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.

For $9.95 you can purchase a pack of 10 Patio Pals, which will cover roughly 20 square feet. That means for 50 bucks (on top of sand and brick) you could have an easy-to-build 100 square foot patio...certainly worth a look for homeowners who want a rewarding DIY project. Patio Pals, in addition to effortlessly aligning the bricks for you, will block out any weeds and are manufactured with holes in the bottom for easy drainage. They are also practical for walkways (two patio pals side by side) and can be arranged to form custom patterns.

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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.”

Advanced Concept Construction

Photo credit: Advanced Concept

Advanced Concept, based in Riverview, FL, provides a wide range of expertise, including concrete work, foundations, paving stones, decks, and retaining walls. Owner Nicholas Kowal says, “The company is very capable with all types of construction, but high-end landscaping projects spark an interest for creating something special. These are something I love doing.”

Gifford Olson Construction

Photo credit: Gifford Olson Construction

Gifford Olson Construction is located in Gig Harbor, WA. They build custom homes and “understand that overall quality stems from several thousand small details, all adding up to perfection.” Their expertise with stone includes paving driveways, creating attractive boundaries at property lines, and effective use of boulders in landscaping.

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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.

I enjoyed sharing the information I discovered in these brief, informative articles with the client who is planning the outdoor living area project and the friend pondering how to tackle the driveway re-do. I know it helped open new doors of possibility in both cases. For all of you who are considering paving options, the new articles in the Library will help spark your creativity and inspire you with possibilities.

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1. Versatility is Key

   Natural stone, brick, and concrete. Patios, pools, walkways, and pavilions. Interlocking, basketweave, rectangular, oblong, and square. Whatever your project requires and whatever your taste entails, pavers provide versatility in material, function, and design. Even driveways can do better than your average concrete slab or poured asphalt model.

2. Endless Design Possibilities

   When it comes to design, the sky’s the limit for pavers. There is no end to the architectural style, shape, and pattern possibilities of paving stones. To get your own ideas started, check out CalFinder’s article on some basic paver patterns. Then contact one of our pre-screened paving stone contractors for a consultation from the experts in the industry.

3. High Output, Low Maintenance

   Simple to maintain with regular sweeping, occasional rinsing, and intermittent coating or sealing depending on the material, pavers will stay durable and strong for years to come. Added benefits make pavers easy to care for. For instance, interlocking pavers are easy to replace and multi-colored pavers hide stains.

4. Strength and Durability

   Unlike its poured counterpart, concrete pavers move in unison with the earth below them, so damage and cracking is far less frequent. Three times stronger than poured concrete, concrete pavers withstand harsh weather conditions, too. But the interlocking design and paver strength is not limited to concrete. Stone pavers can hold massive weight in high-traffic areas and withstand virtually any weather condition.

5. Walking on the Safe Side

   Why are pavers safe? In the garden, the right pavers can help prevent slipping and tripping. Non-slip pavers can also be installed at the poolside or any location of your home. Just ask Gonzales Brothers Inc.

6. Oh So Colorful

   There’s nothing like a sandy red hue in your backyard pavilion or golden tone in your garden path to offset beautiful sunsets and a garden in full bloom. Black Diamond Landscape & Design agrees. One of the added benefits of pavers is the limitless colors they come in, including chocolate brown, terracotta, sandy gold, rust, dusty grey, white pewter, forest green, and chestnut red.

7. Because They’re Pretty

   Overall, pavers are durable, safe, versatile, and easy to maintain. In addition to these benefits, they also make it possible to design your home in whatever aesthetic style you prefer or imagine. In this way, pavers add a personal touch to your home, making landscaping beautiful as well as functional.

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