How to Prepare for a Paver Installation

Whether you intend to do it yourself or hire a professional to do it for you, there are some key steps you should follow when preparing for successful paver installation. With correct installation, you’ll have a nice foundation that allows for water permeation without damaging the base. This is true no matter your paver project, whether you intend to make a new driveway or transform your backyard.

So here are a few key tips recommended by our staff and expert groups like Landscape Management to help you prepare for paver installation:

Tip #1: Make Sure You Have Approval for Where You Want to Place Your Paving Stones.

Even if it's a property your family has owned for a long time, there are certain outdoor areas you have to be careful of when making alterations to your property. This is because pipes, wires and other buried objects that maintain your house and neighborhood may be buried beneath. Furthermore, paving is a significant project that may violate your homeowner agreement, HOA, or other restrictions placed upon your property.

Before you do anything else, make sure you contact all associated parties and get approval for your paving project. Then, be sure to take some tape, removable spray paint, or some other marker and carefully mark off the paving project area. Share pictures or show off this project area to the proper authorities, and once you have their approval you know you can get started.

Tip #2: Take Your Time as You Square, Excavate and Prepare for Paving.

While you may be tempted to start digging right away, be sure to take your time as you prepare for excavation. Place some stakes at your corners and tie strings between them so you can box off your digging area and avoid going past your markers. Set your grade to ensure that your surface drainage will flow in the direction you want it. Determine the proper depth for your paving project, and gather the tools you need to dig that deep.

You’ll also want to start gathering the actual paving stones you need for your project. There are many different types of paving stones, with the same stones even creating different patterns depending on how you lay them. This is the perfect time to start planning these details, as your desired design will determine how and where you need to dig.

Tip #3: Remove All Plants, Rocks and Other Debris from The Paving Area.

Before you can set anything, including sheets, gravel, or sand, you need to actually dig out the paving area. Assuming you’ve gathered the gloves, shovels and other tools you’ll need for the job in the last step, carefully dig down to the desired depth.

It is vital you clear out everything you can as you dig. This includes plants, rocks and anything else you may encounter. Failing to properly remove plants can lead to weeds growing through your paving stones, while rocks will likely lead to an uneven surface. The more even and empty your foundation is, the easier it will be to lay your desired paving stones later on.

Need Help Paving? Contact Nicolock.

Nicolock is a proud distributor of paving stones and other outdoor living products. Contact us today or check out our FAQ if you need help with your next paving project.

During the warmer months, a patio, porch or backyard can offer a wonderful place for entertaining guests, socializing with friends or just kicking back and relaxing by yourself or with family members. But why limit your use of your home's great outdoors just to blue-sky days? A wood-burning outdoor fireplace, a propane outdoor fireplace or a fire pit can extend your seasons in the sun.

If you are looking to beautify your backyard while protecting your landscape and adding to the value of your property, backyard stepping stones offer one of the simplest solutions. Even though it's one of the easiest hardscape projects, a new stepping stone path will bring you multiple benefits. As a top manufacturer of paving stones and stepping stones for more than 60 years, we here at Nicolock are happy to provide you some tips for how you can make your backyard paradise even more beautiful and inviting with outdoor stepping stones.

Paradise found: A smart backyard remodel can turn your outdoor living space into a divine space. Besides providing a place for solid entertainment, backyards with a creative flourish can serve as great places to relax with friends and family or chill out alone. In addition, if you transform your backyard with some good backyard design ideas, you can add value to your property. For some exciting backyard paradise ideas, read on.

When hanging out with friends or relaxing with your family, what is your go-to dinner option? For many, the answer is pizza. Take-out pizza, however, doesn't come close to a delicious Neapolitan-style pizza you can make in your backyard using your wood-fired pizza oven installed by Nicolock. This pizza recipe is sure to impress, just as much as the oven itself.

Imagine sitting around an open fire with your friends or family and everyone's craving something sweet. You go inside to gather the ingredients for a classic treat that can be made over your Nicolock firepit. That's right: it's time for s'mores.

Whether you call it Sunday gravy or marinara, nothing beats the flavor of a slow-cooked tomato sauce made from scratch. Not everyone has all day to devote to simmering a sauce, but what if you could make it outside while tending to your yardwork or relaxing in the sun?

Do you have a brand-new Nicolock outdoor kitchen with a built-in grill, but need some culinary inspiration? With our grilled Buffalo-style chicken wings, you can breathe fire into any outdoor gathering or family meal. These wings are easy to make, yet they taste like you've worked your fingers to the bone.

So you've decided to start a big landscaping project. Congratulations! A successful makeover will add beauty, comfort and value to the exterior of your home.

Cleaning Patio Pavers Will Keep Your Yard Looking Brand-New