Pavers or Concrete?

Which is better concrete or pavers?

Pavers make a great long-lasting surface in Nanaimo, Canada. Abbotsford or Belgard concrete pavers have great texture, colour and make great patterns. They can be used for many different purposes such as patio’s, driveways, walkways as well as Steps and lawn-edge. They are a great way to be creative with your hardscape. They are a product that is known to last as long as 50 plus years, over concrete that has a lifespan of around 25 years.

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Pavers, exposed aggregate concrete or stamped concrete?

The truth is that they can take water over the surface area, which allows for drainage immediately, which concrete is unable to offer. They can also have the benefit of longevity in the ability to repair quickly and easily if anything was to happen ie a chipped or cracked paver or if a small area sank. This option is not possible with concrete as once it cracks there isn’t any way of repairing that will stand the test of time or even be an invisible repair once finished. Most concrete repair product options are unable to stand the harsh winters.

Paver considerations.

When building a patio or walkway there are many things to consider, Design, Area, Location, Slope, Base. Putting extra effort into all of these areas will only give you a better and long lasting paver patio, that will last you for many years to come. More and more homeowners around Nanaimo are replacing there existing concrete hardscapes with pavers to get a better, unique and longer lasting hardscape. Pavers built and correctly installed will always be superior to a concrete product on the market.

How to choose which Belgard concrete products to use.

When it comes to pavers, there are many brands, styles, and finishes to choose from. We can help you decide what brand and which style would work best for you. One of the biggest things to consider is probably what would match best with your home and also any other hardscapes you already have ie walls, existing concrete, etc. Check out Belgard pavers or Expocrete products to see an extensive choice.

Building paver hardscapes that last!

Creative By Design Landscaping has been using a tried and tested method for the last 10+ years, which has proven its quality. Using this installation method we can ensure that you will have a patio, driveway or walkway that you will enjoy for many years to come. We stand behind our installation process and even have it listed on our website so you can see the ‘step by step’ process of what goes into a hardscape. Our employees are some of the highest paid in the landscaping industry and they are all professionally trained and have a thorough understanding of how to install each landscaping component.

Do’s and don’ts of Paver Installation

One of the biggest failings in a paver installation is lack of prep-work. Creating a good solid base will instantly give you better longer results. This achieved by making sure there is no organic matter under your base ie loam. Getting right down to the clay before compacting a crush base means less movement over time. Also using the least amount of sand possible will also give you longer results. Sand isn’t a stable structure and you cant compact it, so having the least amount under your pavers will benefit you in the long run. We like to keep it down to 1/4″-1/2″ maximum. Also, we have found that having a clean edge of concrete around the patio will keep it strong for longer than plastic edging. it not only keeps the pavers in place but also traps the sand under them, which helps for longevity.