Patio Pavers Installation 101: Answers To The Most Common FAQs
Sprucing up the exterior space in your home or commercial premises is a great way to enhance curb appeal. Perfect patio paver installation is one of the best ways to improve the appeal. Here's everything you need to know about patio paver installation.
What Are Patio Pavers Made Of?
You can get patio pavers made from natural stone or porcelain, but the most common pavers comprise concrete. The main components in concrete patio pavers include the following:
- Gravel
- Sand
- Cement
- Coloring dye
Depending on the desired result, patio pavers can be manufactured with different ingredient mixes. Some patio pavers have a traditional rustic appearance, while others have a more modern smooth finish. You can choose the type that best suits your exterior décor.
Most commercial patio pavers are thicker than residential pavers. The difference in thickness is attributed to commercial driveways enduring more traffic than residential driveways. However, the residential pavers are also strong enough to carry the weight of vehicles and human traffic in your home. The most important thing during patio paver installation is to dig deep enough for a solid foundation. This will help increase your driveway's stability and the pavers' life span.
Do You Need Grout During Patio Paver Installation?
Grout is an excellent product to protect flooring materials against damage from wear and tear. However, it is not a basic necessity during patio paver installation.
Concrete patio pavers are flexible enough to survive extreme weather conditions such as winter without cracking. If you use grout between the pavers, it will eventually break due to the constant expansion and contraction or give way under the weight of vehicles that cruise your driveway.
You can use mortar on your pavers for a more permanent installation. However, this is optional in the installation process and may increase expenses for your project.
What Should You Put Between Patio Pavers?
Since there are better fillers for patio pavers than grout and mortar, you should use polymeric sand in between your pavers. The installation experts will sweep the sand in the spaces between the pavers. The sand hardens with exposure to water to bind the pavers together.
Polymeric sand is a perfect binder without the rigidity of grout or mortar. The sand is porous, allows water and air to penetrate, keeps your patio pavers strong, and seals any openings where weeds could grow.
Do You Need to Seal Your Patio Pavers?
Sealing your patio pavers is optional and depends on your preferences. Your patio can survive without the sealant, just like any other pavement. However, sealing your pavers could give them a shiny wet look even when dry. Furthermore, you can use a sealant to enhance your patio pavers' color and protect them from stains.
Contact a professional to learn more about patio paver installation.
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