Pavers

Pavers (or paviours), generally in the form of pre-cast concrete blocks, are often used for aesthetic purposes, or sometimes at port facilities that see long-duration pavement loading. Pavers are rarely used in areas that see high-speed vehicle traffic. Brick, cobblestone, sett, and wood plank pavements were once common in urban areasthroughout the world, but fell out of fashion in most countries, due to the high cost of labor required to lay and maintain them, and are typically only kept for historical or aesthetic reasons.[citation needed] In some countries, however, they are still common in local streets. Likewise, macadam and tarmac pavements can still sometimes be found buried underneath asphalt concrete or Portland cement concrete pavements, but are rarely constructed today. Permeable paving is a range of materials and techniques for paving roads, cyclepaths, parking lots and pavements that allow the movement of water and air around the paving material. Although some porous paving materials appear nearly indistinguishable from nonporous materials, their environmental effects are qualitatively different. Whether pervious concrete, porous asphalt, paving stones or bricks, all these pervious materials allow precipitation to percolate through areas that would traditionally be impervious and infiltrates the stormwater through to the soil below.

Interlocking Paving Blocks

An interlocking concrete paver is a pre-cast piece of concrete or brick commonly used in exteriorhardscaping applications. Pavers were developed in Europe and introduced into the United States in the early 1970s. Interlocking paving stones are installed over a compacted stone sub-base and a leveling bed of sand. Concrete paving stones can be used for walkways, patios, pool decks and driveways and airport or loading docks. Instead of connecting the pavers by pouring grout between the joints as one would with tiles, sand particles are spread over the pavers and tamped down. The sand stabilizes the interlocking pavers, yet allows for some flexibility. This type of pavement will absorb stress such as small earthquakes, freezes and thaws, and slight ground erosion by shifting each tile slightly. Therefore, they will not crack or buckle like concrete, though bad weather may make potholes. The special tools needed for installing interlocking pavers are vibrating compaction machine or "Vibra Plate" and Shear Cutter. The former is used to compact the base material to 90% density minimum and also to set and interlock the pavers into the sand bed. The latter is used to cut the pieces to fit at corners and edges. The sand does not easily wash out with rain or garden hose water and a sealant can be spread on to further lock the sand. Standard thicknesses are 60mm (for light traffic) and 80mm (heavy traffic). 50mm too is common in some countries like Pakistan (used for footpaths etc).

Benefits of paver over asphalt and poured concrete include high compressive strengths (7000+psi as per BS and 8000+psi as per ASTM codes), pleasant look, time saving, easy removal and relaying.

Concrete Block Paving

Concrete is commonly referred to as blocks when used in paving. It is one of the main types of block paving used nowadays. Concrete is sold in individual units with the range of size, thickness and width to suit any type of application. Thick blocks are generally used for high traffic areas where durability and strength are required. Thinner concrete blocks are generally used for low traffic residential areas such as patios or landscaped gardens. Concrete block paving is very common and popular in modern times because of its low costs and endless style, pattern, color and design options. The coloring process of concrete block paving is very similar to concrete because the use of color pigment dyes is used in the production of the concrete mix. Colors in block paving will generally fade due to wear and ageing so it is important to consider all color choices before choosing the right tone for your block paving application.

Block Paving Maintenance

Block paving requires low and simple maintenance. It is recommended to treat the pavement with a pesticide that gets rid of weeds that may grow between the joints of the block units at least once a year. Block paving should be swept over regularly to remove all dirt, debris and grime that could eventually cause stains and damage the pavements. The use of sealants is recommended every 3 to 4 years to protect the color and topcoat of the pavement. General repairs may be required to the overall structure in case of cracks or chips, so it may be wise to order 5% more material before installation to allow for repairs. Hosing down the pavement with water is also a good idea to remove dirt off the surface of the paving. Block paving is also becoming popular in public areas. It is vastly replacing asphalt in areas such as walkways, sidewalks, car parks, shopping centers, air ports and some urban roads. The choice of design is endless with the block and it is easy to achieve any possible style. Any type of patterns can be constructed and produced in block paving which is a huge advantage.

Patio/Paving Block
The concept of tight fitted paving set on a flexible granular base is as old as the roads of the Roman Empire. The modern version concrete pavement originated in the Netherlands in the late 1940s as a replacement to stone brick streets. This technology quickly spread to Germany and Western Europe as a practical and attractive method for pedestrian and vehicular pavement.. Concrete Paving Blocks can be used for a variety of applications including patios, pool decks, hot tub surroundings, entry areas, sidewalks, terraces and garden paths.

Why Concrete Paving Blocks?

More Strength, More Life: Concrete paving blocks are stronger and more durable than conventional paving materials. Less Absorbent: Concrete block paving has less than 5% absorption which is considerably lower than both asphalt, providing for substantial resistance to soil and salt, common destructive agents to the life and appearance of other paving surfaces. More Attractive: Because concrete paving blocks are available in a variety of shapes, and endless number of beautiful patterns and designs can be created which simply cannot be achieved with asphalt. Less Maintenance: Concrete block paving requires far less maintenance than other paving materials. Concrete block pavings strength and durability eliminates costly patching and surfacing, while concrete paving blocks make it possible to create a mosaic of parking space and directional signs. Easily Reusable: Unlike asphalt, paving blocks can be removed for access to underground utilities and reinstalled after repairs are completed. Cooler in Summer: Concrete block paving remains cooler than asphalt in summer making it the ideal choice for parks, patios, around swimming pools and pedestrian areas. Easier to Install: The installation of concrete paving blocks requires neither the specialized equipment nor the intensive skilled labor of asphalt. Block paving does not require favorable weather and temperature for successful installation, avoiding costly construction delays. Major Cost Savings: The initially higher cost concrete block paving is recouped many times over through longer product life, reduced maintenance, repair, sealing and stripping costs, making concrete block paving an economical choice for your next paving job.