| Home landscaping is a home improvement project | | | | to traditional brick or concrete. Most homeowners |
| that not only enhances the owner's personal | | | | assume that interlocking pavers fit together like a |
| enjoyment of the property but the value of the | | | | puzzle, but this is not the case. When properly |
| home and property as well. Hardscaping (Hardscape, | | | | interlocked, one paver cannot move without the |
| is the practice of landscaping, refers to the paved | | | | other and as a result they all stay in place. |
| areas like streets & sidewalks, large), using brick | | | | In order to create a situation where the interlocking |
| pavers for sidewalks and patios, for example, adds | | | | pavers are truly "interlocked" the brick installation |
| interest and beauty to a landscaping design project. | | | | must achieve vertical, rotational and horizontal |
| In fact, adding hardscape is the optimum place to | | | | interlock. That essentially means everything is locked |
| begin forming the foundation for plantings at a later | | | | in from all directions. Here is how to ensure this when |
| time. | | | | installing brick pavers. |
| It is important, however, that the installation of | | | | 1. A thick brick paver, 3 ½ in (80 mm), will |
| walkways and patios be done correctly using proper | | | | have a greater interlock than a thinner brick paver, |
| installation techniques. Many homeowners think that | | | | such as a 2 3/8 in (60 mm) brick paver. |
| using interlocking brick pavers to lay a sidewalk or | | | | 2. Laying your brick paver in a herringbone pattern |
| patio should be a simple process. But they soon | | | | has the greatest interlocking results. There are many |
| discover that when done improperly the results are | | | | types of herringbone patterns to choose from so |
| disappointing at best. And a year or so down the | | | | you can select one that you find most attractive. |
| road, things are even worse and they realize the | | | | 3. It is important to keep consistent joint widths and |
| project must be done over. | | | | between 1/16 in. to 3/16 in. (2 mm - 4 mm) range. |
| Brick installation must be done properly or it will | | | | Wider, sand filled joints are not as effective. |
| detract from appearance of a home's landscape and | | | | 4. The presence of a crown will decrease the stability |
| can even decrease the value of a home or require | | | | of the interlocking pavers. For water drainage |
| fixing prior to putting the home on the market. There | | | | purposes, a slope is preferred to a crown for stability. |
| are a few very important aspects to installing brick | | | | 5. Stationary edge restraints are essential to holding |
| pavers that will produce the professional results most | | | | the brick pavers tightly in place. |
| homeowners are looking for. | | | | 6. Any brick paver that allows the above interlocking |
| Interlocking concrete pavers have become very | | | | properties to exist will be effective. |
| popular in recent years. They are a good alternative | | | | |