Paving stones are one of the simplest and most impressive materials for creating a surface around a building, which is why they enjoy great popularity. However, even with such a seemingly easy material, stumbling blocks happen. Get to know the 7 most common mistakes made while laying cobblestones in order to avoid them in the future
It might seem that too little or too much paving material is not a problem. However, nothing could be further from the truth. While in some cases the excess of material can be returned – it is worth asking about it when buying – in case of too small amount of sett stones, it may turn out that the material bought from the same supplier and the same store may differ in shade. Such differences will look unsightly on the laid surfaces
The first of the mentioned mistakes is very often connected with lack of project but it is not its only consequence. Paving stones are a very graceful material which allows laying different patterns, but doing it without preliminary planning does not allow to use its full potential. What’s more, you can make a lot more mistakes by doing so
The foundation for paving blocks should always be chosen according to the soil. The substructure should be 15-40 centimeters thick, and the sand bed should be about 5 centimeters thick. However, most often the thickness of the sub-base is not chosen properly, and the ground itself is not compacted properly or not at all – this influences the durability of the paving brick surface
A very common mistake while laying paving blocks is not keeping the three-kilometre intervals between their elements. Laying the pavers butt to butt causes them to crack as they push against each other due to thermal stress and pressure, such as the weight of a car
When laying paving stones, do not forget to maintain a slope on the total surface created with it. It should be about 3%. This will prevent rain and snow from settling on the surface, thus preventing it from damage. It is also extremely important that the slope is always directed towards the street or garden, never towards the buildings.
Paving blocks are made of natural raw materials, that’ s why each batch can slightly differ in shade, despite the same color indicated by the manufacturer. So to avoid unsightly stains, paving stones should be laid using three different batches
Maintaining the level when laying paving stones is an extremely important issue. The most common mistake is not matching it properly with respect to adjacent surfaces. This is because it should be remembered that the paving stones laid next to flower beds should be above their level, while those connecting to the lawn should be laid flush with it
All of the above-mentioned mistakes are most often the result of ignorance or routine on the part of pavers. Therefore, if we do not have experience in this field, it is better to leave this task in the hands of professionals. However, they are also worth taking care of, so that instead of a beautiful surface in front of our house, we don’t get pavement that is crooked or sinking.
