Have you ever been knee-deep in a home improvement project, standing in a hardware store aisle, staring at hundreds of samples that look exactly the same? Or maybe you’ve chosen the material, but you are wondering why one sample costs double the amount of another? Well, we’re here to end the home improvement guessing game… at least when it comes to your outdoor area, and more specifically, your paver patio. 

We always advise using one of our trusted brands of high-quality pavers that we’ve used and had success with time and time again. We can recommend materials in a variety of price points, but still better quality than what you’ll find in your neighborhood hardware store. By using one of our recommended brands of pavers, you’ll be increasing your home’s return-on-investment while enjoying a lower maintenance product  – win/win!

High-Quality vs. Low-Quality Pavers 

So how do you tell the difference between high-quality and low-quality pavers? You may think that the superior pavers are the most expensive on the market, but that’s not always the case. When we buy pavers, there are a few key items we look for to ensure they are premium grade, without sacrificing design. 

• The color of the paver is consistent all the way through. We aim to keep your design top of mind, so how annoying would it be to install what you thought was a high-quality paver, just to notice the color fading next season? The Pros always look for a paver that has the same color running all the way through. Some home improvement stores sell pavers with color only reaching about one-third of the way through, which will cause some discoloration over the years. Keep in mind, high-quality pavers shouldn’t fade very much over time, and they usually come with a lifetime warranty from the manufacturer. Another way the Pros ensure your color is consistent throughout the space is by mixing the pavers in each pallet during installation. By doing this, we’re combating any color changes between pallets and keeping a cohesive feel throughout the project. For the best match, we always recommend doing the full project at once. 

• High PSI. PSI, or density, plays a big factor in paver durability over time. The lower the PSI, the more water it allows to seep through. This especially causes issues when standing water freezes and thaws, causing the pavers to crack and break. Lower quality brands and those you find in home improvement stores typically have a lower PSI, are thinner in height, and aren’t designed for heavy duty application. 

• Where the paver is located. Paver location also has a big role in deciding the type of paver used. In general, a driveway will need a heavier duty paver than a front walkway would. Similarly, it’s necessary to take into account whether there’s a pool nearby, as chlorine will affect the coloring of the pavers, as well as the type of drainage required.

What Sets the Pros Apart

Property Pros has several years of professional experience installing pavers in all types of layouts and conditions. In fact, Property Pros started out because there was a high need of paver repairs due to poor quality installations. We believe that a high-quality final product starts at the foundation. 

First things first: creating a solid base. While some competitors start with a 4-6 inch base, we strongly believe an 8-inch base is the key to a strong foundation. We like to choose materials that encourage water drainage (especially around a pool) and deter weeds and bugs. However, many other companies still use the old-school way that erodes over time and actually attracts bugs and weeds. Rest assured that we’ll also take grading, overbase, and appropriate underlayment into account to improve the durability and life of your patio. 

Overall, using high-quality pavers combined with our team of highly certified professionals will give you a final product that is sure to be the envy of the neighborhood! We take pride in continuing our education, as materials and processes are constantly changing, and we like to be up-to-date on all of the best practices in our industry.

To get started on your next project, contact the Pros today!