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All About Walkways

Our last house was built on a slope, and one of our biggest challenges was how to build the stairs accessing the backyard. There were so many options available, and each one suggested a different level of effort and expense.

Here is an overview of the different types of materials available and a brief summary of the process to help you decide whether this is a job you want to tackle, or leave to the experts.

Brick Path: Bricks are relatively inexpensive and provide freedom to create a path in a variety of shapes and sizes. Those set in sand are not as stable as bricks with a concrete base, but a bit of movement can be expected in a brick path.

Concrete Pavers: Similar to bricks, pavers sit on a bed of sand and are laid out in a pattern. They come in a huge variety of colors and individual shapes to create interesting patterns. Paths should be at least 3 feet wide.

Crushed Stone Path: This is a fairly inexpensive material and could be a good way to lay the groundwork for future upgrades. Crushed stone blends easily into most landscapes, is durable and allows for curves. Some type of edging would have to be put in place to hold in the stone.

Exposed Aggregate: Aggregate is commonly used on driveways, but it makes a nice finish for paths and stairs as well. If you do it yourself, work at your own speed completing small sections at a time. This is a durable and lasting finish, that looks the same for years.

Flagstone Path: This stone has so much character and is fairly easy to work with, except for the weight of the medium. You can lay a fairly tight path, adding a grout like hardening agent between the cracks, or pour crushed gravel or pea gravel in between. You could also lay as stepping stones on a gravel path or right into grass and simply mow over the stones.

Platform Walkway: This works like a series of small decks used to create a path. Using 4 x 4 postholes, they support a 2 x 6 frame covered by 2 x 6 decking. Platforms are built in small increments to allow for winding paths or changes in the slope. Incline in 12 inch intervals to allow for stairs. The walkway should be at least 36 inches wide with footings at every 8 feet.

Grass: Some forget the most simplest of paths is made from grass. Use wood or stone edging, lay your top soil and plant grass seed or lay sod.

Loose Fill: This type of walkway can last for years with perhaps a slight topping up from time to time. Once you have your path laid out, add landscape fabric and border, and fill with bark chips, or any loose organic material and rake in place. You may want to add some paved or flagstone stepping stones to provide a solid surface when walking.

The process for laying a walkway varies slightly depending on the medium used, but there are some basic guidelines for all:

- Calculate the size of the area.
- Layout the shape – use hardboard or black edging to create a form. A simple garden hose works well when laying out the initial shape. Pour sand over the hose or spray with paint, lift hose and you have your pattern.
- Create a flat base and remove any organic material. Some materials require a layer of gravel and then sand for leveling, others can be laid directly on the existing dirt base.
- Install a border or edging along the outside of the path.

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Landscaping Brick: All About Class and Elegance

If you are planning to give your house and its surroundings that classic touch and feel then landscape bricks is a perfect way to go about it. Being used since ages you will have loads of options in choosing landscaping brick. They come in all colors and sizes so that not only you get the variety but all your needs are met.

In fact, what experts suggest is that if you are having trouble in how to go about the landscaping design, then bricks are always the right option. They are always there to bail you out of troubles. If you have a small porch or lawn in front of your house, a little bit of landscape bricks can completely alter the look of the place and help your house stand out of the rest in the neighborhood.

Of course bricks are there to add beauty to the landscape design. But importantly they are durable too and so will last much longer than other materials. Moreover they are low on maintenance and can go with almost any house, whatever the look may be.

You can have a patio made from bricks and gives the driveway a lovely classical look that any other material would find hard to replicate. And all you need for it are bricks and mortar, and a little bit of your time. The layout of the bricks can be in two modes. You may either have them laid horizontally in rows one after the other. Or if you want to go a bit creative you can try the basket weave where you alternate horizontal and vertical bricks.

If you are doing up the look of your garden then also bricks can be a great help. In fact, bricks have been used for a long time in designing the layouts of gardens. Bricks can be used to border the flower garden, if you have one. The bricks will not only mark out a separate area for the flowering plants, but will also help to retain the water in the flowerbed. Similarly if you have a water garden bricks can be used to encase the area around the pool. Not only will it add to the look of the pool but will also improve its stability.

You can also use crushed brick to do up the sidewalks and pathways outside your house. But they do tend to sink into the ground. So if you don’t want the brick particle to get lost beneath the soil, then you must use landscape fabric below the crushed brick.

www.stoneworkscanada.com breaking concrete and preparing to install new driveway with stone pavers by Unilock Expert Installation and Repair of Stone-Tiles-Interlock paving-Retaining walls-Driveways and Walkways Pressure Wash-Sealing and Driveway Asphalt Seal Coating in Toronto-Etobicoke- Mississauga-Oakville Call 905 486-9836 www.stoneworkscanada.com
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New Business Trends: Learn About Construction Factoring

Are you nervous about paying employees and paying suppliers on time? Are you waiting from 30 to 90 days after completing a job in order to get paid by the general contractor or your client? If you are a subcontractor working on a project, then you could qualify for something called construction factoring.

These are some of the biggest challenges for construction subcontractors, especially in today’s economic climate. It may be even more of a challenge if your business is new and does not yet have much operating cash. Few people can afford to wait 90 days to be paid, and even fewer can qualify for a loan due to the tightening of the credit markets.

However, suppliers and small to mid-sized subcontractors can get their invoices paid in as little as two days, using a tool called construction factoring.This means you will have predictable cash flow.Compared to bank financing, construction factoring is easy to set up and obtain.Furthermore, few of them can really qualify for a business loan. However, factoring provides with an alternative business financing option to help contractors meet their business obligations and grow. Invoice factoring accelerates slow paying invoices by financing them through a factoring company.

Here’s how it works:

- A contractor or supplier delivers the product or service, and then sends an invoice.
- invoices are then sold to the construction factoring company, who advances the funds to you.
- It’s important to do business with reputable general contractors or construction companies.
- Once the general contractor or client pays the invoices, the transaction is complete. There will be a competitively priced factoring fee associated with the service.
- Choose one of many factoring companies that is set up do handle construction factoring.
- You can begin factoring invoices very fast.

Construction factoring can bring in funds for invoices quickly and effectively, providing the necessary cash to meet your current obligations, and to also take on bigger jobs.

How does construction factoring work?

Using contractor factoring is a very simple, standard process such as:

- You deliver your products or services to your customer.
- You send the invoice to your client and a copy to your factoring company.
- Invoice verification with the general contractor takes place.
- The factoring company advances you up to 85 percent. Construction factoring is different from bank financing because it is easy to obtain and can be set up very quickly.

Benefits to factoring construction invoices include:
1. You won’t have to wait to get paid for your work.
2. Factoring is easy to obtain and can be set up very quickly.
3. You get an advance quickly after invoicing.
4. Construction factoring grows with your projects.
5. It provides predictable cash flow. Construction factoring is simple to use and can easily be integrated to your business.

Once you complete the job, you just send an invoice to your client and a copy to the factoring company. The invoice is verified with the general contractor client, and last, you get the first invoice advance. Once your client pays, you receive the remaining funds, less a fee.

Invoice factoring can apply to subcontractors in fields including: architects, asphalt, carpenters, ceiling, concrete, electrical, drywall, excavators, HVAC / mechanical contractors, paving, plumbing and roofing.

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Carolinas Concrete Masonry Association About Ccma

The term “concrete homes”and the first thing that comes into the mind is strength and durability. Many ask the question, why to use concrete for building homes? The answer to this question is very simple. It is the best way to construct a home. It is by far better than other building materials available today. Concrete ensures that your home lasts for a long time. There are a number of benefits of using concrete. Beautiful :

Concrete can be moulded into any shape. You can literally create any size house that you can ever imagine. There are many ways to build your home, if you are using concrete such as insulating concrete forms, precast concrete and tilt up concrete. With concrete, you can create a wide range of angles and curves

Many construction companies prefer concrete pavers for both commercial and residential applications. Using these pavers for surface covers for parking lots, driveways, pool decks and sidewalks is a sensible and an attractive choice. They come in innumerable styles and color which is not the case with granite or clay pavers.

With concrete pavements, you can design the look for your pavement the way you want. This is because their surface is non-slippery even if they are wet. So you can safely walk or drive any vehicle over them. Concrete pavers are very popular among customers as they are less expensive but at the same time, sturdy and strong

Timeless Designs : Concrete provides a variety of construction techniques that are cost effective. Wood prices are volatile and there is acute shortage of good quality lumber. In such circumstances, concrete is a quality alternative to wood frame house construction. It requires low maintenance, environmental friendly and energy efficient. With concrete and cement block, you can create contemporary or traditional designs. So whether you are building a colonial mansion or a Victorian gingerbread home, using concrete would be the ideal choice.

Safety : Do you want to protect your house from wood rot, termites and fire? If “yes” then use concrete as it ensures that the beauty of your house stays for all the years to come. It is fire resistant, which means, your family will be secure from any injury because of fire. With minimum maintenance, you will be able to hold its beauty. No wonder concrete homes are a solid investment for anyone.

Environment friendly : In this age, where resources like wood are vanishing, it is important to choose building materials wisely. Cement block is manufactured from clay, limestone and sand. Recycled materials are used in cement manufacturing process. Wood frame home construction involves cutting of trees, thereby degrading the environment.

Solid construction : Concrete ensures that your house wall is solid, airtight and continuous. Concrete walls can withstand elements of nature like termites and rain. It is more resistant to tornadoes, hurricanes and other windstorms. Terminates simply cannot cause any structural damage to concrete walls. Therefore, the next time, you want to build a new house and are using material other than concrete, do a rethink.

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Effective Fundraising Letters Are About People, Not Projects
(Includes Samples & Examples)

Have you ever met a donor who liked funding infrastructure? I
have. Once.

When I served as Director of Development for a national
non-profit, my organization needed a new heating and ventilation
system for the national office. The cost was around ,000, as
I recall. The executive director approached one of our major
donors, a businessman who was also a faithful supporter, and
asked if he would like to partner with us. The donor promptly
wrote a cheque for the full amount. Later on, that same donor
made a commitment to pay for the parking lot to be re-paved, a
renovation that would cost over ,000.

That donor was the exception. Most donors do not get excited
about paying for sheet metal ducts or fresh asphalt. Donors give
to people, not programs. Donors don’t send donations by mail to
support a mission statement. They don’t respond to appeals
because of your vision statement. Or simply because your general
fund is depleted. And they are not (with rare exceptions)
inspired to pay for electrical bills, staples, travel costs and
plumbing repairs. Donors are people. And people give to people,
usually to help people.

This basic fundraising truth means that you must state your
organizational needs in human terms whenever possible. You must
translate your case for support from non-profit-speak into flesh
and blood. Donors want to know how their gift will help the
people that you serve.

This fundraising truth still applies even if you do not serve
people. If your non-profit promotes nuclear arms disarmament,
for example, your donors want to know how their gift will end
nuclear weapons testing. If you are an animal-rights charity,
your donors want to know how their financial gift will rescue
animals from laboratory experiments.

How to say “people,” not “programs”
If
you are raising funds for a specific project that aims to help a
particular people group (children, seniors, single mothers,
children with cerebral palsy), then your job is straightforward.
Ask yourself these questions:

1. What is my client’s need?
2. What do we presently lack
to meet that need?
3. How will my client benefit if we
meet that need?

Here is an example. Imagine that your non-profit organization in
South Africa runs an orphanage for children whose parents have
died from AIDS. The children are suffering from dysentery
because the local water supply is contaminated. Your solution is
to drill a well. You need ,000.

You could send an appeal letter to your supporters, asking for
,000. Mistake.

You could send an appeal letter to your supporters, asking for
,000 for a new well. Another mistake.

Remember, people give to people to help people. Your donors want
to help orphans, not drill a well. Drilling the well will help
the orphans, but your ask needs to concentrate on the orphans.
Here’s how you would answer the above three questions.

Q. What is my client’s need?
A. To avoid deadly
dysentery.

Q. What do we presently lack to meet that need?
A. A well
that supplies fresh water.

Q. How will my clients benefit if we meet that need?
A.
Live rather than die an excruciating death. Continue enjoying
the benefits of full-time schooling. Continue to reach their
potential physically, socially and emotionally. Avoid many
medical complications later in life. Be productive members of
society in a few years. Be able to help others. You get the idea.

Your job now is to ask for funds to drill the well so that the
children will benefit in those ways listed. Don’t just ask for
money for a well. That’s just a project. Don’t show a photo of
the well in its packing crate. Show how the donor’s gift will
help the children you serve. That’s the people.

What about the “general fund” ask?
The
greatest challenge in this area is when you are requesting funds
for your general fund and not for a tangible project, when you
cannot describe any specific benefits that are tied to a
particular initiative. In these cases, you still need to
describe your need in human terms, and you do this by showing
your donors the view from 10,000 feet instead of 10 feet..

Let’s say you need to raise money by mail for your general fund,
to pay for salaries, administration, office supplies,
postage–all the things that are needed to run a non-profit. The
view from 10 feet says you need to raise ,000 this quarter to
meet general fund expenses or you’re in trouble with your board.
But the view from 10,000 feet says you need to raise ,000 to
continue meeting the needs of the people you serve.

So instead of saying this:

“Please donate to our general fund.”

You say this:

“Please send a gift today to our ‘Sequoia Sender’s
Fund.’ From this fund we draw the monies needed to promote our
service to environmentalists at large, train teams, send them
overseas, and handle all the tasks involved in getting those
volunteers onto the field and back again in a way that promotes
responsible forestry practices, encourages and equips local
activists, and blesses the volunteer who goes.”

See the difference? The fund is no longer a general fun but a
fund set aside to accomplish the goals of the organization. It
serves the same purpose, it just has a more compelling name.
This ask is worded in such a way that it covers every office
expense from paper to payroll, yet in a way likely to inspire
and motivate donors.

Your role as a writer of effective fundraising letters is to
always be looking for the human interest story that lies beneath
your immediate financial needs. Capture that, and you’ll capture
the hearts and minds of your donors.

© 2005 Sharpe Copy Inc. You may reprint this
article online and in print provided the links remain live and
the content remains unaltered (including the “About the author”
message).

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Roof maintenance is something many people forget to do, but can be an important part of the upkeep of a home. There are several steps that you should go through before and during the maintenance of a roof, but these differ depending on the material it’s made of. In this article, we’ll go over how to clean and maintain an asphalt shingle roof.

The first thing you’ll want to do in any roof maintenance job is clean debris from the roof. This can be anything that has built up behind HVAC units, pitch pans or pipes, and other penetrations of the roof. Since this debris tends to soak up water, and water is one of the leading causes of deterioration of the roof (especially in roofs that are primarily asphalt), you’ll want to do this two or maybe three times a year.

If the roof is collecting moss and algae, zinc control or lead control strips should be installed. All the flashings should be checked for holes, and algae and moss should be removed. If there are any shingle tabs that are loose, a little roofing cement can be dabbed under either side to secure them. Damaged or broken shingles should be removed and replaced.

Keeping gutters debris free is an important part of roof maintenance, and is necessary for proper water flow control, and pour water down the downspouts to ensure that they are functioning correctly. If there are tree branches overhanging, they should be trimmed to prevent debris from falling on the roof.

Open valley metal should be checked for rust, and if there is rust then it should be wire brushed away, and then the metal should be primed and painted. Caulking and sealants should be checked, and if any is cracked or damaged it should be scraped away and re-applied. If you have a brick and mortar chimney, check the mortar on the sides and on top, and if it is damaged it can be repaired by a mason.

Roof maintenance is often a simple matter of knowing how the weather affects your home. If you have asphalt shingles that can be damaged over time, a periodic checkup and some mild repair work is likely all that is necessary.

Keeping up with your roof can help you find problems before they work their way into your home and cause you even more stress (not to mention money) than if you took care of them outside . . .

Find out more by reading the full article which explains what you need to know about roof maintenance.

 

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About Concrete Paving

Concrete Pavers are made by pouring a mixture of concrete and some type of coloring agent into a mold of some shape and allowing it to set. Concrete pavers are a popular outdoor flooring surface. With modern technology, rough grey concrete pavers are a thing of the past, and many are produced with a sophisticated look similar to come types of natural stone.

Sealing Concrete Paving

Concrete paving is very porous, and stains easily. It’s high porosity makes it particularly prone to salt efflorescence. All concrete paving should be sealed to keep it looking good for a long period of time.

To maintain the look, breathe-ability and slip resistance of the surface, it is important to use a high quality, invisible impregnating sealer. Dry-Treat impregnating sealers are safe and suitable for outdoor and indoor surfaces, and for residential or high traffic commercial surfaces

About Brick

Brick is a man-made building material made from baked clay that has been used for over 5000 years. Bricks are also made from a mixture of lime and very fine sand that are hardened in stream at a high pressure.

Sealing Brick

Brick is hard and dense, but quite porous and easily penetrated by water oil, although the amount of porosity varies depending on the particular type of clay, baking methods etc.
To maintain the look and protect brick paving from oil staining, water ingress and salt attack, it is important to use a high quality, invisible impregnating sealer. This is especially so for brick paving in entertaining areas or where there is a problem with salt efflorescence.
Dry-Treat impregnating sealers are safe and suitable for outdoor and indoor surfaces, and for residential or high traffic commercial surfaces.

About Bluestone

American bluestone is a high quality, dense sandstone, quarried around New York and Pennsylvania, and commercially known as Pennsylvania bluestone. It is very popular as a building and architectural stone.

Australian bluestone or basalt is a dense, hard wearing stone, generally a deep blue grey, and is a grand and popular paving stone. Bluestone was used in the interior of the new Melbourne Cricket Ground, and sealed with Dry-Treat’s ENHANCE-PLUS and STAIN PROOF.

British dolerite is mainly used to make jewelry and small knickknacks. About 80 of the stones at Stonehenge are dolerite.

Sealing Bluestone

Bluestone may be a dense stone, but it is still porous – you only need to leave a tablespoon of water on a floor tile for 30 minutes or so to find a deep stain. It is important to seal bluestone if you want it to continue to look good for a long period of time.

To maintain the look and slip resistance of the bluestone, it is important to use a high quality, invisible impregnating sealer. Dry-Treat impregnating sealers are safe and suitable to seal bluestone surfaces of all types – from wall cladding to floors, outdoors and in, residential and high traffic commercial.

About Granite

Granite is an igneous rock formed by the slow cooling of molten liquid rock. It is made up of crystals of quartz and feldspar, and sometimes mica and hornblende. Granite is a tough, hard wearing and versatile stone, available in a wide array of mottled colors, from whites to blacks and just about every other color.

Finished to a high polish it is the most popular stone for kitchen bench tops, and with a honed or even rough hewn finish is popular for wall cladding and flooring – both residential and commercial.

Sealing Granite

Granite is dense, but quite porous – you only need to leave a tablespoon of water on a floor tile for 30 minutes or so to find a deep stain. It is important to seal granite to keep it looking good for a long period of time.

To maintain the look and slip resistance of the granite, it is important to use a high quality, invisible impregnating sealer. Dry-Treat impregnating sealers are safe and suitable to seal granite surfaces of all types – from wall cladding to floors, outdoors and in, residential and high traffic commercial.

About Limestone

Limestone is a sedimentary soft rock that consists of mainly calcium carbonate. In its pure state it is white but it may be colored by other materials. Limestone is formed either from accumulation of animal shells in a calcium carbonate cementing matrix or by crystallization from solution.

Sealing Limestone

All limestone is highly porous – a tablespoon of water on a limestone surface will be absorbed in seconds, although it does vary in porosity from piece to piece. Porosity is also affected by its finish – highly polished limestone is a little harder to penetrate than limestone with a honed (matt) finish.
Due to its high porosity it is particularly important for limestone to be sealed with a high quality impregnating sealer which will not affect its slip resistance or look. Limestone is used both outdoors and indoors, and Dry-Treat’s premium impregnating sealers will seal limestone equally well in either.

About Marble

Marble is a limestone that has been changed under intense heat and pressure and is composed of calcium carbonate. The most common mineral of this composition is calcite.

Sealing Marble

Although marble is a dense stone, water and oil will penetrate marble given sufficient time. Porosity is also affected by its finish – highly polished marble is a little harder to penetrate than marble with a honed (matt) finish.
To preserve its looks, breathe-ability and slip resistance, it is important for marble to be sealed with a high quality, high penetration, invisible impregnating sealer. Dry-Treat impregnating sealers are suitable for all marble surfaces, indoors and out, from kitchen counter tops to marble floor tiles or wall cladding.

About Sandstone

Sandstone is a sedimentary rock formed from debris deposited of silica granules by wind or water and consolidated with amorphous silica or calcium carbonate cementing matrix, often in conjunction with aluminum or iron oxide, which contributes yellow, orange or brown coloration.

Sealing Sandstone

Sandstone is very porous and one of the softest types of stone. Water and oil absorb into sandstone within seconds and, over a longer period, water and especially water with salt can do severe damage to the surface. All sandstone must be sealed to help keep it intact, free of salt efflorescence and looking good.

To maintain the look, breathe-ability and slip resistance of the sandstone, it is important to use a high quality, invisible impregnating sealer. Topical sealers will trap moisture in the stone which can damage it in time. Dry-Treat impregnating sealers are safe and suitable to seal sandstone surfaces of all types – from wall cladding to floors, outdoors and in, residential and high traffic commercial.

About Slate

Slate is a fine-grained, homogeneous, metamorphic rock derived from an original shale-type sedimentary rock composed of clay or volcanic ash through low grade regional metamorphism. Slate is mainly composed of quartz and muscovite or illite, often along with biotite, chlorite, hematite, and pyrite along with, less frequently, apatite, graphite, kaolin, magnetite, tourmaline, or zircon.

Sealing Slate

Slate is quite dense, but it is still highly porous – a tablespoon of water left on the slate for about 30 minutes will leave a deep mark. Slate should be sealed to keep it looking good for a long period of time.

Topical sealers (glossy plastic coating over the top of the slate) are still used on slate, but these older style sealers can trap moisture in the stone and make the surface very slippery when wet. Plus, when a topical sealer wears in higher traffic areas, the entire surface has to be stripped and re-sealed,

To provide premium protection from oil and water-based stains, maintain the look and slip resistance of the slate and prevent damaging moisture from being trapped within the stone, it is important to seal slate with a high quality, invisible, fully breathe-able impregnating sealer.

About Terracotta / Saltillo

From the Italian for ‘baked earth”, refined clay is partially dried and cast, molded, or hand worked into a desired shape, then fired for hardness. When unglazed, the material is very porous. Glazed terracotta can vary from relatively water proof to partially porous. Terracotta / Saltillo is a good value surface material and quite hard wearing though not as dense or tough as most types of stone.
The unglazed color after firing can vary widely depending on the amount of and type of mineral/metal particles in the clay, from orange, orangish red, to brownish orange color and even yellows, grays and pinks.

Sealing Terracotta / Saltillo

Terracotta is usually quite porous and very prone to staining and to water ingress. All terracotta should be sealed for protection.
To maintain the look, breath ability and slip resistance of terracotta, it is important to use a high quality, invisible impregnating sealer. Dry-Treat impregnating sealers are safe and suitable for outdoor and indoor surfaces, and for residential or high traffic commercial surfaces.

About Travertine

Travertine is a sedimentary rock. When pure, travertine is quite white, but usually it at least partially patterned and colored in shades from light yellows to browns, from impurities in the stone. Travertine is also full of pits. These can be left or filled with a suitable color-matched putty.

Travertine is typically formed from mineral deposits (usually calcite) in mineral springs or hot springs, or streams saturated with calcium carbonate. When it is very porous, Travertine is known as calcareous ‘tuff’.

Sealing Travertine

All travertine is highly porous – a tablespoon of water on a travertine surface will be absorbed in seconds, although it does vary in porosity from piece to piece. Porosity is also affected by its finish – highly polished travertine with all the holes filled is less porous than travertine with a honed (matt) finish.

Due to its high porosity it is particularly important for travertine to be sealed with a high quality impregnating sealer which will not affect its slip resistance or look. It is very difficult to seal travertine against acid attack. Travertine is used both outdoors and indoors, and Dry-Treat’s premium impregnating sealers will seal travertine equally well in either.

About Polished Porcelain

Porcelain is pressed dust i.e. the raw materials are ground, mixed and moistened and literally pressed into the desired shape using tremendous force, creating a ceramic tile with a very low absorption level and high mechanical strength and chemical resistance. Vitrified / vitreous tiles are usually very hard for liquids to penetrate, but polished porcelain usually stains and absorbs water quite easily.

Even with dense vitrified tiles, it is always a good idea to seal tile grout, as this is usually the easiest pathway for water to get in and cause damage – in the shower for example. Once water gets underneath tiles, it is often free to move through concrete floors, brick and mortar walls and to rot wooden structures.

Sealing Polished Porcelain

Polished Porcelain is usually prone to staining and to water ingress. All polished porcelain should be sealed for protection. Polished porcelain tiles usually arrive with some type of wax coating (which protects it during shipping) – this wax coating must be thoroughly cleaned off prior to sealing.

To maintain the look, breath ability and slip resistance of polished porcelain, it is important to use a high quality, invisible impregnating sealer. Dry-Treat impregnating sealers are safe and suitable for outdoor and indoor surfaces, and for residential or high traffic commercial surfaces.

The Dry-Treat Difference

Dry-Treat’s impregnating sealers are technologically different from commonly available silicone, teflon and siloxane impregnators. Our specially engineered molecules penetrate deeper into porous materials and bond permanently inside the pores, without blocking them.

Dry-Treat impregnating sealers stand up to cleaning chemicals, traffic, sunlight, and even commercial cleaning techniques such as high pressure hosing. We back our technology with written performance warranties of up to 20 years, when the sealers are applied by a Dry-Treat Accredited Applicator.

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Patterned Concrete Company are the experts when you are wanting superior paving products. Our company has been given the seal and endorsment of FairTrades that is earn by providing outstanding contractor service to customers.

So if your looking for some information and a contractor that can help you with evrything from block paving, concrete paving, driveway paving and block paving sealers for your home Patterned Concrete Company is pleased to serve you. Here are some answers to many of the common questions people have about paving and pavers.

Why block paving? – Block paving is very flexible and can be used most anywhere. It’s very durable and last for year after year. It’s easy to work with and offers an outstanding look on most any walk ways or paths and especially on patios. Today even airports and other commercial business are using block paving because it is rapidly becoming popular for its ability to with stand heavy loads.

Why concrete pavers? Pavers are the perfect solution for cold weather environments, they differ from asphalt because pavers are practically maintenance-free and do not need to be replaced or sealed regularly. In fact pavers when installed properly will never even crack. The compressive strength of concrete pavers is around 3 times stronger than regular concrete and has about an eight thousand PSI.

Why concrete paving? Concrete paving typically will not groove or wash out under heavy loads or extreme heat during summers or in cities at busy intersections where often cars can create hot temperatures waiting to move. Concrete paving helps cities lower repair cost due to its long lasting qualities. Typically Concrete offers really low

Maintenance, saving a lot of repair dollars.

Why driveway paving? Concrete is a very durable surface. It is also more expensive than asphalt. However, if it does not crack within the first year, then you likely will have a driveway that will last most of your life.

Cracking is always more prevalent in northern climates where material is forced through the freeze thaw cycle. Inevitably, cracks will occur. Expansion joints placed in the concrete help reduces cracks. Also, wire mesh or rebar placed into the concrete will provide additional strength.

You can also add a little style to your concrete drive by coloring the concrete or stamping it with patterns. This, of course, drives the price up a bit.

Why driveway block paving? Pavers come in dozens of different shapes, sizes, and colors. Pavers are also commonly referred to as paving stones, pave stones, and interlocking paving stones. Each paving stone project can be customized to combine your choice of different colors and laying patterns to create exactly what you want.

We supply block paving sealer; block paving sealers products and must be reapplied regularly. However, the life span is usually about 3 to 5 years but its well worth applying block paving sealer because it resist stains and helps you avoid having to spend time killing weeds and grass that will pop up by and binding the sand in the joints to make it difficult for weeds to germinate.

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What is Travertine (Marble)?

Travertine is a natural stone from the limestone family, which later on transforms into marble in time. It is also often called travertine marble. It is made of calcium carbonate and is usually found in the form of deposits near warm or hot springs.

Where Could You Use It?

Since stone can withstand the ravages of weather and outdoor elements, it is unlikely to be damaged when used in the home or in the outdoors. Aside from its obvious beauty, durability is one of the elements that lead people to choose travertine for home building and home improvement projects. The truth is that travertine is highly resistant to heat, scratching, staining and acidity. It was frequently used in ancient times as a building material. It is most commonly used for countertops and flooring, but may also be used in showers and tub surrounds as well as in exterior decor.

What Colors?

Travertine is available in different colors and finishes, from natural, neutral colors such as creamy white and gold to tan and reddish brown. The color depends quite a bit on the impurities and iron content of the stone.

Which Finishes?

The different finishes include honed, polished and tumbled. Honed travertine is smooth, but unlike polished, it has a matte finish. Polished travertine is smooth, but buffed and polished until shiny. Tumbled travertine has a rougher, textured finish and often has rounded corners for an antique look. Tumbled travertine marble is the most appropriate flooring material for outdoors, especially pool decks andpatios. Chiseled travertineis a kind in which the edges are broken with a special machine to have the pavers fit together closer. Chiseled travertine marble is the most appropriate material for driveways.

Why Use Travertine Marble Pavers?

They are natural stone pavers and are able to withstand extreme cold conditions and multiple freeze/thaw cycles. Their PSI ratings demonstrate a higher degree of resilience and durability in extreme conditions than concrete, brick or other outdoor paving alternatives. Travertine Marble Pavers are also the perfect solution for tropical and humid climates. Not only are they able to withstand extreme heat without so much as a crack, their natural coolness provides a satisfying walking surface for bare feet. Plus, they naturally repel mold and mildew; so you will never have to fuss with messy bleach solutions.

Durable: Travertine Marble Pavers are stronger than poured concrete or asphalt, with no surface cracking.

Valuable: Travertine Marble Pavers add value to your house through their visual appeal and durability. Your house will worth more.

Reusable: Travertine Marble Pavers can be laid, removed and replaced easily.

Environmentally Friendly: Natural stone is a 100% natural-earth product.

When you compare travertine pavers vs. brick pavers, you will find out that travertine pavers are heat resistant so they won’t burn your feet in hot summer days or freeze in cold winter days. They also will not start crumbling like brick pavers in only a year or two.

Since travertine is a natural stone, no two pieces are the same. Your project will have a look that no one else’s will. After tens of thousands of years in nature, you will enjoy them at your house.

How to Install Travertine Pavers?

Travertine Pavers are easier to install than most other paving materials, because they can be installed dry set. They are easily laid and if necessary easily replaced. You can follow the chart at the following link for installation advice:

http://travertinemart.com/Installation.html

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I am just starting the research but will be putting in a 45 foot long walkway as part of an eagle project. I will have to raise the money and I know the paving stones won’t be cheap but I need to get them for as little as possible. Any suggestions?

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