Concrete Interlocking Pavers Installation

Following their introduction into the United States' design market in the 1970's, concrete interlocking pavers have enjoyed tremendous popularity.

Sometimes referred to as flooring, this form of pavement is available to an entire gallery of styles suited to satisfy the individual taste of countless home or business owners. Even in a trendy market, concrete interlocking paving continue to show consistent growth in usage annually.

Their appealing design and functionality attracts many customers to them. Unlike many other styles, the cost effective and long lasting nature of concrete interlocking pavers has caused an increased demand for their installation, even in times of economic hardship.

Because of their capacity to be mass produced, concrete interlocking pavers are an economic and efficient choice for paving. Depending on their usage, concrete interlocking pavers are widely available in standard thicknesses of 40mm and 80mm, accommodating light and heavy surface traffic.

In some nations, 50mm is a standard size, suited for footpaths and smaller vehicles. Interlocking concrete paver installation methods do not vary depending on thickness.

The first step in interlocking concert paver installation is demolition. Any surface obstructions must be leveled. Generally, this applies to the removal of existing driveway or patio.

A minimum of 7'' depth is required. Following the complete demolition of the area to be paved, dirt is compacted, becoming the sub base. This dirt is directly under the base material, which is installed following the compacting process.

Possibly the most complicated element to interlocking concrete paver installation is the addition of the base, which is designed to achieve the desired amount of compaction of gravel in various sizes. Sand bedding is applied over the base. This level is only 1'' in size and screened securely in place. The next stage is the cutting of the pavers to precisely fit in place.

Restraints are then installed, which secures the perimeter of the bedding. Unlike poured concrete, these restraints allow the paving to be less rigid, giving it greater ability to withstand wear. Then the pavers themselves are compacted. In this phase, sand is forced between the pavers. The final stage is the addition of more sand and further compacting, filling the joints between the pavers.

Interlocking concrete paver installation requires some specialized equipment. The most significant is the machine necessary for the proper creation of the base. Ideally, the desired compaction of the base is 98%. To achieve this, a heavy-duty machine producing over 5,000 pounds per square inch is necessary.

Smaller machines are sometimes used, but they are incapable of generating the ideal level of compactness. The final steps require a vibrating plate compactor. Also utilized is a device called a sieve, which is designed to test soil and base material. The individual pavers are cut using a dry saw.

Measuring equipment is necessary in addition to the use of the dry saw, as the pavers must be cut to exact dimensions in order for a secure fit to be achieved once they are installed.

Once interlocking concrete pavers are fully installed, they are durable and will require little maintenance.