the installation of trees, shrubs and ground cover, there occasionally came a need for either a bed edging or a retaining wall structure. What was originally an occasional ?EUR??,,????'??non-green?EUR??,,????'?? requirement for landscaping contracts has now grown into a multi-million dollar industry. Enter today?EUR??,,????'???s world of ?EUR??,,????'??hardscaping.?EUR??,,????'??

Two major elements of the hardscape offering are segmental retaining walls and pave stones made of concrete. As any product is introduced, used and evaluated, a predictable product life philosophy emerges. Segmental concrete retaining walls and pavers are no exception. While these products have not reached a ?EUR??,,????'??commodity?EUR??,,????'?? status, there has been a categorical evolution of product types. The original wall products were basically one size fits all. The paver products consist primarily of rectangles, squares and various interlocking shapes. ?????EUR??,,?EUR In some circles these original products have earned a title of ?EUR??,,????'??Generation One?EUR??,,????'?? category products. These products have and continue to serve the industry with the majority of sales and customer satisfaction.

The introduction and use of permeable paver systems ?EUR??,,????'??? paving units with small geometric surface voids ?EUR??,,????'??? are fast becoming a component of stormwater control best management practices. Now it is not only possible to mitigate stormwater run off quantity, but the product?EUR??,,????'???s water infiltration reduces the amount of pollutant load previously in the raw stormwater as well.

As with any product proliferation, the evolutionary process continues and now a ?EUR??,,????'??Generation Two?EUR??,,????'?? category product has materialized. These products consist of Generation One products with a new twist as well as expanded product multiple piece counts and increased dimensional scales. ?????EUR??,,?EUR The primary divergence has been the introduction of the tumbling process. Tumbling is an additional manufacturing process that ?EUR??,,????'??antiques?EUR??,,????'?? the product appearance by distressing the surface and edges. The architectural finish emulates the old world character that designers, contractors and end users alike have been fabricating into their landscape already. The newer Generation Two also offers an expansion of shapes, colors and textures not seen before in the previous product lines. This overall Generation Two product progression fastens the use of concrete segmental walls and pave stones use in future landscape design packages. It further substantiates that concrete product manufacturing will continue to effectively provide the landscape industry with new and innovative products with which to take to market.

Concrete paving stones in the traditional sense have been the classic 4” x 8” rectangular shapes which still continues to be the bastion of design and use. However, the combination of rectangular and square shapes has been digging deeply into 4” x 8” previous dominance as never before. Both of these original shaped Generation One products have been modified with radius corners, embossed surfaces and shouldered edges. These products continue to be the lion?EUR??,,????'???s share of concrete paver product utilization. These products have been included in a host of fantastic looking pavements in projects all over the world. And there is no doubt they will continue to be used now and in the future projects successfully. These products have demonstrated a proven history of performance used in all kind of applications – sidewalks, courtyard, plazas and driveways. Available in a wide variety of colors, they can suit any landscape setting. Similar to the concrete segmental retaining wall generation transformation, the Generation Two concrete pavers?EUR??,,????'??? addition of the tumbled process and added multiple shapes to the paving stone product lines, there is a now a fresh new array of products to serve the designers and end users appetite. New multiple piece systems are capable of being installed in a variety of patterns. This provides the landscape team with more flexibility in meeting the design intent. Squares and rectangles sizes up one square foot in these multiple piece systems are now present. This larger scale component augments pleasing patterns and adds additional features to the finished look of the improvement. Enhanced coloration manufacturing equipment now makes it possible to have three to four colors within a manufactured layer of product. This color capability is making the installed ?EUR??,,????'??blending?EUR??,,????'?? product more variegated in appearance. Molded surface textures from embossed to cleft appearances have been established. It is now possible to get the natural looking pavement in a variety of accommodating colors and patterns.

Enhanced coloration manufacturing equipment now makes it possible to have three to four colors within a manufactured layer of product. This color capability is making the installed product more variegated in appearance, as shown in the pictures. Molded surface textures from embossed to cleft appearances have been established. It is now possible to get the natural looking pavement in a variety of accommodating colors and patterns.

An additional new trend of pave stone products that fit into the Generation One and Two philosophies are the permeable or porous concrete pavers. Originally turf block products ?EUR??,,????'??? open cellular grids ?EUR??,,????'??? have been successfully used for slope surface stabilization, overflow parking and even fire lane pavements. The products are capable of providing a pavement and a greenbelt solution for various site work treatments. Although they are somewhat limited in use due to the fact they are not intended for high traffic applications. ?????EUR??,,?EUR As a result, the introduction and use of permeable paver systems ?EUR??,,????'??? paving units with small geometric surface voids ?EUR??,,????'??? are fast becoming a component of stormwater control best management practices.

Building Blocks

1/8 ?EUR??,,????'??? Inch per foot, the recommended slope when digging the foundation for the bed.