Walkways & Patios

A poor subbases is one of the most common reason a walkway or patio fails. To ensuring your new installation withstands the test of time, we excavate a minimum of 6-8" below your patio. We then install 4-6" of dense-grade at the subbase, which will help maximize soil stability and the total load-carrying capacity. On top of the dense-grade will be a 2" bedding layer of chipped stone for the pavers to be laid on. We use chipped stone instead of stone dust or masonry sand due to its improved filtration and compaction.  It is also required by polymeric sand manufactures to have 2" of chipped stone below your pavers to be eligible for the 20-year limited warranty they offer because unlike stone dust, water is allowed to escape.

Compaction is important on both your subbase and when applying polymeric sand. For every 2" of material added to a subbase, you can expect 0.5" of it to compact. To ensure our projects are laid on stable footing, we abide by this principle, keeping in mind which materials are best to optimize your project. It is also manufacturer-recommended to use a plate or roller compactor when applying polymeric sand to your new patio or walkway to help remove air gaps in joints by vibrating sands deeper down for a stronger bond.  

Standing water on top of pavers will stain and weaken them, leading to chips, cracks, and  erosion. Once cracks develop, water will find its way inside and freeze over the colder months, causing cracks to expand and worsen. Poor filtration below will hold water against the bottom of pavers which will cause erosion and an unstable base. For a project on a relatively flat surface, we would optimize filtration by allowing for a minor pitch to your patio for proper water run-off and also would use permeable joints and chipped stone as a base to help drain standing water. For a project on a slope, we would use a non-permeable joint, to allow all water to run-off without being absorbed into the subbase which could cause the soil to shift. 

Polymeric sand is a great joint stabilizer that is designed to help prevent future weed growth. Polymeric sand is an encapsulated cement and polymers mixture that allows for the perfect combination of strength and flexibility. Where normal cement is very brittle and unforgiving to even the most minor of soil shifts, polymeric sand is designed to hold pavers together without cracking or separating. They are also designed in both permeable and non-permeable, meaning they can assist in filtering still-water through paver joints. When properly installed on a new patio, polymeric sand can last upwards of 20 years in weed prevention.

Concrete, paver, and natural stone sealers are designed to protect and enhance both the maintenance or the aesthetic of your patio or walkway. The sealers that we recommend aid in protecting all pavers from water saturation, corrosion caused by de-icing salts, UV bleaching caused by sun exposure, surface staining such as grease, oil, and bacterial stains. Whenever water falls on the sealed pavers, the drops will all "bead-up" instead of soaking into the stones and accelerating erosion. Our sealer is water-based and does not need to be applied yearly as it has a 10-year limited warranty and is meant to give our client's projects the protection that they need!

Planning out a new patio or walkway can be a very difficult and stressful task for individuals given the countless number of options and ideas that have to be considered to create your dream outdoor living space. We assist in this process by helping our client's each step of the way, through finding the paver material that best suits them project and helping client's discover their individual intended needs so we can cater each installation to give you the most functionality for your desired application!