5 Benefits of Flagstone Patios

Are you thinking of building a new patio or upgrading an old one this year? Patios can be made from many different materials, but one of the most popular right now is natural flagstone. Before you settle for a plain concrete or man-made paver patio, consider the benefits of using flagstone for your new patio. Here are five advantages of choosing flagstone for your patio project.

  1. Long-lasting stone. Flagstones can be hundreds of years old before they are used for an outdoor patio. This resilience is one of the reasons so many people choose them for their paving needs. They can last for decades and still look wonderful.
  2. Uniqueness. No two natural flagstone patios will be exactly alike. Each stone can be a slightly different color, pattern or shape, giving your patio a unique quality, which only natural stone can achieve.
  3. Easy maintenance. Flagstone is easy to maintain. It is meant to be outdoors and is quickly cleaned with sweeping or pressure washing.
  4. Add value to your home. The popularity and longevity of flagstone makes it an excellent investment into your home. It can add value to your home, making it more desirable if you decide to sell in the future.
  5. Natural beauty. There is nothing like natural stone to add beauty to your outdoor spaces. A flagstone patio offers uncompromising aesthetics that cannot be replicated with man-made pavers or concrete.

If you want a stylish patio that will add beauty, value and elegance to your home, choose flagstone for your paving material. Visit your local quarry to view the various flagstone options available for your next paving or stone-building project.

Posted on behalf of:
Culbreth Stone
1968 US-41
Pelham, TN 37366
(423) 930-8249

When to Use Landscape Stones and Rocks

You have many choices when you are building hardscapes to add to your landscape design. Cement, brick and pavers can be used to create many hard surfaces and structures. However, using natural stone and rock has its advantages over man-made materials when it comes to durability and beauty. When creating your outdoor space, here are some good areas to use landscape stones and rocks.

Retaining Walls

Modular blocks may look uniform for retaining walls, but if you prefer a natural appearance, stone is the best option. Fieldstone, flagstone and ashlar can be cut to create stunning retailing walls. The natural uniqueness of stone can build a wall that looks like no other, giving a beauty that cannot be duplicated.

Paving

If you are building a patio or pool deck, flat natural stones like flagstones or cut fieldstones are excellent for paving. They offer a solid, durable surface for your outdoor living spaces. Natural stone is a wonderful choice for paving garden paths or edging ponds.

Edging

Rocks and stones make a great edging material for your landscaping. Lines and linear direction are important elements in landscape design; small landscape stones can edge your gardens or paths to create the lines you need for a well-blended design in your landscaping.

Fire Pits, Fireplaces and Outdoor Kitchens

Focal and functional features like fire pit and fireplaces are perfect for natural stone. They withstand heat and blend your fire features into a natural setting. Outdoor kitchens are another area where a natural stone floor or stone veneer for cabinetry can be used to enhance the beauty of your outdoor living area.

Natural stone can be more expensive than man-made pavers, but the benefits can be worth the extra investment. Check out the natural stone options for your landscaping project at your local quarry.

Posted on behalf of:
Culbreth Stone
1968 US-41
Pelham, TN 37366
(423) 930-8249

Do I Need to Seal My Pavers?

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

Choosing the Right Paver for Your Project

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

Prevent Tracked In Dirt With Patios, Pathways And Pavers

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

Outdoor Pavers Add Pizzazz

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.

Stone Pavers – A Beautiful Addition to Your Home

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.

Spring Paver Projects

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.

Installing Pavers

Brick, natural stone, and concrete pavers are very popular for creating attractive, durable outdoor surfaces such as patios, walkways and driveways.  Pavers come in wide range of colors, styles and sizes and they make a wonderful addition to any landscape.

Another reason pavers are so popular is because they are easy to install.  Installation requires some planning, getting your hands dirty, and some moderately heavy lifting, but most do it yourselfers can install pavers with great results.

Pavers can be installed on bare ground, on gravel, or on concrete, but the most common way for the do it yourselfer is to install them on a bed of sand. The first step is to plan your project by preparing a sketch of the design.  This will help visualize how the final project will look and help in ordering materials.

Next, measure the area and mark around the edges.  The area will need to be excavated deep enough to allow for the height of the pavers and an additional 2 inches for the sand base.  Excavate the area so that the top of the pavers will be slightly higher than the surrounding are to prevent water from pooling on top of your project.

Fill the excavated area with a two inch layer of sand, then compact the sand with a plate compacter from your local equipment rental shop.  Now you are ready to start laying your pavers.  Start from one corner and work your way out toward the other side.  Set the pavers by rapping them gently with a wooden mallet or compacting them lightly with the plate compactor.

Fill in the gaps between the pavers with sand by spreading sand over the top of your project and sweeping the sand into the cracks and enjoy your new patio or walkway.

Types of Pavers

Paver is a generic term for hard blocks used to create flat outdoor surfaces such as walkways, patios, and driveways.   Pavers come in a wide variety of types and styles and are very popular with do-it-yourselfers because they are easy to work with, very forgiving, and can be used to create attractive outdoor surfaces in almost any size or style imaginable.  If you don’t want to install them yourself, your local landscaping company will be happy to help.

Although almost any hard material can be used as a paver, the most commonly used pavers are natural stone, brick, and concrete.  Natural stone pavers are available in an unlimited variety and sizes.  They make very beautiful, rustic patios and walkways.  Almost any type of natural stone is available as stone pavers including granite, marble, travertine, limestone, bluestone, and many others.

Brick pavers are made from a mixture of cement, sand and other materials and then fired in a kiln to create a durable, hard product in uniform sizes.  Brick pavers are made in various colors with reddish and tan colors being most common.  Brick pavers have excellent wear characteristics and an almost indefinite lifespan.

Concrete pavers are made in an endless variety of shapes, colors and sizes.  They are also very long lasting and offer a more finished surface.  Because they are manufactured, they can be made more uniform than other types of pavers resulting in a tighter fit between pavers.  Some concrete pavers are made to interlock with each other and are very easy to install.

Pavers of all types are available at your local landscape supply company.