Pavers FAQS
All your paving questions answered
With many years of pavers installation experience under our belt and tons of satisfied customers we pride ourselves in being very knowledgeable when it comes to pavers and aspects of the pavers industry. Our goal is always to educate the community and our customers about pavers and why pavers benefit homeowners and oppose to concrete, asphalt and other types of paving. Here is a list of frequently asked questions we have encountered over the years from our customers. If you have any additional questions feel free to contact us, our ICPI certified project managers are more than happy to meet with you in your home to answer your questions.
Interlocking concrete and precast concrete pavers are made out of cement and rock materials known as fine and course aggregate. The volume of aggregate is modified to determine concrete paver finishes and color pigment is added before concrete pavers are poured into various standard shapes and sizes. See our other Pavers FAQs to learn more about pavers.
Pavers — are made to last a lifetime. Check Pavers FAQs and videos for our durability.
Smooth pavers – Pavers have a smooth surface and straight corners Textured Pavers – have a texture surface that’s add an “expensive” look Tumbled Pavers – have the chizzled corners which as an antique and distressed broken look. View our full pavers collection to view all of the different styles, colors, sizes and paver cost.
Stamped concrete although easy to install is subject to frequent cracking in a seismic area such as Southern California. Pavers are durable, flexible and resistant to UV light and weather cycles. They are slip resistant, easily repaired and maintenance is minimal. The options of customizing with pavers is limitless while stamped concrete has no options to customize.
Pavers are extremely durable (able to withstand up to 8000 p.s.i.) and incredibly versatile. They come in a wide variety of shapes, styles, textures, finishes and colors. Pavers are relatively inexpensive and require little maintenance. Visit our design gallery for a closer look. Click The Eminent Pavers Gallery to learn more and call us if you have any additional questions.
Every project we do is customized to fit all of our customers wants and needs. If you unsure of what you want, our design staff will work with you to help you pick the best paver for your home's design. We can create unique patterns to ensure that your home stands out.
Tumbled pavers are standard pavers that have been put through a device that wears down sharp edges, giving tumbled pavers a more natural and aged look.
Natural stones are primarily cut from real rock, concrete pavers are man-made and are made from concrete and other matierals and are manufactured in a wide variety of shapes and colors.
Interlocking concrete pavers are pre-fabricated pavers made out of colored cement and other elements designed to lock together to prevent growth of vegetation between cracks and to ensure longevity.
Sometimes called filter fabric, geotextile is made of plastic threads that allow water to pass around them, but not very small particles of soil beneath them. Geotextile separates and contains the base from the underlying soil subgrade. It allows the base to shed water, and prevents the soil around it from working its way into the base. Without geotextile, the soil will work its way into the base and weaken it. This is a slow process that happens when the soil is saturated with water or during periods of thawing. Geotextile stops this process and extends the life of the base by many years. Geotextile is recommended for use over silt and clay soils and not essential in sandy soils. Geotextile use mainly for driveways rather then patio and walkways because of the traffic and weight.
We construct the base from compacted, crushed stone that varies in size from one inch (25 mm) down to dust. Base materials used under asphalt street pavements are acceptable for use with interlocking concrete pavements. Some parts of the country use cement stabilized or concrete bases due to very weak or slow draining soils. However, most applications use a crushed stone base that’s compacted.
3-5 craftsmen and 1 project manager
For an average size driveway, Eminent Pavers can install pavers in about one week or less.
Almost immediately.
The next day.
You are guaranteed one Project Manager from start to finish who is ICPI certified with a great track record of success. Check out our Eminent Pavers Reviews for reassurance.
Your contractor will check for underground obstacles, excavate and compact sub-grade. Then, he will install the base material, concrete borders, bedding sand, install the pavers and run a compactor over the surface to get sand into the joints and finish by sealing the pavers. For the full details on how we install pavers read more here.
Excavation and compaction- aprx 8’’
Checking the soil density.
Install geotextile layer (as necessary )
Install The Base – 4’’-6’’
Compaction Base – The Most Important Part !
Base Inspection.
Install The Pavers.
Compacting & Setting the Pavers.
Sand filler.
wash and clean.
Final Inspection.
Checking the soil density.
Install geotextile layer (as necessary )
Install The Base – 4’’-6’’
Compaction Base – The Most Important Part !
Base Inspection.
Install The Pavers.
Compacting & Setting the Pavers.
Sand filler.
wash and clean.
Final Inspection.
Costs are calculated primarily by determining the square footage of the area to be paved, the type of stone or concrete paver you wish to use, factoring in access to the project area, preparation of the surface, removal of old concrete and labor costs.
Concrete Pavers are widely available and are usually priced between $12 to $18 per square foot (including installation).
Natural Stone Pavers run anywhere from $15 to $30 per square foot (includes installation and material). Natural stone pavers run higher in price than concrete pavers because they are not mass manufactured and are often cut to specification.
Skid marks can be removed by cleaning with a detergent and water mix, (if your driveway has sealer use only water) to make things easier, schedule professional maintenance through EminentPavers.com
Concrete pavers should be swept occasionally and may be washed down with water. Special solvents are available for oil stains and pavers can be pressure washed. We also provide professional paver maintenance services.
Specially formulated chemical stain removers are available for your concrete pavers. Sometimes the fastest and easy way is to replace the stained paver.
Keep your pavers swept, washed with water from time to time, fill up missing joint sand/ polymeric sand, or schedule professional maintenance through Eminent Pavers.
Sealing is not essential in many applications but it offers some benefits like making spills and stains easier to remove. Liquid sealers are applied after the pavers are installed and are cleaned. Once applied, the sealers soak into the concrete and into the joints. The sealers in the joints help keep the joint sand in place and prevent weeds and ants, and sealers are essential for areas around swimming pools. Sealers also make the colors of the pavers more vibrant.
Since they are a transparent paint-like coating, sealers generally need to be reapplied every three to five years. Use sealers specifically for concrete pavers. More intense use of the pavers and extreme climates often increase the need for re-applying a coat of sealer.
Concrete pavers will typically support the weight of several cars and withstand pressure up to 8000 psi. (Concrete can usually only hold weight up to 1500-2500 psi without cracking.)
Polymeric sand can be used in the joints instead of regular sand. Polymeric sand works through insertion into paver joints via careful brushing. Once the sand is brushed in, light amounts of water are introduced across the driveway’s surface. The water serves to initiate the function of the sand’s polymers, ensuring that the sand’s grains are held together within the joints. As a result, the joints become both flexible and solid. Polymeric sand is also hardy and robust. The sand’s bond with the joints won’t break down over time even in the harshest of climates. Therefore the polymeric sand in between the pavers works to prevent weeds from growing in the spaces as well as issues with ants.
Founded in 1993, the Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute is the North American trade association considered by peer associations around the world as the leader in development and dissemination of technical information for design professionals and contractors and engages in a broad range of technical, marketing, educational, government relations and communications activities. Read more about ICPI here.
Anyone involved in paver installation may make an application to join as a paying member, however, only individuals who have completed a course of study that includes rigorous testing may become an ICPI certified installer. Read more at: http://www.icpi.org/certification.
Permeable pavers are not only designed for strength but to also conserve water and are the most Eco-friendly and environmentally conscious.
Check our Permeable Pavers collection.
The Romans are accredited for having built the world's first - and longest enduring - cobblestone superhighways that still endure today. Read about it at: The History Of Pavers
Natural stone or concrete pavers add timeless appeal to any residential or commercial property, adding tangible value to your home or commercial property.
The same project manager who estimated the cost of your job and helped you in determining a design or look for your home will follow the job through to completion.
Pavers have been used in commercial environments for centuries and add to an improved decor and stateliness of any business.
It is easy to get information on contractors these days, as well as see and hear what people are saying on Yelp and Social media. Here's why picking the Eminent Pavers team is a great choice. Raad here about how to choose your pavers contractor.
Eminent Pavers is licensed, bonded and insured to the highest current industry standards.
Ask to see copies of the contractor license .
Check BBB rating, if there are any complaints, review them carefully.
Check for reviews (prefer on the BBB).
Ask to see a copy of liability insurance.
Ask to see a copy of Workers Compensation insurance.
Ask to see a copy of ICPI certificate.
Preference should go to contractors that are certified by the ICPI .
By law, down payment cannot exceed $1000.
Ask for “Price never to be changed or Secured Price” guarantee (no hiding costs).
Ask to see the pavers pre-installation samples. (Actual Colors May Vary from Pictures)
Ask about Optional 3D design will help choosing the right colors.
For any paving stone projects, Contact Us
Check BBB rating, if there are any complaints, review them carefully.
Check for reviews (prefer on the BBB).
Ask to see a copy of liability insurance.
Ask to see a copy of Workers Compensation insurance.
Ask to see a copy of ICPI certificate.
Preference should go to contractors that are certified by the ICPI .
By law, down payment cannot exceed $1000.
Ask for “Price never to be changed or Secured Price” guarantee (no hiding costs).
Ask to see the pavers pre-installation samples. (Actual Colors May Vary from Pictures)
Ask about Optional 3D design will help choosing the right colors.
For any paving stone projects, Contact Us
Client Testimonials
"This is the 2nd time we have used Eminent! The crew is punctual and is really fast. Only issue we had this time was turnaround time from another vendor and even when they came around, Eminent made us a priority and finished the job within a day's notice. Thanks Mark!"
- Steven Rifkin
We are so very happy with our back yard pavers. Mark was so easy to work with and made sure we were happy with the progress every day of our 1 week project. We originally wanted stamped concrete but after Mark showed us the samples of pavers and the combination of the 2 colors, we were hooked. Our back yard went from ugly to demo to beautiful and useable."
- Deanna McLean
"I requested Mark to build a flagstone patio and he did not disappoint. The quote and paperwork was done faster than I expected. He helped me communicating with the city, to comply with all the regulations to build the patio in my backyard. Very awesome service.I highly recommend this remodeling company."
- David Velez
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