You have just invested in having an interlocking paver project for your home.
In this blog I will explain how to best maintain your new hardscaping investment and how and what your warranty covers.
There are many manufacturers of interlocking pavers, slabs and retaining walls on the market today. Stone Orchard Landscaping has long established relationships with Unilock, Techo Bloc and Permacon. In this blog when I speak about hardscaping products, it will be understood that I am referring to products manufactured by these big three manufacturers.
So you have just had a new driveway, walkway, porch, patio or retaining wall built at your home. It is beautiful, you love the look and feel. You are over the moon and thrilled with how it turned out. You were told it comes with a lifetime warranty, which it does. Like anything, it will require some maintenance to ensure your hardscaped project looks great for years and years to come.
Weeds
Understand that most weed seeds are airborne. It is not impossible for weeds to germinate in between the interlocking pavers. If the polymeric sand was installed correctly, then these weeds will have a difficult time getting established. Other weeds which develop from underground runners cannot get established and pop up between pavers if the base was built correctly in the first place. In the past, basic sand was used as a joining material and weeds frequently got established. Today, a polymeric sand is used, which hardens and relieves homeowners from this maintenance burden.
Snow Removal
Shovel snow with a plastic shovel. Snow blowers can be used but set the guide one half inch off of the surface of the paver. If you have a snow removal service which operates a plough, make sure that they use a Teflon blade. If you intend to apply ice melting products, avoid using magnesium-based products. Simple rock salt is recommended and will not affect your warranty.
Spring Maintenance
Check for creep, especially your first spring after installation. Creep is when winter frost pushes pavers out against the edge restraint. If this occurs, call your contractor immediately to have this repaired. Stone Orchard Landscaping offers a ten year warranty against any installation malfunction. If creep occurs, we want to know and fix it right away.
Power wash your hardscaped area to remove salt, sand and any other winter debris.
Fall Maintenance
Remove all and any leaves and other debris regularly. Leaves that are allowed to sit for any length of time may stain the paver. You can use a power washer, hose or broom.
Sealant
Sealants may or may not be used. They are not required and do not affect your warranty. A sealant is used to preserve and enhance the colour of the paver. If they are used, you can expect to reapply a sealant every 3 – 5 years.
Warranty
The hardscaping pavers, slabs and retaining wall products I use and recommend come with a lifetime warranty. Stone Orchard Landscaping offers a ten year warranty against installation defects. If there is to be any heaving, sinking or creep, it will most likely happen after the first winter. The manufacturer’s lifetime warranty covers the structural integrity of that product over normal residential use. Essentially, the hardscape product is warrantied against cracked, splitting, and flaking. With other manufacturers pavers, these things do actually happen.
Interlocking stone projects are designed for you, the homeowner, to be relatively maintenance free. Contractors like myself build these projects and recommend products to last for a very long time. I hope you have found this information helpful. If you have any further questions what so ever, please feel free to reach out to Mark at Stone Orchard Landscaping. I am always happy to help.
Til next time,
Mark Calhoun
Stone Orchard Landscaping
289 338 9741
