Introduction
One day, you’re sitting in your backyard on a cold, grey, concrete patio having a warm drink. You feel uninspired by your surroundings. Every time you scroll through your feed, you see these beautiful spaces and places. There are textures and colors and patterns in the hardscapes. The people look happy and energetic. Truthfully, well-designed and built outdoor spaces inspire people. Good designers use trusted design principles but also select the appropriate materials. And pavers are one of the most commonly used materials in residential hardscapes and patios. Pavers can be made of concrete, brick, stone, or synthetic materials. Hardscaping with pavers can create beautiful, interesting spaces if built correctly. This article aims to introduce readers to the basics of how paver areas are built and maintained. Let’s dig in.
At a basic level, a paver patio is created by laying each paver side-by-side, end-to-end to form the pavement surface. Below the pavers are the structural layers. These layers are extremely important for the strength and durability of the system.
Typically, the structural layers consist of a compacted existing soil subgrade, a compacted aggregate (rock) base, and a sand-setting bed. However, heavy loads or poor soils may require additional measures to support the paver’s intended uses.
Flexible vs. Rigid
Formally, pavers are known as “flexible unit pavements” or “rigid unit pavements.”
Flexible unit pavements consist of unit pavers placed on a sand setting bed and aggregate base layer. Think of this as a typical residential paver driveway.
Rigid unit pavements consist of unit pavers glued or mortared to a reinforced concrete base with an aggregate base layer underneath. This is a special construction technique best left to professionals and is not recommended for all climates and conditions.
If you are interested in this type of application, work with a trusted local hardscaping expert to determine your options.
Please visit our Hardscaping page to learn more about the design services we offer.
Type of Pavers
Deciding on the type and strength of the paver depends upon what uses and activities will occur there. The strength is referred to as load-bearing ability. Heavy, medium, and light duty refers to the type of traffic a pavement will need to support.
Heavy duty will need to be strong enough to support a wide range of vehicles, including large trucks, buses, and emergency vehicles.
Medium duty must be able to accommodate heavy pedestrian traffic and light vehicles. This would be pavements found on private drives and small commercial settings.
Light-duty pavers are usually found at residential sites or plazas and walkways that restrict vehicle access.
Typically, paver thickness ranges from a minimum of 1.5 inches (cut stone/flagstone) to 8 inches (vehicular granite cobbles). For heavy-duty applications where vehicles will drive on the surface, thicker and stronger pavers will be necessary. Alternatively, if the pavers will only be supporting light duty, such as a garden patio, a greater selection of materials is available, such as flagstone.
It’s critical to work with a professional to discuss the expected uses for the project. This will allow for proper selection of the paver type and construction of adequate structural base layers. Those decisions will affect the durability and safety of the pavements.
Paver Joints
After the pavers have been placed and leveled, the joints between the pavers are filled with sand, polymeric sand, rocks, gravel, or grout. Depending upon the joint material, the joints between pavers can form a porous to semi-porous surface that may allow water to seep in.
Deciding on the joint material is an important decision. There are advantages and disadvantages to each, which must be considered based on the unique project site. For some projects, a porous surface may not be desirable, while others would benefit from allowing water to seep in.
Porous Joints
Porous and semi-porous joint materials, such as sand and polymeric sand, allow water to soak in. While this helps to reduce runoff during rain events, it will most likely require periodic re-setting and weeding as the flow of water can erode the joint material and base materials underneath, and spread weed seeds into the joints.
Professional hardscapers have tools and techniques to relieve some of these problems, providing incredible long-term value to their clients.
Non-Porous Joints
Non-porous joint materials, such as grout and mortar, prevent water from entering the joints. This can protect the base materials underneath from damage from water flow. It also reduces the possibility of weed growth in the joints. However, professional design and installation are recommended to ensure the area is sloped appropriately to direct the flow of water away from buildings and structures. With grouted or mortared joints, any water that falls on the pavers will flow across the surface. Directing where the water flows is very important for the safety of the buildings and occupants.
Paver Pattern
The interlocking nature of the pavers help to spread the load across the surface. Selecting a pattern will be guided by the type of paver you choose, the shapes available from the manufacturers, as well as the type of traffic expected.
For example, a herringbone pattern does an excellent job at handling the turning movements of large, heavy vehicles. That makes it an excellent pattern for heavy-duty applications.
Some common patterns include running bond, basketweave, herringbone, and many more. Countless patterns are available depending upon the size and shape of the pavers used.
For inspiration, visit some paver manufacturer’s websites. A few we recommend are:
- Tremron Pavers: Follow this link to their Hardscape Inspiration page.
- Belgard Pavers and Hardscapes: This link will take you to their Hardscape Ideas page.
Edge Restraints
Best practices include extending the compacted aggregate (rock) base beyond the edge of the pavers. Extending the base 6-12 inches beyond the edge of the pavers helps to prevent edge pavers from breaking or settling due to random loads, erosion from wind or water, or vegetation damage.
Most paver areas require an edge restraint to prevent lateral creeping of the units over time. This may include wood, steel, stone, flat curb, raised curbing, metal or plastic edging, or other materials. Determining which method is best for your site is best left to a professional. Professional hardscaping companies with local expertise will ensure the long-term success of the installation while still providing an attractive solution.
Maintenance
Most paver areas will require periodic maintenance and repair to perform properly and should not be considered low maintenance, but are easy tasks for professional providers. Maintenance will include removing weeds and vegetation from joints, re-setting damaged pavers, installing new joint sand, edge repair from crushing or settlement, and sealing to protect surfaces. If neglected, the paver areas will diminish rapidly which could lead to unsafe conditions for vehicles and occupants.
Pavements will show signs of deterioration within 10-15 years if they do not receive maintenance and repairs. Account for this maintenance in your long-term plans to extend the life of your investment.
Climate and Weather
Local and regional climate conditions heavily influence the design and construction of paver details and finishes. Daily temperature, average precipitation rates, freeze/thaw cycles, and other factors must be considered when designing hardscapes.
In hot and humid climates, like Florida, drainage and color choice are the primary factors to consider. Adequate drainage is needed to prevent the growth of moss, algae, and mildew. It’s also important to allow for proper drainage of heavy rainfalls in order to prevent damage to the base layers. Light colors are preferable to avoid heat absorption and the creation of “heat islands” that increase the surrounding air temperatures.
Cold climates have specialized concerns and restrictions that must account for snow, freeze/thaw cycles, and extra maintenance. Selections must be able to withstand activities like salting and snow plows.
This is another reason to work with local professional to ensure the design and construction is appropriate for your region.
Closing Thoughts
This article was only an introduction to hardscaping with pavers. Stay tuned to our blog for future, in-depth posts. Please let us know in the comments if you have specific topics you would like to learn about.
You may also send us a message on our Contact page.