All signs point to this being a very DIY summer. Few of us want to sell, a lot of us want to improve, but less than most want to fork out the bucks. But don’t worry says the Argee Corporation, not when you can create your very own professional-quality patio in a matter of hours! Yes, Argee’s Patio Pal paver kit has patio construction down to a paint-by-number simplicity that, quite honestly, is hard to ignore.

It works like this:

1. Measure the desired area for your patio and build a frame out of a durable, rot-resistant wood such as cedar.
2. Fill that frame with sand and then level it. This surface will be the base for your brick pavers.
3. Mist the sand with water.
4. Add the interlocking Patio Pals on top of the sand base and simply add the bricks into the designated slots.
5. When all the bricks are laid, fill the gaps by sweeping sand or dry mortar across the surface of the patio-to-be.
6. Finally, simply mist the patio with water and the sand will harden like cement.
7. Enjoy your brand new patio!!

If the above process sounds easy that’s because it is. Depending on the size of your desired patio, you could literally have a new backyard hangout in a matter of hours. Get a visual glance at this straightforward process at the Argee website (more…)

Many homeowners are looking for ways to add value to their property by utilizing stone effectively. In some cases, old driveways and other paving surfaces that need removal and renewal are excellent places to integrate stone. In other cases, the creation of patios or garden areas that eliminate water-thirsty lawns and incorporate natural, low-maintenance substances can be the ideal place to introduce stone pavers.

CalFinder represents many licensed contractors who include paving stone expertise in their array of services. These experts can be found throughout the U.S. Here are some fine examples of paving stone and landscaping stone experts from Washington, New York, Texas, and Florida.

Absolutely Outdoors

Photo credit: Absolutely Outdoors

Absolutely Outdoors offers landscaping and paving services in Houston and the surrounding area. President Josh Milne says, “We pride ourselves on the dynamic approach we bring to the table when speaking about scope of projects. We are structured to vary crew sizes and allow for a wide range of workload ability. We can find ourselves installing on an average week, anything from one-day residential landscape installation, to a six-month tediously engineered estate landscape, irrigation, and hardscape project.”

Lescano Landscaping & Masonry

Photo credit: Lescano Landscaping

From pool patios to driveways, Lescano specializes in hardscapes that are functional and beautiful. Located in Seldon, NY, Lescano provides services to residents in Suffolk County, Long Island. Projects begin “with a site survey, when the contractor will take measurements, go over samples, and find out what the homeowner is trying to achieve. We satisfy our homeowners’ concerns, whether it is budgeting, providing blueprints or digital mock ups, etc., and we keep our customers informed in every step of the project.” (more…)

With a bit of knowledge about what’s available, selecting paving options for beauty, functionality, and cost-effectiveness will flow much more smoothly. Since I’m always involved in remodeling projects – either my own, or those of friends or clients – I’ve learned time and time again that you can get lost and confused in the maze of the discovery process. And unless you love that time-consuming pastime, it’s very efficient to find a well-informed source for a broad brush stroke of working knowledge in a short amount of time.

CalFinder’s library has a great new collection of articles on paving stones. I discovered this bounty when I was looking for ideas for a couple of projects – one is a driveway re-do, and another is an outdoor living area to be created out of a new-construction backyard featuring flattened backfill and not much else.

So where to begin? What would best suit? Cobblestones, flagstones, travertine? As I looked at the basic info about these natural stone pavers, I immediately saw possibilities for the outdoor living area. And while I appreciated these options, aesthetically, for the driveway re-do, I noticed my practical nature stepping up to the plate when I saw how viable rubber pavers could be for this application. I saw the benefits of grass turf pavers for at least a part of this project, too.

What I discovered is that when I’m armed with at least a working baseline of useful information, I can consult more effectively and confidently with the professionals who specialize in particular types of projects. It really seems to work well for both the property owner and the contractors who are being consulted for the job if there is a foundation of common language about the project to be discussed, however modest. (more…)