Now that Spring is here and the warmer weather is just around the corner, you may have been thinking about adding a patio to your yard, or upgrading the old one that invariably sinks and rises with the weather cycles. Well, you've come to the right place. We at Warren's Masonry are specialists in new pavers and patios. We will work with you to figure out the best location, the best masonry products (pavers, bricks, stone, etc), and the best size to fit your needs. We've been doing this for over 15 years, and we take pride in our workmanship, products, and finished projects - and here's how we do the mechanics:
For a typical, average sized patio area, usually about 15'x15' (large enough for a table and areas to walk around), we mark out the area where it is to be placed, then dig down below the ground (minimally 1' to ensure stability) and remove all the sod and soil, further if the soil is of poor quality. We then level it all out, being careful to "crown" it to both sides or "float" it to one side to ensure proper drainage depending on your property's slope. We then lay down a graded base of stone dust and 3/4" stone, either hand tamped (for smaller areas) or machine compacted to give us a nice, solid base on which to build. Typically, this takes about a day or so depending on the size and soil conditions.
Our next step is to float 1" of memory sand so water absorption is vastly improved. We will then lay the pavers, bricks, or stones in accordance with the customer's choice. We have many styles and types of masonry products to choose from, and we also can do almost any design from basic staggered models to complex patterned ones. If the customer has chosen a specialty border pattern or color, we then add these. After laying the surface and border out, we then use border guards staked in with 14" spikes to keep the masonry products from moving. Stone dust is then swept into the joints and gaps - think of it as grouting. And it is continually added until everything is filled completely. Sometimes we use sand or "poly" for this purpose, depending on the gaps that need to be filled and how tight the stones fit together. If poly is used, it gets sprayed with water that activates it into a resin, providing better grip in larger areas. Then the whole new patio, now almost complete, gets a thorough rinsing off and water test to ensure that it is clean, functioning by not holding water, and ready for the customer. This is usually accomplished in the second day.
But that's not the whole story. The above was for just a typical patio "floor". We also do outdoor fireplaces, firepits, walls, steps, walkways, landings, curved designs, and intricate patterned work. Any of these items can be added to your new patio, giving you a beautiful new outside area that can be enjoyed for many years. So if you are thinking about a new patio, or upgrading your old one, or even just adding a new walkway, give us a call today. Estimates are always free, and you can be sure that when you hire Warren's Masonry to do your work, you are getting the best in masonry services.