Brick Paver Driveway – How to Save Money

If you’re looking to make your home look more attractive, there are a number of options you can explore. You could paint or remodel, but if you want to go with something that will last for years, a brick paver driveway installation is one of the best ways to achieve that goal.

brick paver driveway

However, installing this type of driveway is not cheap—it can cost thousands of dollars depending on what kind of materials you choose and how many square feet need to be covered. Fortunately, there are some things you can do to save money on this project:

Work With a Contractor

It’s important to work with a contractor who has experience in brick paver installation. Check out their portfolio and ask for references from other customers. Also, make sure the contractor has a good reputation. If possible, find out how long he/she has been in business and how many projects they’ve completed successfully.

Contractors should provide you with a list of insurance information and licenses before starting work on your driveway. Any contractor that doesn’t have these things isn’t worth doing business with!

Understand What You Need

Before you do anything, it’s important to stop and think about why you’re considering a brick paver driveway in the first place. If you live near a busy road or high-traffic area, it could be worth looking into something like asphalt or concrete.

These materials are more durable than brick pavers so they would hold up better to constant driving and/or parking on them. However, if your drive is on a quiet street where there isn’t much traffic and only one car will be using it at a time most of the time, then brick pavers may be right for your home!

Determine Budget

The next step is figuring out how much money is available for the project at hand—this will help determine which type of pathway material suits best within budget constraints while still achieving desired aesthetic goals (such as keeping costs low).

Taking these considerations into account during planning stages can ensure success down the line when installing new pathways throughout yards and gardens around town with little fuss or muss.

Explore The Possibilities

Before you start scouring the internet for an estimate, take some time to explore your options.

  • Look at all of the different types of brick pavers – there are many different sizes and shapes available, so make sure you know exactly what you want before planning for a driveway installation.
  • Explore color options – each type of brick paver has its own unique color palette to choose from and this can help bring your vision to life!

Don’t Forget About the Base

The base of your driveway is the layer of material that sits beneath your pavers. It should be level, stable, and free of any flaws in order to provide a solid foundation for your new drive. The base will also protect against water penetration and hold up over time.

In most cases, concrete is used as a base material because it provides great strength and durability. But asphalt may also work well in some locations if you don’t want to spend as much money on concrete work or if you’re concerned about environmental impacts from using concrete (or other materials). A professional installer will help ensure that everything goes smoothly with this step by making sure there are no problems with depth or slope before installing pavers over top!

Need A New Brick Paver Driveway?

West Coast Pavers is your company. We’ll work with you to create the perfect pavers for your home, and we’ll make sure that installation is done quickly and easily.

Although brick paver driveway installation can be a costly project, it doesn’t have to be. The key is to work with a contractor who understands what you need and then explore the possibilities. Don’t forget about the base layer of paving stones and don’t get too attached to having your driveway installed in one day because it will take several days or weeks depending on how much work needs done.

5 Reasons To Choose Brick Pavers Over Concrete

The pandemic is not coming to a halt, and most of us are still working from home and are trying to find ways to make our homes look better. An excellent place to start can be the outdoors. Many people think about designing their driveway, walkway, or patio. Many suffer experience confusion when it comes to deciding between the two-bricks or concrete.

Brick Pavers Over Concrete Driveways or Patio’s

choosing brick pavers over concrete

For years, the debate has been going on, and we are here to settle it once and for all. Brick pavers are certainly a better choice than concrete pavements; let’s take a look at why this is the case:

1. Longer Life of Pavers

Brick pavers are much stronger than their concrete counterparts, which results in a lesser need for repairs. Brick pavers are built to withstand harsh weather conditions and can offer more longevity than a concrete pavement.

2. Repairing Brick Pavers is Much Easier

Concrete pavements are in fact one single piece, whereas brick pavers are a combination of individual parts, repairing a concrete pavement can prove to be much more expensive and time-consuming.

For example, to repair a few cracks in the concrete pavement, the whole pavement will have to be replaced or a couple of big chunks. However, a brick paver that cracks can be targeted to the specific bricks where the cracks are. You can easily remove and replace the particular bricks.

3. Pavers Are More Stain Resistant

When it comes to stains, concrete is more prone to absorbing a stain than a brick paver. Even if both get stained, the problem remains the same as the one mentioned above. If some parts of the brick paver get stained, you can easily replace them, but that is not the case with concrete pavements.

4. Brick Pavers Offer a Better Grip

If it rains a lot in your city, then a brick paver is the best choice you have. When concrete gets wet, it becomes pretty slippery to walk on, which becomes dangerous in particular situations. The brick pavers offer a more robust grip due to their abrasive texture.

5. Brick will make your Driveway or Patio’s Stand Out

The problem with concrete pavements is that you have to get them colored artificially to get a good lookout of your walkway, driveway, or patio. Since the colors aren’t natural, they quickly fade out, and it ruins the entire look.

You only get specific colors with a brick pavement, but they will last much longer since they are natural colors.

So, What’s Next?

Brick pavers are the better choice, but the most important thing is a proper installation. If your brick paver is not installed correctly, you will be facing a lot of problems.

We recommend hiring professionals when installing brick pavers, and if you are not sure of which company is reliable, you should try out West Coast Pavers. They have over 20 years of experience in brick pavers.

Is a Paver Driveway a Good Option for My Fort Myers FL Home?

Many people consider using pavers for their driveway. However, since there are many types of pavers, it’s important to find the one that works best for you. The most common types of pavers are porcelain, concrete, marble, brick, bluestone, rubber, and plastic.

Is a paver driveway a good option for Fort Myers Florida homes

How to Choose the Right Paver for Your Driveway

When choosing the right material for your paver driveway, consider the following questions:

  • Which one has good drainage to prevent flooding in your home?
  • Which one will last the longest and require the least amount of maintenance?
  • Which one will enhance the appearance of your home?
  • Which one is the most economical?

Compared to other stone types, pavers are durable and can also boost the appeal of your driveway. This depends on what style or color you choose. You must also check if you qualify for any incentives under your local regulations for installing them as they’re environmentally friendly.

Types of Pavers

Concrete

This material is quite easy to install for your paver driveway, but its color may fade over time. It is also susceptible to cracking when there are temperature fluctuations. It may be difficult to maintain and heavy on the pocket.

Brick

This material is eco-friendly and stylistically diverse but can easily be worn down. It also requires maintenance frequently and can be labor-intensive when it comes to installation.

Porcelain, Marble, Cobblestone, etc.

All these add an aesthetic appeal to your paver driveway but can be damaged if not cared for properly. Rubber pavers, on the other hand, have durability but no eco-friendly properties.

Plastic pavers filled with grass may be a durable option and give you many style options to choose from. Created from 100% recycled plastic, this type happens to be the most eco-friendly.

Permeable vs. Impermeable 

If you live in a place that is prone to get flooded or eroded, go for a permeable driveway as it can easily absorb water right through it.

However, since Fort Myers experiences a long summer season, there won’t be a need to install a heating system below your permeable paver driveway.

In the end, choosing the right paver can either break or make your driveway. With the emergence of paver driveways, asphalt is becoming a less common choice. Your decision should take into account all the factors such as cost, durability, and eco-friendliness.

However, having a reliable service to guide you and install a paver of your choice also plays a crucial role.  WC Pavers is one of the best options when it comes to providing quality services in Fort Myers. Therefore, if you’re looking for a service to solve your driveway problems or install a brand new one without breaking your bank, contact WC Pavers today.

What Are Interlocking Paver Stones?

What are interlocking paver stones?

Interlocking Paver Stones

Interlocking paver stones are just what you need for a robust hardscape be it your driveway, patio or walkway.

Interlocking paver stones are a natural choice for long-lived and sturdy hardscapes.

The beauty of interlocking paving stones is that you can choose the stone pattern and color that will best complement your property décor. Thus, you are free to choose from paver stone shapes and geometrical patterns that will bring out the best in your property.

Interlocking Brick Pavers

Paver Stone Foundation

There is no doubt that interlocking paver stones look very impressive. But it really is the foundation of the interlocking stone pavers that really gives rise to their legendary durability.

Paver stones are held rigidly in place because of the high level of friction that comes from joint sand between pavers.

You just don’t lay out brick pavers on a simple smooth surface. An intricate base exists underneath the interlocking stones that is every bit as important as the paver stones on top.

Below the interlocking stones is an inch thick layer of bedding sand. Underneath the bedding sand is a layer of compacted aggregate base. The thickness of the base layer depends on the application.

Paver Stone Edge Restraints

Edge restraints are crucial for a paving system that is rigid and strong. Made from aluminum, plastic or concrete, edge restraints prevent relative movement in the brick pavers to keep them intact.

After the paver stones are laid on the solid foundation and the edge restraint has been constructed, sand is poured out on the paver stones. The sand settles within the paver gaps to maintain a powerful interlocking force.

Easy to Maintain

Another crucial benefit of interlocking paver stones is that they are so easy to replace. To begin with, they are very sturdy and long lasting. Should even a single paver stone get damaged, it can easily be replaced without a trace. There will be no adverse on other paver stones surrounding the replaced paver stone.

Interlocking Paver Stone Advantages

Here are the major benefits of interlocking stone pavers.

  • Very simple to maintain and repair.
  • Huge variety of colors available to suit your property facade.
  • Wide spectrum of brick shapes and geometrical patterns.
  • Paver stone hardscapes are in high demand and thus enhance property value.
  • Exceptional durability to the elements.
  • Resilient to heavy weights and traffic.
  • Permeable and thus beneficial to the environment.

Biggest Cons of Interlocking Paver Stones.

  • Weeds can start growing in gaps between stones.
  • Costlier than concrete.

Do bear in mind that regular brick paver maintenance can minimize weed growth. Although more expensive than concrete, brick stone pavers are often more durable, longer lasting and aesthetically appealing. This makes brick stone pavers a far better investment.

The most important fact to take note of is that if you are interested in long lasting, beautiful stone pavers that look just right, then you will have to hire the right experts for the job.

Are you interested in a fantastic hardscape that will last long and look great on your property?

CONTACT US»

How Long Do Brick Driveways Last

For years, concrete was the standard material used for external paving. However at some point, the construction industry switched to brick pavers for the construction of roads, walkways, and eventually, driveways. This change was sparked due to the greater durability of bricks. So, how long do brick driveways last? Well, on average, they can last for up to 25 years or more.

Brick driveways maintain their integrity longer than concrete due to a specific reason. They can adapt to the shifting and settling of the ground underneath them and maintain the interlocking form effectively. With concrete driveways, there’s always the risk that they develop cracks, forcing you to replace them after some time.

brick driveways

Brick paver driveways can withstand continuous and extreme exposure to cold and hot weather. This benefit, combined with its unique style and design, makes sure that your investment serves you well for decades. In comparison, other materials, such as asphalt don’t fare well in hotter temperatures. This is why this material is prone to warping when it remains under hot temperatures for lengthy periods.

Brick paver driveways are also recommended for homeowners who prioritize safety. They are naturally slip-resistant due to their abrasive texture, keeping them firmly held on the ground.

Now, that if you have made your mind to get a new driveway, it’s time to look for a reliable brick driveway installation company. For that purpose, you can discuss your driveway concerns to us in detail. Also, do have a look at our brick paver driveways.

Is Travertine Good Pavers for Patios?

If you are thinking about upgrading your patio, you might be wondering: “is travertine good pavers for patios?” Travertine pavers are a popular choice among homeowners due to their numerous benefits. They are similar to travertine tiles, the main difference being that they are substantially thicker and bulkier to withstand outdoor use in patios, driveways and backyards.

Here are the characteristics of travertine pavers that you must know about.

Travertine is Versatile

Travertine pavers are truly versatile since they come in a rich spectrum of hues and shades that can suit just about any landscape and architecture. You can select from a wide variety of finishes and colors to match the exterior of your humble abode. You can select from several exciting shades, including walnut, gold and ivory to complement your outdoor décor brilliantly.

You can also choose from a wide array of paver designs to create an attractive pattern for your hardscape. You can also select from finishing options to suit the areas where you will be installing travertine pavers. Pool areas can make good use of porous surfaces while honed surfaces and chiseled edges give travertine pavers traction for use in driveways.

travertine for patios

Simple to Maintain

One of the biggest concerns about pavers is their durability. There is no fun in installing pavers that will break down far too soon. Travertine pavers can help you to avoid such disappointment since they are durable, resilient and strong. Their surfaces are resistant to debris accumulation and discoloration. You can maintain travertine pavers easily just by washing them with water at regular intervals.

Another important property of travertine pavers is that they are thaw and freeze-resistant. If the temperature in your area changes dramatically throughout the year and you are worried about the consequent damage, then travertine pavers are a good option since they are highly resilient.

Another big benefit is that travertine pavers are easy to replace. If one paver gets damaged, you can replace that paver easily without disturbing the rest.

Travertine for Patios & Pool Areas

Travertine pavers are ideal for the pool area due to their anti-slip property. If you are thinking about a safe pool area for your friends and family, then you should consider installing travertine pavers since they have a slip-resistant surface. Since these stones are porous, they are naturally rough and can provide good traction for bare feet. They remain fairly stable even when wet, making them the right choice for your pool.

Cool

Ordinary brick pavers can become very hot under the sun. As a result, these pavers are not the best choice for pool areas since the high temperature will make them uncomfortable to walk on. However, travertine pavers remain substantially cooler than ordinary pavers even during the hottest summer days.

Travertine pavers are more affordable than you think. So if you are thinking about installing travertine pavers, you should get in touch with professionals who have years of experience installing these pavers. We can do any kind of job related to brick pavers and travertine pavers, including maintenance, repair and cleaning.

Contact West Coast Pavers today.

Polymeric Sand

How Do You Maintain Polymeric Sand?

Here are some tips so that you can maintain the integrity of your brick pavers for a long time to come.

Polymeric Sand Benefits

The best quality polymeric sand can provide strength and stability for your bricks while keeping erosion at bay. Next-generation polymeric sand can provide you several other benefits besides inhibiting the growth of annoying weeds, mold and fungus between your brick paver joints. The right kind of polymeric sand can stop insects and ants from digging into your brick pavers. If you maintain your polymeric sand correctly, you can enjoy these benefits for several years.

Polymeric sand has proven itself to be a superior solution over ordinary brick paver sand. This material is high tech when compared to conventional sand since it is a blend of binder and high- grade colored sand that can set your brick pavers for maximum stability. It allows your brick pavers to resist motion under both wet and dry conditions.

polymeric sand

Storage

To maintain polymeric sand joints, keep a bag of this high-grade sand at hand so that you can use it whenever the need arises. You need to keep the package away from sunlight in a dry place. Do not take the sand out of its package unless you are applying it. If you must keep the bags outside, then cover them with a waterproof tarp to keep out sunshine and rain.

Weather

Before applying the polymeric sand, you must check the weather forecast to make sure that there will be no rain over the next 24 hours. Also check to see the temperature over the next 48 hours that are required for drying the sand. The temperature for this drying period should be over 32 degrees Fahrenheit.

Inspect the brick pavers to be certain that they are completely dry. Any water will start a reaction before the sand has time to settle in the right place. The sand might also end up staining the wet surface.

Check Joints

Check to see failing joints. Wherever you find them, use a screwdriver or a similar sharp tool to scrape it all out. You will be replacing this damaged joint with your fresh new polymeric sand.

Applying Polymeric Sand

After all this, you can sweep the polymeric sand over your brick pavers. Spread the sand uniformly with a push broom. Make sure that all joints are full of the new sand. There should be no cavity in the joints. Sprinkle this sand wherever you find joints that are not full.

Leaf Blower

Using a leaf blower, remove excess polymeric sand lying on brick pavers. Use the leaf blower carefully so that you don’t blow out the sand from the joints. It is the excess sand that you are targeting. If you do not remove this excess sand properly, it will become wet and stick to the surface.

Wetting

Wetting should be done carefully to prevent running water from carrying off the polymeric sand from the joints. Allow 48 hours for the sand to cure.

Polymeric sand maintenance requires skill and expertise to do correctly and safely. You must leave this job to the professionals and save yourself time and effort in the process.

-West Coast Pavers

Paver Maintenance Tips

How Do I Keep My Pavers From Fading?

You can create an attractive hardscape around your property with well-aligned brick pavers. Whether it is the pool deck, walkway, patio or driveway, brick pavers can add visual appeal and charm to your residence.

Equally important is the fact that pavers are durable. If you maintain them well, brick pavers can last for many years. After installing them, you might be asking: “how do I keep my brick pavers from fading?”

You can maintain brick pavers and keep them from fading by using the following tips and tricks.

Fading Pavers

Sweeping

Sweep your pavers regularly with a broom. Regular sweeping can keep dirt and debris away from your brick pavers to preserve their beauty for a longer time period.

If you think that it is going to rain, then it is highly recommended to sweep your brick pavers. The rain may create wet and muddy conditions if there are leaves, dirt and debris lying around. Your brick pavers may get stained. It is better to clean up your hardscape beforehand rather than do extra work to clean your stained pavers.

Use Water

Even after thorough sweeping, there may still be plenty of dirt and debris on the surface of your pavers, particularly in the joints. Use water to wash away the remaining dirt and debris. A hose with an attachment will prove to be most useful for this purpose. Pressure washing is not necessary all the time.

However, if you have moss and mold between your brick pavers, you might want to pressure wash. You need to exercise care since pressure washing the wrong way may be damaging for brick pavers.

Cleaning Solution

If you find stains on your brick pavers even after a thorough sweeping job, you should try cleaning the stained area with a soap solution. You just need to add a little dish soap to a bucket full of water. Catch hold of a sponge or rag, soak it in the soap solution and then apply it over your stained pavers.

Soap solution does not work with oil stains. An oil remover is necessary in this case.

Sealer

A high quality sealer can preserve the charm, texture and color of your brick pavers for a long time. Investing in a good sealer is worth it since it will allow your brick pavers to look as good as new for years.

A sealer can provide a protective coating to safeguard your bricks from the harsh elements, rain, wind, sunshine, dirt, dust, debris and stains. Not only that, your brick pavers will look extra shiny and new. You will be proud to note that your brick pavers are even more beautiful after the sealer is applied.

You need to hire the right experts for applying the sealer. It is also necessary to renew your sealer after a year or two has elapsed. Your brick paving expert will be able to guide you on this.

Take the help of trustworthy and skillful professionals for maintaining your brick pavers. We can help you install, fix, maintain and repair your brick pavers.

West Coast Pavers

What Kind of Sand Under Pavers

One of the most important things needed for the proper installation of pavers is sand. It is necessary to prevent the joints of the pavers from moving. Just like all other construction installations, you also need a base for pavers if you want them to not move from their place. Sand is ideal for this purpose as it forms the perfect base. You need to make sure that you only use high-quality sand for creating a base under the pavers.

sand under pavers

Things to Consider When Choosing Sand for Your Pavers

Here are some important things to consider when choosing sand for creating a base for your pavers. You will be able to create the best and most durable base if you keep these factors in mind.

1.       The Type of Sand for Pavers

There is only type of sand recommended by experts when it comes to installing pavers. The best kind of sand for this purpose is concrete sand. Cement is often combined with concrete sand and this mixture is then used to construct septic systems. This concrete sand is usually a mixture of brown, tan, and beige colors. It is the most commonly used sand for pavers because of its high quality and durability. Other sands may be used but they aren’t durable and will crack in some time which will destroy your pavers as well.

2.       Consistency of Sand

You also need to pick the right consistency of sand to create the best base for your pavers. Use coarse sand underneath the pavers. This will allow for a flatter surface, strength, and tight compaction.

3.       The Final Layer

Once you have placed two layers of crushed stone to create the base, the next step is to level it using a compactor. This will help your concrete sand lay down in an even layer. It will form a finishing cover for all the base elements and the pavers will be placed in a definite position that you want.

4.       Thickness of Sand

The sand should not be thicker than 1-1 ½ inches once it has been smoothed and leveled. Creating a very thick layer will make the base soft and the pavers will sink in or move from their place. You need to be careful about the thickness of the base to ensure that the pavers are set in place and take optimal time for setting.

It is important to be careful about the kind of sand you choose to form the base for your pavers. It is what keeps the pavers in place and will make it long-lasting and durable. Concrete sand is the best sand for this purpose as it helps set the pavers in place and makes for the best base which is durable and gives a smooth finish.

We recommend having your brick paver projects installed by professionals to insure a long lasting product. That’s where we come in, with over 20 years experience with brick paver installation. Contact West Coast Pavers today for a free consultation.

Do Pavers Make a Good Driveway

Do Pavers Make a Good Driveway?

When you’re thinking about installing or replacing a driveway, there are a lot of options available, and many things to take into consideration. You need to think about the materials and cost, ongoing maintenance, how it helps the aesthetics of your home, adding additional features down the road, proper drainage and more. Though there are pros and cons to all driveway surface materials, driveway pavers are your best choice when you look at the benefits they provide.

do pavers make a good driveway

Brick Pavers Advantages

Driveway pavers are one of the more safer options for avoiding slippery surfaces. When traditional concrete driveways get wet, they tend to become slick and, in hence, create a potentially dangerous surface on which to walk over. A driveway with pavers, on the other hand, is inherently slip-resistant due to its textured surface. In short, pavers create a driveway that is much safer to walk on, even when wet.

Paver Maintenance

One of the more common complaints that homeowners have regarding concrete driveways is how easily they become stained from leaking oil and other fluids from their vehicles. Once stains do occur, the entire surface area must be repaired in order to hide them. There are a wide variety of DIY stain removal methods you can research online, as well as products you can purchase in any typical home improvement store. But these can involve a lot of excessive work, without guaranteeing results. And worse? You may add new stains to your concrete driveway the minute you park your vehicles on it again.

Brick pavers are a much better solution, as they tend to stain less than concrete. And, if a small section of the driveway does show a stain, those pavers can easily be removed and replaced with clean ones.

Another great benefit of pavers?

They are permeable to rain, which means that the water seeps through the paver joints and trickles down into the soil under the driveway, which reduces the risk of flooding during heavy rainstorms. And driveway pavers are resistant to weeds since newer sand stabilizer compounds have been in use. This means less sand is required between the paver joints as part of regular maintenance.

Driveway pavers are also one of the most popular because, besides adding beauty to your landscaping and home, you can use pavers to add steps, walkways, planter boxes and more. The style, functionality and durability of paver driveways simply can’t be matched.

CALL WestCoast Pavers at 239.590.9834 for a FREE Estimate!

Brick Paver Driveway, Yes or No?

Driveway Options

Looking to add some finishing touches to your home’s landscape, or replace an old concrete driveway? You have a lot of great options available, with brick pavers being a very popular choice for homeowners. There are a myriad of benefits to having a brick paver driveway installed, as well as many design options and color choices to select from.

Brick Paver Driveway Yes or No

Here are some of the benefits to consider:

Extreme Durability

Brick pavers can take a lot of abuse and show no signs of wear and tear. Many brick paver driveways have been known to last for decades after their installation. This kind of longevity ensures that you won’t need to do tedious maintenance in order to keep your driveway in good working condition.

Can Withstand Severe Weather Conditions

Both Intense heat or humidity, as well as brutal hurricane-like conditions can wreak havoc on a concrete surface. Over time, these surfaces can become cracked, faded, un-level and more, which is why a brick paver driveway is an excellent option. Brick pavers are more durable, with some able to carry up to 4 times the load bearing weight of a standard concrete slab. This allows heavier loads and a much longer lifespan.

Flexibility

The flexibility of brick pavers allows for adjustment to the environment, avoids seismic distortion and cracking. In fact, if one of the brick pavers does crack, you only have to replace a single paver, as opposed to a larger section of concrete or asphalt.

Repair and Maintenance

The repair of any brick pavers in your driveway is simple and affordable. If a paver becomes damaged or stained, for example, it’s an easy fix as mentioned above. IF you needed to repair a concrete slab or asphalt section, you’d be looking at a more complicated, time consuming and expensive repair project. And these types of issues may happen time and time again. Not so with brick pavers.

Maintenance

Brick paver driveways are easier to maintain. You can keep them looking new by simply applying a sealer every 12 to 18 months or so. This all depends on the amount of traffic the brick pavers will be handling, including automobile and foot traffic. You may need to add joint sand in between the pavers every now and then, which is sold at most home improvement stores.

So the answer is pretty simple – go the brick paver route and you won’t be disappointed.