Is Polymer Sand Better for Stabilizing Pavers?

January 15th, 2020 Posted in Pavers
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If you are a landscape professional or just a DIY homeowner, you know having the right products can make a big difference. If you are building a paver patio, driveway or walkway, knowing the right sand to use between the pavers can make a substantial difference. Using natural sand is no longer considered the best practice for stabilizing pavers. Instead, polymer dust and sand products offer more advantages than natural sand. Here are some of the benefits.

No Sealer Needed

Polymer sand is less likely to erode or move than natural sand, so no sealer is needed for paver surfaces with polymer used for filler. This can save time and money, making it easier to build your paved surface. With gator dust, all you need to do is sweep away excess and add water to “seal” your paver project.

Better Weed Control

Natural sand can offer a place for weeds to take up root and ruin the look of your paved surface. Polymer products like sand and gator dust provide excellent weed control, stopping almost all plants growth between pavers.

Better Pest Control

Ants love sand, but not when it is made from polymer. Putting polymer sand between your pavers can prevent ant hills and other pests that prefer natural sand and soil for their homes.

Less Erosion

Polymer sands and gator dust stay in place when the rains and winds come. This can stop erosion, ensuring your paved surface lasts longer without shifting or settling issues.

Start your next paver surface project off right. When you visit your local quarry to pick out your pavers, ask about polymer products like polymer sand or gator dust for quality stabilization for your pavers.

Posted on behalf of:
Alliance Stone
5420 Campground Rd
Cumming, GA 30040
(404) 759-0617

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Stylize Your Yard with Low-Maintenance Patio Pavers

August 10th, 2018 Posted in Pavers
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If you are considering building a new patio or extending the outdoor living space in your yard, a paver patio is a low-maintenance option. Not only do stone or formed pavers look fabulous, they are easy to maintain. Here are some ideas for your new paver patio and tips on maintenance.

Types of Patio Pavers

There are many paver types to choose from for your new patio. You can create a natural look or a modern, contemporary style, all with the same low-maintenance attributes. Some options you can choose from include:

  • Field stones. Cut field stones can be wonderful for creating a natural stone patio.
  • Flagstones. Flagstones can be irregular in shape and are a gorgeous stone for patios and walkways since they are naturally flat.
  • Concrete pavers. For a uniform, modern look, concrete pavers are an excellent choice, coming in many shapes and colors for intricate designs.

Maintaining Paver Patios

Not only will a paver patio look great and add value to your home, they are easy to maintain. Pavers can last for many years and only require cleaning. Most pavers can be easily cleaned with just a broom and water. Plus, if repairs are needed down the road, you can replace individual pavers instead of replacing the entire patio.

If you are ready to begin building your new paver patio, visit your local quarry or landscape supply store. There are many options to choose from to build your new patio and most quality suppliers can deliver your pavers to your home. Once in place, your patio will provide a wonderful outdoor space that will be easy to care for and look beautiful for many years.

Posted on behalf of:
Alliance Stone
5420 Campground Rd
Cumming, GA 30040
(404) 759-0617

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Do I Need to Seal My Pavers?

November 30th, 2017 Posted in Pavers
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Paving stones are a beautiful option for patios, driveways and walkways, adding a natural element to your outdoor areas. While natural stone pavers have many benefits, they still need protection to get the most from your investment. Sealant can add protection to your paved areas and prevent issues down the road. Here are some benefits of adding a quality sealant to your pavers after the project is completed.

  • Fade resistance. Natural stone pavers do offer some natural fade resistance, but they can still become dull after time. Sealant adds a protective gloss than enhances the natural color and intensity of the stone while preventing fading.
  • Maintenance. Improve the ease of maintaining your pavers with sealant that prevents stains. Oil and other substances like sap can absorb into stone; sealants put a protective barrier on the surface for easy removal of staining substances.
  • Water protection. Water can erode the sand between pavers and cause unlevel areas to occur. Sealant can dissipate water and allow it to run off instead of seeping between your pavers to cause erosion below.

When choosing a sealant for your pavers, you want one that is easy and quick to apply that will give you the results you prefer. Look for a sealant that can be applied when the pavers are still damp and offers a one-day application process. Water-based sealant offers environment-friendly benefits, reducing the chance of toxins in your soil and other harmful effects.

When planning your next paving project, talk to your local landscape supplier about the appropriate sealant for your pavers. This extra layer of protection can add beauty while preventing damage to your investment.

Posted on behalf of:
Alliance Stone
5420 Campground Rd
Cumming, GA 30040
(404) 759-0617

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Choosing the Right Paver for Your Project

January 3rd, 2015 Posted in Pavers
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If you’ve ever shopped for paver stones at a landscape supply store, you know how many different options are available. Most homeowners are looking for only two basic factors when they’re shopping for pavers: price and color. However, there are many different options beyond those two factors which can make a big difference in the final look and function of your project. Here are a few questions you need to ask yourself before choosing your paver: 

What Style Am I Looking For?

Pavers come in three basic style categories: natural, classic and modern. Natural are pavers are or look very much like stone, perfect for casual or garden areas. Classic pavers have rounded or rough edges, giving an old-world look to your surface. Modern pavers are cut with straight edges, offering a clean, smooth appearance. 

What Size Is Best for My Project?

Pavers come in a wide variety of sizes, especially when choosing a modern style. If you’re creating a surface which will be used for walking or formal entertaining, you may want to choose large pavers. Larger pavers will require fewer joints and will create a level surface, which is better for stabilizing tables, chairs and offering a smooth surface for walking in high heels. 

What Options are Available in My Budget?

Once you decide the style and size, your landscape supply store can help you find the best options in your budget range. If you’re determined to have a natural stone path, yet cannot afford the natural stone options, there are often alternatives which can give you the look of stone at a lower cost. 

Posted on behalf of:
Green Brothers Earth Works
680 Franklin Rd, SE
Marietta, GA 30067
(770) 590-8220

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Prevent Tracked In Dirt With Patios, Pathways And Pavers

September 28th, 2014 Posted in Pavers
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The winter months can bring rain, snow and other moisture to create soft, muddy front and back yards. If you have kids or pets who love to play outside, there’s a good chance they are bringing that soft dirt and mud back in with them on their shoes and paws. One way to help reduce the amount of dirt being tracked into your house is to create patios and pathways which can create mud-free zones in your yard. Pavers are an affordable and easy way to create these outside surfaces, which can save your carpets and floors inside your home. 

Benefits Of Patio And Pathways

If you don’t currently have a sidewalk or paved pathway to both your front and back doors, now is the time to install one before the weather turns wet. Additionally, having even a small patio where kids can take off their shoes or paws can be wiped down before coming in the house can make a big difference in your indoor cleaning. 

Choosing Your Pavers

For both pathways and patios, there is an immense variety of pavers you can use for building beautiful surfaces. The type you choose will depend on the colors and shapes you prefer, along with your budget. The most common choices for pavers include: 

–        Brick. The classic look of brick can add style to any outdoor area. Brick is fairly inexpensive since it’s a man-made material. You can choose from classic red brick, or many other varieties of colors.

–        Cement pavers. One of the most affordable and versatile options is cement pavers. There are hundreds of varieties of shapes, sizes and color. For those on a budget with large areas to cover, cement pavers are definitely an excellent choice.

–        Natural stone pavers. For a rustic aesthetic appeal, natural stone pavers are the ultimate in style. Although very beautiful, natural stone pavers are also the most expensive, due to the limited supply and cost of obtaining these rocks from their natural source. 

Visit your local landscape supply store to find the perfect paver to keep excess dirt out of your home in the months to come.

Posted on behalf of Find Local Landscape Supply

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Cutting Concrete Pavers, Step-by-Step

June 7th, 2012 Posted in Pavers
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If the primary concern of your driveway or path is its decorative appeal, then you may want to try the vast range of concrete pavers you can choose from. Concrete pavers come in just about any shape, size and design you could imagine, with an assortment of different finishes. Aside from that, they are also pretty easy to lay for anyone who fancies themselves for a bit of DIY – however, when it comes to cutting them, this part of the job isn’t always that easy.

When it comes to cutting pavers, there are a number of ways to go about it. The old fashioned way is by using a pitching chisel, or a bolster. This is the trickiest way of cutting paving slabs, and so extra care needs to be taken. Make sure to score a line across the paver where you want to cut it, then take a lump hammer and be sure to whack that chisel hard and true at the first attempt!

We can also use a disc cutter or power saw to cut pavers. Before cutting, make sure that you have a stone cutting blade fitted to the cutter. These are the steel, diamond-tipped blades, rather than the carbon blades used to cut metal. Score a line across the paver where you want to make your cut, then power up the saw and slowly ease through the paver, being careful not to exert too much pressure.

You can also use a specialist tool called a block and slab splitter. These are quite expensive, but they provide the cleanest cut of all. Carefully place the paver between the two blades of the slab splitter, taking care to line up exactly where you need to make the cut, then apply pressure slowly until the paver snaps across the line of the blade. Note that there are three types of slab splitter. The basic ones with smooth blades can be used to cut regular pavers, while you will need a toothed blade for cutting slabs with an irregular surface. For the thickest of pavers, it may be necessary to use a hydraulic slab splitter.

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The Cost of Paving Stones Installation

June 7th, 2012 Posted in Pavers
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As with all construction projects, the choice of paving materials you use for your driveway, footpath or patio area will be partly driven by the cost. Read on to find out about pricing for the most common types of pavers.

Brick pavers are man made from very common materials, and so that means that these are one of the cheapest paving options available. Of course, the style and quality of brick pavers can vary quite a bit, but the average cost will start from around $0.50 per brick, or around $10 to $15 per square foot if you prefer to buy according to area coverage. Don’t forget that you will also need to pay for someone to install them – although this is pretty cheap, with most contractors charging between $10 and $20 per square foot, depending on the nature of job and the exact materials used.

Concrete pavers can be a little less expensive than bricks, depending on the quality. The cheapest concrete pavers will start at around $5 per square foot, with the best of the best being priced at about $15 a square foot. Installation costs are about the same price too, between $5 and $15 per square foot.

Stone pavers are by far the most expensive, as these are naturally made and have to be dug from a quarry and then cut to the right size.  The cost of the pavers themselves will be more expensive than other types of paver – if you buy them according to area, expect to pay anything from $20 to $30 per square foot, depending on the quality of the stone. Installation can also be more expensive, as these pavers are bigger and have to be laid manually one at a time, which can be a time consuming task. As a guide, the price of installation would range from $15 per square foot to a maximum of $30 per square foot.

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Outdoor Pavers Add Pizzazz

March 1st, 2012 Posted in Pavers
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So you’re thinking of paving an outdoor area and you’re wondering which type of surfacing system is right for your needs. Outdoor pavers are the definitive option for external spaces because they literally lay the groundwork for beautiful and versatile landscape designs. Pavers are durable, easy to install and offer great safety value. They add decorative charm to any landscape and also serve functional purposes, such as edging a garden or framing spaces.

Stone pavers are naturally occurring flagstones mined from bluestone, limestone, granite, sandstone, travertine or slate quarries. They are more expensive than manufactured pavers but remain popular because of their durability, low maintenance and fade-resistant colors. They come in an endless array of colors and cuts and can be used to achieve either an ‘old world’ effect or a modern look.

Concrete pavers are manufactured by pouring mixed concrete into patterned moulds. You can choose from any number of elegant designs and shapes. Most concrete pavers are a light gray color, providing a pleasing contrast in darker landscapes; however, these pavers come in a wide variety of colors. Concrete pavers stand up extremely well in all weather conditions and require only periodic pressure-washing to retain newness. They are a very cost-effective solution for external paving needs.

Brick pavers are another attractive paving option. These pavers are manufactured by firing a mixture of sand, cement and water in a kiln. Brick pavers are commonly a classic red color, but you can choose from a variety of striking tints and finishes. Shapes range from simple rectangular pavers to more complex wedged shapes. Curved and rounded brick pavers are ideal for edging projects. Brick pavers are known for their durability but they are not very fade-resistant and will lose some of their luster with time.

Whether you are planning to line a swimming pool deck, resurface a patio, or give your old asphalt driveway a much-needed makeover, outdoor pavers are perfect for adding pizzazz to your landscape.

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Stone Pavers – A Beautiful Addition to Your Home

January 4th, 2012 Posted in Pavers
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There are almost an unlimited number of ways to add beauty, value, and enhance your enjoyment of your home using natural stone pavers or manufactured pavers.  Pavers is a generic term for natural stone, brick, or cast concrete blocks that are used to create all types of durable, attractive outdoor surfaces such as patios, walkways, pool decks and driveways.  Pavers are usually square or rectangular shaped although some manufactured pavers are made in a variety of interlocking shapes.

Your local landscape supply center will carry many different types and styles of pavers to fit your design and budget.  Natural stone pavers are cut from quarries or rock formations and can be almost any type of stone such as granite, travertine, slate or marble.  As the name suggests, natural stone pavers are not manufactured but are natural stone cut to the desired size and shape.  Natural stone pavers are typically not uniform in color and add a rustic beauty that is hard to beat.

Manufactured pavers include brick pavers and concrete pavers.  Brick pavers are similar to traditional bricks and are made from clay and kiln fired for hardness.  They are normally rectangular, red or tan colored and can be uniform in color or have subtle color variations.

Concrete pavers are manufactured in various shapes and sizes using colored concrete.  Because of the way concrete pavers are manufactured, they can create a tightly fitted, uniformly colored surface.  Various colors and shapes can be combined to create almost any pattern desired.

Whether using natural stone, brick or concrete, pavers are an attractive alternative to traditional concrete or asphalt surfaces.

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Spring Paver Projects

April 28th, 2011 Posted in Pavers
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Spring is here and your landscaping professionals are getting busy.  This is a great time to get that beautiful patio, walkway, driveway, or other outdoor living space you have always wanted.  Call today while your landscaper still has time to schedule your project and to take advantage of plentiful supplies of attractive natural stone pavers that are now available. 

Later in the year, your landscaper will be swamped with new projects and maintaining existing landscapes.  In addition, supplies of natural stone pavers will have dwindled and the choice pavers may be out of stock.  Paver supply companies buy big in the spring in anticipation of the spring and summer rush, but let inventories drop as we head toward fall and winter.  They don’t want to be carrying too much inventory through the slow winter months. 

You will find the best selection of high quality pavers at your local landscaping supply company during the spring.  Pavers come in a wide variety of types and styles.  Many pavers are manufactured in various sizes, shapes and colors that can provide an attractive outdoor surface.

For a truly stunning patio, driveway, walkway, or other outdoor living area, consider using natural stone pavers.   These pavers are formed by nature over millions of years and are either mined or extracted from a quarry.  Each stone is unique and has a beauty that can’t be matched by a manufactured paver.

Don’t let another season go by without an exciting, beautiful outdoor living space for you and your family to enjoy.  Stop in to your local landscape materials supplier and check out the selection of natural stone pavers.

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