The Paving Blog

While we deal with the structure and durability of the paving materials themselves, there is another completely separate consideration which bears attention: the spaces between the pavers.  Improper filling and inappropriate colored grouts and even the sands between manufactured paving stones can add or detract immeasurably to the final result, strictly aesthetically speaking. Where the spaces are small, it still bears on the issue.  Pavers reveal as little as an eighth of an inch between them, but they are so numerous and so evident, the appropriately colored sand used for dry grouting can be amazingly helpful. Needless to say, where the spaces between the stones is wider, we see yet another combination of opportunity: either helpful or harmful to the overall effect.

I have included some pictures of what the better-looking grouts can accomplish. In a sort of whimsical view, we also have the very cool area of fantasy and serendipitous grouting that actually can make stones look literally fun. What you see in these examples are examples of successful grouting – where the use of the proper grout can make the colors stand out more or can even overtake the overall look with some entirely different effect.

The general rule of thumb is to provide some congruent tone and texture that takes a back seat, highlighting the stones themselves.  But there are also case and situation where it can be equally desireable to highlight the grout in order to present a different effect.

Bear in mind, there are sealers we can add to the poaving itself to lock these grouts into place.  Apparently piled up sand can be sturdier than one initally believes owing to a sand-lock sealer which binds it in a sturdy fashion.

Slab paving is an interesting and fairly dicey idea.  Currently, there are an abundance of slabs available for paving. almost of of which follow the same rules and specifications that the smaller pavers follow.  High PSI (8500, often), highly compressed concrete, up to 9 foot square in size (3′ x 3′), these large items make a dazzlingly effective look. They actually go down faster from an installer’s perspective, covering more territory with fewer pieces.  They offer the same ability to replace when damaged or discolored and, while not altogether as flexible as the smaller pavers, are indeed far more flexible than monolithic pours such as asphalt or cement.

Another supreme benefit is the options of colors and style.  Owing to their size, large paving slabs offer some intriguing mixing possibilities.  The :checkerboard look is often chosen and it can be surprisingly effective if not entertaining. Naturally, bands of color are easily inserted, either by bordering a driveway or by intersecting it across.

There is however a caveat.  Owing to their large size, the need for a perfectly graded and drained subsurface is even ore vital than for the smaller editions of pavers.  The reason is in their size.  Tires from cars and truck are dispersed by weight far easier than on these larger units.  A tire can place an imbalanced amount of weight on just one corner of one of these and, with an inadequate or deteriorating base, can cause rocking. And with rocking, comes an increasing compression underneath, yielding eventual breakage or worse, an uneven driveway.

As in all driveway constructions, pay strict attention to the subsurface.  Drainage issues also figure largely here, especially where water can flow beneath a large slab and conduct the material underneath elsewhere.  This will cause the problems listed above.