How to Pick and Order Pavers for Hardscape Projects
Paver patios, driveways, paths and walls are installed to last for decades, so picking the right pavers and proper installation is vital.
Chad Brester, a Branch Manager for Ewing Hardscape Supply in Colorado, has some tips to help contractors or clients shopping for a hardscape project, big or small.
With pavers you’ve got so many different styles to choose from. Start with the type of project, and whether it’s for pedestrian use or a driveway. Any paver bigger than 12-inch by 12-inch is going to be weaker, so it probably won’t work for a driveway, for example.
Next is picking the style. We have a show area at our yard that people can visit for this. Contractors will meet their customers there to see what’s available, get ideas and kick the tires. This allows the client to pick out exactly what they want.
We also have sample boards, that give people an idea of the pavers that are available.
A week in advance is usually enough time. Some special-order products can take another three to four days.
This really depends on how big the area is and the paver style. There are worksheets we can use, though most of us at Ewing just know.
A lot of paver designs have four or five different size pavers, so we’ll work out how many of each size is needed.
When it comes to paver base and polymeric sand, the square footage and depth needed will determine how much to order.
For deliveries we do require some minimum order amounts. For smaller projects, a pick-up truck is beneficial. Some people will even pick up a little at a time. Dumping flat beds are also very useful for pallets of pavers and base material.
We teach a Pavestone how-to class and it helps answer a lot of questions people have about these kinds of projects. It covers pavers, base work and retaining wall projects. People are usually very thankful they attended the class before starting their project!
Ewing Hardscape Supply and Ewing Irrigation & Landscape Supply locations offer pavers and other hardscape materials. Paver types and colors vary by region. Stop by a location to see samples of available options.