The walkway or drive that leads to your home should be both a personal statement and a reflection of your good taste. What’s more, the materials should stand up to the weather, look great for years at a time and not be a burden with costly, involved maintenance.
Concrete was the favored material for years because it met some of these criteria. But today paving stones are the clear choice. Here are five reasons why:
If you splash a little oil on a concrete drive, the stain usually becomes an ugly, permanent blemish. Not so with pavers. These can be quickly flipped or replaced so you always have a surface that looks pristine.
Mixing and matching all the possible different combinations will give you a unique drive or patio every time. The different ways you can put paving stones together are limited only by your imagination.
Unlike concrete, which can take three to five days before it’s ready for traffic, there’s no curing period with pavers — and no waiting.
When a concrete base shifts, cracking can result in costly repairs that are visible even when they’ve been professionally done. It’s much easier to deal with a paver’s base that has moved. Just remove the stones over the affected area, level if needed, then replace the same pavers for a finish that looks as good as new.
Pavers are solid under your feet. Because of all the joints between paving stones, rain drains away much more easily than it does from flat concrete surfaces. This feature makes pavers much more slip-resistant.
Upgrading to pavers is the right choice for several reasons. This is a durable, worry-free material that will last for years.
If you find yourself gazing out into your backyard thinking of something you can do to spruce things up, have you considered using paving stones? Installing them is not difficult, and depending on the size of your project, it can be completed in as quickly as one weekend. The concept of using paving stones has been around as long as civilization --and for good reason. It is a simple, tried-and-true choice for builders who want attractive, durable results using simple tools and materials.
Few projects can be accomplished so quickly and last as long. Paving stones are versatile enough to suit jobs of any size or type. Regardless of your project: A simple walkway, a flower garden, a patio with barbeque, or even a driveway --paving stones are ideal. Below are some things to think about before starting your paving stone project:
Find inspiration
Do you already have an idea of what you want? If not, there are plenty of places to find inspiration. View landscaper’s websites and browse their galleries to see what is possible with paving stones. Of course there are always magazines as well. You may find new ideas that you weren’t aware of before you began your search.
Study your yard
Consider your needs and your space limitations. Can you fit your idea into the space you have? Take into consideration proximity to structure and trees. A small tree today may be a big problem in the future as the root system grows.
Types of stones
Are paving stones and stone pavers the same thing? Sort of. Paving stones (also referred to as pavers) are not necessarily made from naturally occurring stone. They are often cast from man-made materials like bricks. Some are cut from natural stone and therefore are called stone pavers. Besides a limitless number of colors, there are different types of pavers, such as brick, concrete, natural stone and even rubber. Most man-made pavers are also available in interlocking shapes.
Draw a picture
A piece of graph paper can be a great help. Draw out your plan, scaling each square as one foot (or other easily converted unit of measure). Color the bricks if you are planning to make a pattern with your stones. Using graph paper makes it easier to count how many stones of each color will be needed.
Unlike a deck, the maintenance for a stone patio is a snap. They are modular in nature, so it is also easy to move them around as your landscaping needs change. Also, have you ever stepped barefoot onto your deck after it’s been in the sun all day? Pavers are cooler on your feet. Finally, pavers won’t crack like concrete can. If planned and installed properly, you’ll be ready for the summer simply by sweeping your patio and bringing out your furniture!
When searching for an easy and cost effective design solution for a fireplace, cultured stone or manufactured stone veneer should definitely be considered. There are a variety of patterns and colors to choose from, and a multitude of ways to enhance any interior space. Culture stones are a cost-effective way to add nature-inspired beauty to any indoor fireplace.
This ledgestone fireplace (left) was built in Parkland, FL. The fireplace was framed with drywall and had a wooden shelf with a large mirror in the center. The floor-to-ceiling fireplace with cultured stones is very interesting, visually.
The manufacturer’s recommendation is to install wire lath on top of the drywall with a scratch-coat of mortar; however, you should simplify this step and use backer boards instead. These provide the proper adhesion and save a considerable amount of labor. After the installation of the backer boards, apply bonding agent on the area getting stoned.
Cultured stones, also called manufactured stones, can be rustic or refined. If you wish to install cultured stones on your own I would advise that you lay out a selection of different stone sizes on the ground. This will make it easier to find the right size and achieve the best blend in color.
Always mix different sizes of stones. Also, alternate or stagger the joints create a pattern that is pleasing to your eyes. A good rule of thumb is to break up the vertical and horizontal joints as often as possible.
Even as Central Delhi begins the kerb stone makeover — paint them saffron and green — the decision, taken by the New Delhi Municipal Council, has come under severe criticism from several quarters, including the traffic police and an NDMC member herself.
Further, the use of regular paints, as opposed to the retro-reflective thermoplastic variety, is considered to violate road rules.
Kerb stones are placed on roads as markers of danger. They are usually painted in ‘black and white’ or ‘black and yellow’. The NDMC had touted the move as an “aesthetic initiative” which would “bring uniformity to the area”.
According to Indian Road Congress, the national body of technical highway engineers, “yellow, white and black are the standard colours used for markings”. The same is stated by the Unified Traffic and Transportation Infrastructu