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I’m sure if you have lived in Alberta or any cold climate for that matter for any length of time you have noticed many concrete walkways or driveways are in terrible shape. I’ve seen many people try to repair or patch the blemishes only to see it look just as awful within a few years or less. The only way to truly fix the problem is to cut out the problem area, re pour the concrete but then you’re stuck with a patch that may never match the existing concrete. You could start from scratch, spend thousands, remove the old slab pour new concrete but are you certain it won’t pit or crack again? There has to be a better way!
Well fortunately there is a solution, it may be a larger investment up front but the strength and durability will save you thousands in the long run. There are unlimited design options as you can blend different styles of pavers, colours, sizes to be unique to your project.
Why are paving stones so strong you may ask? Well they have many structural advantages over concrete since they are flexible which minimizes stress on the surface. They interlock so can spread and transfer vertical loads which is great for driveways. So a product that won’t crack, chip or pit on you. That’s very important living in a cold climate since if you get water into a hard surface then it freezes and thaws and freezes repeatedly all winter it will wreck havoc and deteriorate the surface. All it takes is a small pit or crack in your concrete and the next thing you know it turns into a larger problem.
Another big factor in why paving stones are so strong is that they are manufactured in a plant in a closely controlled climate. This gives us a superior product since every paver made will be made uniformed in the production process. From the aggregate used, to the water added to the mix to the curing process these pavers are guaranteed to give us better wear and freeze thaw durability. Concrete is being mixed and poured on site, there are many variables for each project. There is always the uncertainty of the consolidation of the mix, can there be clumps of sand inside the mix, too much or too little water used and the weather conditions outside play a huge role in the process.
Pavers are very versatile, they can be used for harsh climates, even Anchorage, Alaska has streets and plazas with thousands of square feet of them. Heating systems can be installed underneath so ice and snow doesn’t form on them. There’s even permeable pavers if you have a site where you can’t have water run off or have drainage issues. These stones will allow water to pass through them and drain into the ground naturally. Have heavy equipment, no problem you can purchase a thicker size paver and have a thicker gravel base to allow larger vehicles to be driven on them. Repairs are quick, effective and seamless since there is no patch work. You can access underground utilities and it won’t cost you a small fortune. If you have an existing concrete slab in good shape you can overlay pavers on top, great for driveways, walkways and pool decks to save time and money.
As with all projects you will want to make sure you are hiring a reputable company that uses quality materials for the job. A poor paving stone installation will look as bad or worst than any cracked concrete slab. Make sure your contractor specifies how deep they will excavate. It is important to dispose of all the organic material and have a good solid, undisturbed sub base to work off of. Geo textiles are a great way to support your compacted gravel base. Your gravel base depth will vary depending on the application but should be no less than 4”, usually in Calgary we use 6” or so of gravel base on average for a pedestrian application. Make sure that they are using the right size gravel and compacting in lifts with a vibrator tamper. Most tampers will only compact 2-3” at a time and this is very important so you don’t get settling in the future. Bedding sand is also very important it should be a depth of 1” and be a 5mm size only. There are different types of edge restraints and jointing sand you can use with plenty of colours to choose from to highlight your project. Do your homework and if you are uncertain the ICPI hardscape organization will have local certified installers and dealers you can contact. Paving stones are a great sustainable product when installed right can last a lifetime.