Why Choose Pavers to Add Style & Value to Your Home?So you are ready to lay a driveway, pathway or patio area and are asking the question... Why choose pavers? Well pavers and paving have been used for centuries and we still see them today in ancient ruins giving the environment in which they were used a special romantic look and lasting quality reflecting the culture of the time. But by far and away the best reason for using a paver is its' flexibility and I don’t just mean that there are many different shapes and sizes in a wide range of colours. Firstly, when actually doing the job, if you change your mind, or heaven forbid, make a mistake, then you can simply lift some (or all) of the pavers up and start that section again … a comforting thought. Secondly, if a car drips oil on the drive or red cordial gets spilt and left to stain or if one or two get damaged, then it’s not an impossible task to lift the offending pavers and replace them. Finally, and this can be very important, if the paved area is laid over some utilities such as water pipes or electricity cables and there is a problem…the pavers can be lifted, the problem fixed and the pavers re-laid. This way there are no jack hammers or concrete saws involved and the original pattern, colour and texture can be maintained. A further reason for choosing pavers is, that if you wish to tackle the project yourself, it is indeed possible, whereas laying exposed concrete or stenciled concrete really does require a specialist tradesman to do the job for you. Having said that, if after watching the DIY video on paving you are a little anxious, give us a call at Centenary Landscaping Supplies and we can put you in touch with the right sort of Tradesman to suit your needs. At Centenary Landscaping Supplies, you will also have a huge choice of pavers and paving that will compliment your garden environment and provide a practical ageless look that will delight you, your family and friends while adding true value to your home and lifestyle. |
 Not just ANY driveway!
 Surround you pool with a touch of class!
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 A little can add a lot of impact!
 ...for that "Earthy" ambience.
 ...adding that finishing touch to your pool!
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How do I select the right paver for me?When faced with over 400 varieties of styles, colours and textures to chose from, it is easy to throw your arms in the air and say "it's just all too hard!" or "I give in!" So where do you start when trying to select the right paver for your outdoor entertaining area, driveway or pathways in your garden? To help you choose, try asking some basic questions:
While considering the answers to some of these questions, have a look at the different ranges available on the pavers, cleaners and sealant page, (clicking on the Pdf for each range will give you the price list) and see which pavers fit in with your design ideas. The next stage is to drop by and wander around our extensive Selection Centre at Darra where the whole range is on display. Here you can actually touch and feel what the individual pavers are like. Talk to one of our knowledgeable Sales team in the air-conditioned office about your project and indeed, run through the questions above and gain an insight into the differences between some of the styles available. We can even arrange for samples for you to take away or be delivered to your home …. That way you can see the particular paver in its intended setting and make a much more informed decision. Finally, once at home and there are inevitably more questions, you could send us an email which we will be able to receive and answer by the very next day. |
Some Dos & Don'ts!
- Whether it's at the purchasing stage or the laying stage, there can often be pitfalls or problems … many of which can be avoided by gleaning all the relevant information. Some examples of that might be:
- Look before you buy, especially if you are buying Second Quality pavers. If a trip to our Darra yard is difficult and there are time constraints, then call us about arranging a sample to be delivered to your home. This is a great way to be sure about what you are getting.
- If matching an existing paver, try and bring one in for us to see and even if it is a discontinued we may well be able to find a current paver that will do the job. Some of our team have been in the industry for over 20 years so they have seen most of the pavers used around Brisbane in that time.
- Unlike our fleet of "in-house tipper trucks" that deliver soil and mulch, etc., when pavers get delivered, they are delivered to you on large trucks with a crane. These vehicles, as well as being large, will have a number of drops to do on each load so an exact delivery time is difficult to give. These guys will promise us a particular day for delivery… but not a time. This means, if you are hoping to start a job or your contractor is starting on a particular day, you are well advised to get the pavers delivered the previous day so all is in place when the job starts. Discuss this with the Sales Team who will advise as to the best approach. So, ON TIME delivery for Crane Trucks is the day of delivery and not a specific time during the day.
- If you are going to lay the pavers yourself, be sure to watch the DIY video online. In many cases the following can apply: don’t butt joint the pavers; don’t lay pavers on Crusher Dust; allow for between 3-6mm variance in thickness on some brands; be very careful if using cement powder around the pavers; if it is a large job, then blend the pavers from all the pallets so an even colour is achieved across the whole job. These points are to illustrate that it is important to gather all the facts before embarking on the “journey”!
Our Paver Bonus Pack to Save You More Dollars
At Centenary Landscaping Supplies we don’t just sell you the pavers but are interested in helping you complete the whole landscape project and to that end we can make the process as economical and stress free as possible. At the planning stage, by talking to the Sales team we can assess what other materials you may need as well as the pavers. This then will enable us to put together a package that will fit your budget … by offering you not only the best price on the pavers but also favourable rates on other materials like Roadbase and bonus items such as the Joint Filling Sand or a Voucher for a tipper truck delivery. By organising the complete package at the outset helps the job run smoothly and causes the minimum amount of stress!
Why Should I Seal My Pavers?
Here is a question that needs to be addressed before you start, as it will have a bearing on the cost of the project and therefore may influence your choice of pavers in the first place. If you have laid a few pavers to put the garden shed on, or a small path to the washing line, then sealing is probably not necessary whatever pavers you choose. However, if you are laying a driveway, a formal path to the front door, or an entertainment area it’s a different thing altogether.
If you are going to lay a Concrete paver (of which there are many) then it's fair to say all the manufactures will strongly recommend that you seal their product. They do this for two reasons: first, by sealing their product, it helps to strengthen the colour which therefore won't fade as much and more importantly, the sealant helps minimize staining and when there are spillages, making the surface easier to clean. All concrete pavers are porous to a greater or lesser degree and will therefore absorb liquid into their structure eg oil, Red wine etc!
Now there are basically two types of sealants: the “Penetrating Sealer” & the “Non Penetrating” and they work as follows:
Penetrating Sealers
When applied, is absorbed into the paver essentially blocking up the pores in between the particles of concrete. This then makes it harder for unwanted chemicals such as the red wine to get into the paver and stain the surface. The application of a sealer, just like scotch guarding your carpet inside the house, wont guarantee a stain free existence for your pavers but will definitely help them cope with whatever you might throw at them. This leads to us having a better looking product for longer. A Penetrating Sealer, generally doesn't change the appearance of a paver … if anything it deepens the colour slightly and does not make them slippery when wet.
Non Penetrating Sealer
It seals the surface of a paver with a varnish like coating as opposed to sinking into the paver itself. This type will generally darken the paver and can cause them to be a little slippery when wet so are not as popular as the Penetrating ones. It has to be said though that some pavers are so porous that even a Non Penetrating Sealer will get absorbed into its surface and this case they would be the preferred option. These pavers tend to be the budget type ones …. So check when purchasing what the recommended sealant would be for your particular job.
IMPORTANT NOTICE:
If your job is to be laid with Clay Pavers, they are made from a natural product and while are still porous to a certain degree, the sealing of such pavers is considered optional. If you decide to seal the job, you should only ever use a Penetrating Sealer, keeping in mind the effects are not as significant as when the sealer is used on concrete pavers.
