Picturing a beautiful patio or walkway? Well, don't do it the wrong way! Laying concrete pavers or natural stone is a far more complicated process than it might appear at first glance. While you may be tempted to save on costs by installing the pavers yourself, in the long run, this can often cost you more money than you would have spent hiring a professional to install them for you. Professional hardscapers (us) are trained and certified to do the job at a high standard and, with the experience that comes with years in the field, are able to spot the pitfalls of various terrain before the job has even begun.
All holes aren't dug the same
Some of the hardest hours spent on a paving project come during the preparation phase. Lucky for us, professionals have the machinery and manpower to make the job easy. The excavation of a hardscaping site often requires earth-moving equipment. These expensive pieces of machinery require operator’s licenses and a certain number of hours behind the wheel just to qualify to run. All paver layers worth their salt will have made up these hours many times over, but for someone without this kind of experience, you’ll have to turn to more primitive means to prep the area. The task of clearing your paving area by hand can turn out to be backbreaking labor and may take days and weeks of solid grind just to ready the space. In rocky areas and places with dry, compact soil, this can be nigh on impossible with elbow grease alone.
Underground surprises
You can’t just go digging up ground willy-nilly either. Plumbing and electrical cables may be laid beneath the ground. The pros don’t just fly in with their shovels; a very careful surveillance of the area is done beforehand to make sure the area is free from underground infrastructure. They’re also sure to check with the local utility plans to ensure the area is clear before the excavation begins.
More than just placing pavers in a pattern
Professional hardscapers know the process inside and out to creating beautiful patios and walkways. It’s a delicate and labor intensive operation and a mistake on one small but crucial step can result in paving with a fraction of its potential lifespan. Incorrectly preparing the base, for example, can result in loose pavers or an uneven surface that may cause damage to your property and simply create a dangerous area. Improper screeding can result in ineffective drainage that can causes water damage, pooling, and poor runoff. Poorly edged tiles will quickly become loose and can eventually lead to erosion of the surface beneath the paving. These things are easy to forget when laying tiles yourself.
You’re guaranteed to get a better, longer lasting final product, without the hassle and stress of doing it yourself when you go with the pros. There’s no shame in letting the experts do what they’re trained to do! Afterall, if you’re going to invest in pavers then invest in a professional installation that will keep you out of the hospital, without back pain, and give you a beautiful flooring for many years to come.
