Have you imagined your home wrapped in ribbons of meandering concrete walkways? Have you browsed the array of handsome shapes, textures and colors of concrete pavers on the market? Have you looked at the prices and thought, I could save some money by doing it myself?
Think again.
Concrete pavers—those pre-formed blocks of colorful manmade “stone”—are often touted as a do-it-yourselfer’s dream. Sure, go ahead: Transform your yard with concrete mosaic paths, edging, patios and more … but better yet, let a professional do the job.
A general contractor who specializes in concrete installation is your best resource. Concrete contractors are experts at quantity and quality selection, surface grading, underlayment, installation and sealant finishing. They also offer guarantees on their work.
Still fancy yourself as do-it-yourself capable? Put yourself in a paver’s shoes. Suppose you want to create a pool deck/patio.
Do you know how to:
- Locate a good concrete supplier?
- Choose the right pavers for your purpose?
- Estimate how much and which type of materials you need?
Do you enjoy:
- Lifting heavy stones one by one?
- Loading and unloading heavy objects from a vehicle?
- Clearing and leveling a patch of earth?
Do you have:
- A really big truck?
- A brick chisel?
- An engineer’s hammer?
- A power saw with a diamond blade?
We didn’t think so.
A concrete contractor will have all the goods and know-how you need, or the connections to round out the job, such as landscape designers and architects. For the surest results, seek professional help in installing concrete pavers.
What Can Concrete Pavers Do?
Concrete pavers are used for long-lasting, weather-friendly outdoor flooring and low retaining walls. Today’s concrete can be stamped, embossed and tinted to resemble just about anything besides, well … concrete.
Go basic for landscape borders, tree rings and work areas in the yard. Add color and shine for driveways, swimming pool decks and entertainment patios. Capitalize on texture for focal points in the garden or to break up expanses of lawn. An experienced concrete contractor will have a portfolio of completed designs to give you ideas for your space.
Because concrete pavers are loose laid (minus mortar or forms for pouring), they can easily be used throughout a home or commercial landscape. Mixing and matching similar styles of pavers here and there creates a unifying factor that is also a practical part of the design.
Who Needs a Concrete Contractor?
Homeowners might actually save money by having a contractor install concrete paver walkways and other features. Extra trips to the supply yard, broken pavers and do-overs all cost the do-it-yourselfer more than originally planned. A bumpy patio with erupting footing would be a huge chore to remove and a waste of home-improvement funds.
Upgrades to walking surfaces at condos, apartment complexes, shopping centers, restaurants and other commercial enterprises demand professional work. A concrete paver contractor can work with your designer and other interested parties to plan for the visual impact, pedestrian traffic and additional specifications of your project.
Benefits of Pavers Versus Poured Concrete
People who choose concrete as a flooring material do so for its reputation against wear and tear. Fifty years is the low end of paver life expectancy. Remember this simple rule: Under normal use, poured concrete may crack; individual pavers won’t.
One-piece pours can crack due to cold/hot weather fluctuations, expansion and contraction of the underlying surface, or adventurous tree and shrub roots. A blow to a large slab from a heavy object may shatter poured concrete at the point of impact and be hard to repair without replacing the entire piece.
Pavers, however, are virtually weather resistant. By nature, they are skid resistant, and this quality can be enhanced by texturing. The spaces surrounding each paver absorb the shock from below-ground movement or heat expansion. Smash a paver accidentally, and all you might have to do to fix it is to pop it out and flip it over to its good side. You can also replace pavers singly, using only as many as you need.
Pavers are great flooring for tight spots where pouring concrete would be difficult or impossible. Make an abstract or representative pattern using different colors and shapes. Lay pavers in straight, arched or broken lines without having to build custom pour forms. A good contractor working with a varied palette of concrete pavers can achieve more within a budget than you’d think possible.
Risks
To some people, delegating a building project is a risk in itself. We argue that it can be the opposite—if you follow some protective measures.
- Materials: Shoddy products won’t last no matter who installs them. Ask about a contractor’s relationship with a supplier. Get physical samples before agreeing to purchase in quantity.
- Design: Not every contractor has an eye for aesthetics or shares your tastes. Get a clear design plan in writing. Some computer programs can project how the finished work will look, using photos of your home.
- Labor: Good contractors stand behind their craftspeople. Check references from past jobs, and search the local business bureau for complaints.
If you insist on written estimates, project parameters and company guarantees, your risks should be minimal. The beauty of your finished path or patio will reflect your commitment to paying a professional to smooth out the rough edges.
