Pavers

Paver Sealer: To Seal or Not to Seal

From Outdoor Living by Belgard Blog

Outdoor living space with patio, fire pit, walls and outdoor dining located in Fishers, Indiana includes Bergerac and Weston Wall. Project designed and completed by McCune Outdoor Living. The project utilized the following Belgard products manufactured by 4D Schusters of Indiana. Bergerac – Harvest Blend with Brittany Beige Weston Wall – Harvest Blend

“Do I need to seal my pavers?” The short answer is Yes.

Paver sealant is an important maintenance tool to keep paver patios, walkways, driveways and pool decks looking as beautiful as they day they were installed.

However, “too much of a good thing” can come into play, and you should be wary of over-applying paver sealer by reapplying too often, which could create a haze. This week’s blog offers tips for knowing when it’s time to seal and how to best achieve the desired look.

Should all concrete pavers be sealed?

Yes. Concrete is porous and will absorb stains if not sealed. Sealants can also protect paver color from fading.

Do all paver sealant brands offer the same basic protection?

There are definitely some poor paver sealing products on the market. Don’t trust the fact that you bought it at a big box store or that it’s a high-profile brand. Just because a brand is good at one product category (like paint) doesn’t mean they are the best in another. Belgard recommends Techniseal® sealants. When it comes paver sealant, Techniseal® is a pioneer in the industry has a robust R&D department, resulting in effective and durable products specifically created for paver installation and maintenance.

Is any one paver sealant finish more protective than another?

There are basically two types of paver sealants: film-forming (gloss or semi-gloss finish) and non-film-forming (matte finish). Film-forming sealants, such as Wet Look and Clear Look, offer the ultimate protection because they create a physical barrier on the paver surface. However non-film-forming sealants, Natural Look and Color Boost , still offer excellent protection and l ast a bit longer.

How long should new pavers cure before they are sealed for the first time?

If using a non-film-forming paver sealant, wait one week before sealing. If using a film-forming sealant, wait 30 days to avoid trapping moisture under the protective barrier.

Is there a prep process before applying paver sealant?

Even new pavers should be cleaned with Techniseal® Paver Prep prior to sealing. Not only will it clean the pavers, but it will open the pores on the surface to allow better penetration of the sealant. Older pavers will also benefit, as Paver Prep will remove any efflorescence (or whitish salt buildup) that has accumulated. Any stains should be removed prior to applying Paver Prep, using the specific stain remover for the type of stain. For more information, read last week’s blog on paver stain removal.

How long should pavers dry after being cleaned and prepped?

The answer depends on your climate. In warm, sunny climates, the pavers will be dry and ready to seal in a few hours. In cooler climates or shady areas, it’s best to wait about 24 hours.

What are the ideal weather conditions for sealing?

Ideal conditions would be 75 degrees and sunny; however, anywhere between 50-90 degrees is generally fine. Take note that solvent-based sealants evaporate faster, so lower temperatures are better for application.

How often should paver sealer be reapplied?

The basic rule of thumb is every 3-5 years. For film-forming sealants, you will be able to notice when the physical barrier is showing signs of wear. For non-film-forming sealants, you will begin to see a significant color change of pavers during a rain when the sealant is wearing thin. Keep in mind that in cases of a really heavy rain, even well-sealed pavers may darken for a couple of days until the water fully evaporates, which is not an indication of sealant failure.

PAVER SEALING APPLICATION TIPS:

Like with painting, it’s best to keep a wet edge on a continuous area. In other words, don’t let a section dry before you finish. Once you start working, keep working.
An application sprayer (available at any hardware store) makes it easier to work faster.
Apply paver sealant to saturation. Get the pavers good and wet to make sure all crevices are covered. Then use a dry roller to soak up the excess to avoid lines and drip marks.
Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
Visit Techniseal’s website for more DIY paver sealant application tips. When in doubt, hire a professional. To find qualified contractors in your area, visit the Belgard contractor locator.

10 Quick Facts About Gator Base

By Mike Huber of Alliance Designer Products

First off, what is Gator Base? Gator Base is a foam base product that has been engineered and designed specifically for pedestrian paver installations. The panels are lightweight and incredibly easy to move around and work with. In this blog post, we’re going to outline, step-by-step, what a typical Gator Base installation involves.

Gator Base panels can help save time, money and labor on many different types of hardscape applications. Manufactured using lightweight high-density polypropylene, five Gator Base panels will cover 28.9 square feet and weigh only 6.6 lbs!

In this post, we’re going to share 10 quick facts that you might find interesting about this product:

1. Saves 6” of excavation
Gator Base will actually replace the six inches of compacted crushed stone that’s needed in traditional pedestrian hardscape jobs.

2. Provides better protection against freeze/thaw
Gator Base acts as a thermal blanket. It’s three times more effective than crushed stone as an insulator and significantly reduces freeze/thaw cycles.

3. Increases profits by decreasing labor costs
Michael Tous of GrassMasters explains how he saves an average of $30,000 per year using Gator Base! Check out what he has to say in this video testimonial.

4. Perfect for jobs with tight access
Because big, heavy pieces of equipment aren’t needed for Gator Base installations, the product proves to be the perfect solution for jobs with limited access.

5. Extremely durable
Gator Base is built to last! With over 3.5 million square feet already installed, this product is proving it can withstand the test of time. It will never leach chemicals or degrade in the native soil.

6. Offers better load transfer
Gator Base panels interlock to distribute the static and dynamic loads to a very wide area, a very effective means of spreading out any pressure on the soils below.

7. Features water evacuation channels
Gator Base has been designed to return water to the native soil through built-in evacuation channels.

8. LOCK-N-GO Technology
Designed with a tongue and groove system, Gator Base panels quickly and easily lock into place to form a durable monolithic slab.

9. No heavy equipment needed
Did you know that it would take about 1,440 lbs. of crushed stone to fill 28.9 square feet six inches high? That’s a lot of excavating and heavy lifting! Five panels of Gator Base weighs in at 6.6 lbs. and will cover this same exact square footage!

10. 3.5 million square feet installed!
The number of Gator Base jobs continues to rise in North America … 3.5 million square feet and counting!

For more information on Gator Base and how to use it DOWNLOAD THE GATOR BASE CASE STUDY HERE

5 Backyard Remodeling Ideas That Will Attract Potential Buyers

By Jordan Swift of Innovative Building Materials

The condition and features of backyards are becoming more important to success in the residential real estate market. Homeowners are always looking for ways to increase the value and appearance before they put their house up for sale. The right backyard remolding ideas that will attract buyers can make the home selling process easier and more profitable.

It takes more than mowing the lawn and trimming the hedges to attract the right kind of buyers to your home. Critical attention will be made to all aspects of the home, with the exterior areas the most visible and providing the first impression of the house. Upgrades to the systems and structures of your back yard can go a long way in increasing the overall valuation of your home. Remodeling and renovation projects will add character and functionality to show prospective buyers the full value of the home.

Deck Building

Installing or remodeling a hardwood deck will improve the look of the entire property and offer an impressive selling point to attract potential buyers. A deck provides a spacious and versatile entertaining place for family and friends, or simply a nice place to enjoy some quiet time along outdoors without having to stray from your home. Including ample seating areas with benches, tables and chairs, and lounge chairs fills out space and provide natural gathering spaces. Fire pits and spas are luxury features that will only add to the attractiveness and value of the home.

Drainage Improvements

Ineffective or poorly maintained drainage systems can lead to standing water, leaking, and long-term damage to the structural integrity of the home. There are several ways to make drainage improvements that will attract potential buyers when it comes time to put your home on the market.

Drainage systems that prevent water from flowing downhill can result in serious damage with costly consequences. Remodeling or upgrading structure and landscape drainage on your property will increase the value of the home.

Installing porous, permeable pavement materials for patio and walkway areas is an eco-friendly option that improves the water drainage process in your backyard.

Adding Shade

If people are going to be spending a lot of time in the backyard, ample shade will be needed to maximize their comfort level throughout the day. Areas that protected from sunlight and weather elements can be achieved in different ways.

The planting of trees in your backyard adds character and style to go along with the shade they provide. Older trees will offer more shade and do more to increase the value of your home, but new trees are also a great selling point to help potential homebuyers see the future of living in the home.

Installing a pergola or porch ceiling will be like adding another room to the house, adding protection from the elements, shade, and overall resale value to the home.

Exterior Lighting

Advances in technology have made it easier than ever to install an impressive exterior lighting scheme with a wide range of operational options. Customize colors, styles, designs, and automated features to light up your backyard seating area, walkways, and lawns to set the mood and offer added security after dark.

The emergence of money and energy-saving LED technology makes lighting your backyard a cost-efficient option to attract potential home buyers to your property for sale.

Outdoor Kitchen

Installing a fully functional outdoor kitchen, complete with refrigeration, an oven and stovetop, and food preparation counter space provides everything you need to throw great outdoor parties and meals. Outdoor kitchens are impressive showpieces for prospective buyers and offer a great return on the investment.

Any experienced real estate agent will say that home renovation or remodeling projects can have a significant impact on the overall value of your home when it comes time to sell. Even if you are planning on staying in your home for many years to come, improvements made now, like planting some trees, for example, will be beneficial to the selling process down the line.

Jordan Swift is a contributor to Innovative Building Materials. He is a blogger and a content writer for the building materials industry with an interest in landscaping and outdoor remodeling. Jordan is focused on educating homeowners, contractors, and architects on innovative materials and methods of construction that increase property value, improve sustainability, and create a warm and welcoming ambiance.

Design Trends: Indoor-Outdoor tiles

With the line between indoors and outdoors so fuzzy, the demand for high-design tile that can go outside is more than ever before. That’s because tile delivers unmatched durability. It’s resistant to moisture, mold, lichen, and moss. The bugs leave it alone for the most part. And it’s resistant to UV damage.

On top of that, you can get it in wood and stone looks that invite the luxury of the indoor space to your outdoor party! Wood-look plank tile suitable for the outdoors are especially trendy. It stands up to extreme temperatures and won’t crack in dry climates or rot in wet climates like wood decking might.

New age porcelain pavers are large, stylish, and durable—you could even put them on the driveway if you wanted to. The beauty of these pavers is that they can be used in so many ways. They can be placed in gravel, grass, or sand like traditional pavers.

At Patagonia Building Supplies we have partnered with Belgard Hardscapes to introduce a beautiful and affordable line of Porcelain Pavers. To see their unique selection visit: http://www.belgard.com/products/porcelain_pavers

These pavers come in authentic stone looks for an upscale element in your design. Watch for more design options available in pavers very soon, such as wood-look and upscale concrete looks.

The biggest trend in indoor/outdoor tile products in 2017 will be 2cm pavers. This is about twice the thickness of regular tile. These large, thick pavers already come in several stone-looks and keep your eyes open for more option coming on the market soon. Wood, stone, and sophisticated cement interpretations will be popular in the kitchen and moving out onto the patio. This can be installed directly on gravel, sand, or dirt.

A big advantage of these 20mm thick porcelain stoneware is driving another new trend within the outdoor market. These thick tiles can be laid on grass, gravel and sand using either dry installation (no mortar) or in the traditional way with mortar.

These gorgeous ceramic tiles are designed with ‘warm’ wood like patterns and ‘colder’ modern stone motifs, which is great for decorating. But their technical performance is what’s really amazing. They are non-absorbent so they won’t stain, and when exposed to sunlight, they won’t alter in color over time. They are resistant to frost and thermal shock, mold, stains and salt. They are very easy to clean and are non-slip, even when wet. In addition, special trims are available for pool edges and drainage grids.

All of the above makes these super strong and decorative tiles perfect for garden paths, walkways, summer terraces, driveways, patios, poolside, and any exterior floor application in general and for outdoor spaces with heavy traffic in particular.

Landscaping Trends: Permeable Pavers

An excellent option for homeowners concerned with sustainability and water conservation are permeable pavers. Permeable pavers allow water to pass through small openings and re-enter the ground water. There are a variety of permeable materials that offer the best of both worlds: a porous patio or driveway surface that is also very attractive.

Permeable Paver Benefits:

Manage storm-water
Prevent runoff and pollution
Replenish the groundwater supply
Many unique permeable design options

Permeable paving is not a new concept – hundreds, possibly even thousands of years ago, people were making roads and paths by setting stones in sand. Many of these ancient creations have survived to present day, proving that permeable pavements are strong and durable. However, during the 20th Century’s rapid development impervious pavements became the norm.

With the recent push towards sustainability and the concern over the water supply eco-minded people have begun to challenge this norm. Many homeowners are looking to create sustainable landscapes and permeable paving helps achieve that goal. In fact as an incentive, many cities, especially here in California, are offering sustainable landscaping rebates. As we hear about water shortages and increased levels of pollution, the benefits of installing a patio, path or driveway that allows rainwater to filter through to the earth below are very appealing.

Paving stones are very popular landscaping elements. They are versatile and can be used in almost any outdoor setting. You can choose between stone, brick and concrete pavers and they all are strong and durable too.

Today, people are becoming very environment conscious and when they get any home improvement or landscaping work done; they look for environment friendly solutions that will also benefit their landscaping. In this respect permeable pavers are an excellent option.

What Are They?

They are made from a mix of sustainable building materials
They have a base & a sub-base, both of which allow runoff water to seep through into the ground underneath
When you use only normal pavers or have concrete outdoor flooring, the water is unable to seep through and it just gets diverted towards the storm water drains which is nothing but a waste of water
Contrastingly, this porous paving permits rain water and the water that you hose onto it, into the ground
This helps replenish the levels of ground water
These paving stones also filter the dust and pollutants from the water and there is no contamination of the groundwater
Today, these installations are becoming popular on residential and commercial properties

Who do we sell?

Every major paver manufacturer makes a line of permeable pavers. We work with: