As a landscape business owner, I am always looking for more efficient ways to complete projects without compromising the high standards I have set for myself. And a vital component of my company’s core values is to continuously strive for environmental sustainability. Luckily, Gator Base is an excellent product that allows for a more sustainable, cost-effective, and labour minimizing option for paving.
I have known about Gator Base for the past several years, but I must admit that I was a bit skeptical. Luckily, this past February – I had the opportunity to attend a seminar to learn more about Gator Base. I am now convinced that this new way of building is not only much better for the environment, but it can also greatly reduce labour costs.
How Is Gator Base Better For The Environment?
A traditional interlocking stone installation would require a minimum of six inches of crushed stone, in addition to a couple of inches of screenings before laying down a paver. With a Gator Base installation, the six inches of crushed stone is eliminated. This means that there will be less machines excavating native soil. There will be less large diesel trucks hauling material. Less native soil will be dumped into our landfill sites. Less crushed stone will be quarried from the ground. And the best part is that each one of these factors positively impacts our environment!
How Does Gator Base Help Reduce Labour?
As per the reasons mentioned above – less labour means less costs will be associated with the installation of paving projects. Furthermore, without the need to excavate as much native soil, there is a huge reduction in wear and tear on heavy equipment like skid steers. Not to mention less wear and tear on company trucks and trailers. And most importantly, less wear and tear on your labour force – meaning less fatigue and less WSIB claims. And for all these reasons, it seems like using Gator Base is an absolute no brainer.
Does Gator Base Perform Better Than A Traditional Build?
At the seminar I attended we were presented with some facts – which I will happily share with you. In the five years since Gator Base has been available in Ontario, they have had zero claims against them. The sample size is quite large as well – 527,000 square feet of pavers have been installed on Gator Base during this time frame alone and with zero claims. This caught my attention. I would never introduce a new product if its performance was less than a standard crushed stone build. Additionally, this product is now endorsed by Unilock and Techo Bloc, which are two of the top leaders in the paving stone industry.
From now on, I will be using Gator Base on all my patio, walkway, and pool installations.
Additional Benefits of Gator Base Include:
- It reduces the amount of freeze thaw cycles due to its R 3.6 insulating value
- It is manufactured using lightweight high–density polypropylene
- It is permeable
To learn more about Gator Base, please visit their website.
If you would like to continue this conversation further, please leave a comment below or connect with us on Facebook. I would love to hear your thoughts. And as always, feel free to give us a call today to see how we can make your backyard oasis come to life.
Call: (289) 338-9741
Email: admin@stoneorchardlandscaping.com
Until Next Time,
Mark
Image courtesy of Gator Base.
