Structural Benefits of Paving Stones
Paving stones are a completely modular system which makes it truly flexible. For those residents in southern California this is a major value. When an earthquake hits, concrete is expected to crack, separate or lift in some areas and possibly sink in other areas, creating an unleveled tripping hazard. Paving stones are able to move with the earth and are ideal in freeze/thaw condition where the earth swells and contracts.
After your initial paving stone installation, there typically well be stones left over. These stones can be used in the case of any need for future repairs. Unwedge the stones you’d like to replace out with two flat head screwdrivers, set the new paving stone in place, tamp the stone down with a rubber mallet, refill the joint sand and your paving stones will look new again. You simply cannot do that kind of repair with concrete or asphalt.
Paving stones have many structural benefits, on average, poured in place concrete is about 2,500 psi, and asphalt even less. Paving stone manufacturers meet a minimum ISO standard rating of 8,000 psi – almost four times the strength of poured concrete! While that might not mean much to most home owners since they will never put that kind of force on a patio slab, it is important.
Typically, if any utility, drain, or irrigation line breaks underneath a pave stone surface you will see percolation in the sand between the joints and you will know the moisture is coming from beneath. When it is determined that there is a break in a line, simply lift the paving stone up (you will only need to lift an area large enough to fix the line), repair the broken line, re-compact the base with a square hand tamper and reset the original paving stones. The result will be a seamless, unnoticeable repair and no one will ever know there was a sub-grade issue.
Chances are you have an ugly black trail of drippings going up your driveway as a result of an oil leak at one time or another. Or, if you have ever dropped some type of greasy food on your concrete, you know that it stains. Once again, this is no match for paving stones. While a paving stone will stain and you will have the same marks as you would with poured concrete, it can be easily replaced.
Another benefit is the ease of access to underground utilities. Something that homeowners seldom think about when replacing a driveway, walkway patio or pool deck is what could go wrong in the future. It happens, an irrigation line breaks, a plumbing line breaks or a water main line breaks. If this happens underneath any concrete surface, the concrete will need to be cut, removed, the line repaired and then new concrete poured back to patch the hole. This will always leave a noticeable spot in your hardscape. It is very uncommon to see a concrete or asphalt patch that matches the original pour. With paving stone you would never have that problem. If a utility line breaks underneath pavers you will be able to see the problem sooner than you would with concrete.
