Hardscapes
What Are Patio Pavers?
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"Patio pavers" is a generic term given to describe any regular type of paver that is specifically used for the construction of an outdoor patio deck. Patios are constructed primarily for the enjoyment of outdoor living spaces. |
Three main materials for Patio Pavers
There are 3 main types of raw materials that are used for manufacturing regular paver products and they all can be used as patio pavers:
Concrete pavers – made from concrete - can be used as patio pavers
Brick pavers – made from clay - can be used as patio pavers
Stone pavers – made from natural stone - such as granite, sandstone, etc, can be used as patio pavers
Each of the above paver groups has a multitude of paver products that are manufactured in an endless selection of colors, shapes, patterns and sizes that would be suited for patio paving applications. Therefore, just about any type of pavers can be used for building a patio. In essence, any regular paver product can be used to make a patio.
PATTERNS and DESIGNS
When it comes to installing your chosen Patio Pavers, there is a variety of patterns and designs to consider.
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Herringbone This is the most formal of the patterns available and the most popular, it is a zigzag type design and is ideal for the cover-up of irregular areas. |
Running Bond
This is a simple yet versatile pattern type. It is also very popular for use on Patios and small areas. Pavers are laid at an angle to create a curve pattern.
Basket-Weave
The Basket-Weave pattern is suitable for casual applications. This pattern is often used with another type of design, or it can be used alone. Pavers are laid vertically and horizontally in pairs.
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Circle Design This is a popular and sometimes difficult design to install, where pavers are laid in a circle design, creating the curves can be challenging. |
Fan Design
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This design brings a pattern of gentle arches, and is generally applied to walkways and driveways also. |
Random Design
This design involves the use of about four different sizes of pavers for the one application, creating a bold effect. It is also used for walkways and driveways.
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Mixed Design This design involves the use of about three to four different shaped pavers, often used for borders, the Circle design and the Fan design.
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What are Retaining Walls used for?
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RETAINING WALLS Retaining walls are used widely in the landscaping industry. There are a variety of materials that retaining walls can be made from, such as brick, stone, rock, concrete, wood, steel, and reinforced soil. There are also different methods of structuring, for example; monolithic, rigid and poured concrete walls. |
Retaining Wall Design
Retaining walls are used to give support to vertical sloping land. By installing retaining walls, such sloping land can be leveled and hence be of greater use. Plants, trees and gardens can be incorporated to once useless land.
Retaining walls have also been used for visual or decorative purpose. Retaining walls can be used in the garden to add to the landscaping design, such as surrounding flowerbeds or to accentuate feature gardens.
With the use of colored bricks and pavers, decorative stones and various timbers, retaining walls can add that aesthetic appeal to the garden grounds.
Retaining walls are also used for the construction of highway walls, parking lots, erosion walls and bridges.
Factors to Consider in Building a Retaining Wall
Building a retaining is diffucult for do-it-yourself installation, The higher the slope the more difficult it becomes to construct. When the slope of the land becomes too high and steep, a structural engineer is required. The reason for this is that many structural factors must be taken into consideration and resolved to prevent destabilization of the wall.
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So the geography of the location where a retaining wall is being considered is very important. The retaining wall has to be able to do the same job that the soil presently does. Therefore the type of soil behind the wall must be considered, or better yet a drainage system can be put in place. This will allow water to be released from behind the wall, and hence put less weight pressure on the wall. Flagstone is a natural stone that is cut to form a shallow flat slab. Flagstone pavers is a generic term given to any flat slabs of natural paving stone material that is specifically sourced from a stone quarry. They are usually derived of natural stone materials such as sandstone, slate or limestone because these type of natural materials are easily split and cut into slabs, whereas concrete and brick pavers are manufactured at the paver plant. Flagstone pavers and pavements are very popular among homeowners because they are one of the most attractive types of paving material, they are more suited to residential use. Their commercial use is not so popular due to their higher cost and complex laying processes. Flagstone Patios, Walkways, Pool Decks, Stepping Stones Flagstone pavers Flagstone Colors and Shapes Flagstone pavers are available in a wide range of earthy toned colors which are usually browns, reds or blues as well as combinations and blends of these three natural colors, yet no two stones look the same because they are naturally sourced. Flagstone pavers come in different shapes, i.e. irregular shapes, which are random (odd) shaped pieces and dimensional shapes which are cut into rectangular or square pavers. Flagstones thickness is between one inch and three inches and will vary depending on the type of purpose they will serve. The Cost of Flagstone Pavers The availability of flagstone pavers is determined by local resources and they are usually more expensive than regular manufactured pavers and patio stones. The cost of flagstone pavers is determined by their thickness and size. The thicker the flagstone is then it will cost more to purchase than thinner flagstone pavers. Flagstone prices range anywhere between $20 and $30 per square foot to purchase. Flagstone Coverage Flagstone is usually sold by the ton and coverage by ton determines the end price. The amount of coverage is different with each project because the flagstone material varies in terms of its size, pattern cut, joint thickness and wastage. The thicker stone the less coverage you will achieve. Ideally, flagstones of more than two inches thickness are suitable for bedding sand installation. Where there are variable thicknesses, this makes the material more challenging to install. |
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Luxury Lawns Landscaping 4190 vinewood Ln ste 111-403 Plymouth Mn 55442 Twin cities Metro -St. Cloud Metro CTY 75-I94 Clearwater Mn 55320 Copyright 07-2011