Walk the Plank!

Finally, you can tell someone to “walk the Plank,” and not have it come back as a bad Yelp review!

We received a brand new Paving Stone profile, called the Plank paver, in December and are really excited about the opportunity it provides for design options.

This unique stone measures 6”x24”x2 5/8” and is guaranteed to make your project unique! Let your imagination run wild as the length of the paver lets you do things that have previously been unavailable.

 

 

 

We also developed our mold so that you can have a choice between a smooth top finish and wood-grained finish. With these new options, you can mix and match with our other pavers to give your clients EXACTLY what they are looking for.

 

 

 

This product is also available in Hydro-Flo Technology, for those of you who are looking to green your backyard and have a positive impact on the environment.

 

Can't wait to post some in-ground pictures for you to see!

 

(Note: Since these are 60mm stones and because of their length, the Plank Paver is recommended for pedestrian traffic only.)

 

 

Eco-Friendly Luxury

It always seems like there is a compromise between products out there. Is it really possible to have something do what it says it is going to do?

For a long time, we have settled for "permeable" pavers that depend solely on aggregate in gaps to allow water through. It works, but it is no longer the best solution. Gap-style pavers need a unique mold in order to give them the extra space between the pavers, so usually you are pretty limited in the styles you can use for your project.

Since permeability is dependent on the gaps in-between the stones, maintenance of the aggregate is of the utmost importance. Maintenance usually requires a special vacuum that can suck up the dirt and debris that collects in the gap, while leaving the majority of the aggregate behind.

While gap-style pavers do prevent puddling, the stones themselves remain individually wet on the surface so they can still be slippery. The gaps also present a safety issue for handicapped people or high heels.

Hydro-Flo Technology eliminates most of these issues by changing the mix (not the mold) that goes into the pavers. They meet all the requirements ICPI (Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute) sets forth, while allowing water to go directly through the surface of the pavers. This means any of our styles can be used while still choosing an eco-friendly paving surface, so it can match the style that you are trying to create.

Because permeability is independent of holes or gaps, you don't have to do the same sort of maintenance. Usually keeping the surface free from excess dirt is all that is necessary to maintain permeability.

Safety and luxury come with this product. Not only does it meet (or exceed) all standards, but it looks great and it works!

Top Ten Reasons to Install Interlocking Pavingstones

In this modern age, there are many types of materials you can use to pave a surface. They vary from asphalt to bricks to natural stone. Each material comes with its own set of positives and negatives and based upon your project's needs, one will probably differentiate itself from the others. Interlocking Pavingstones will be featured in this discussion.

1. Increased Beauty- Add beauty and curb appeal

Pavingstones are a wonderful addition to any home. They add design elements that certain surfaces (e.g. asphalt) cannot hope to match. They allow a property to stand out as unique, and differentiate your house from the rest.

2. Design Options

Pavers allow for ultimate customization. There are hundreds of different possible blends. For instance, Pacific Interlock offers 20+ differently shaped profiles and over 15 standard colors! This allows you to pick the exact style to match your house. Natural products, such as brick and stone, are limited in the colors they come in, so they may not match your ideal plans.

3. Versatile

Pavingstones can also be used in a variety of settings. Certain products (e.g. some types of natural stone) cannot be subjected to vehicular traffic and are limited to pedestrian use. Likewise, many surfaces are designed to support vehicle traffic, but do not add value to your house (and may in fact take away value). Pavingstones can be used in many ways that other products cannot. Be sure to check out Permeable Pavingstones!

4.  Increased value to your home 

By increasing the beauty of your property, the value of your house should also increase. Installing attractive pavers can invigorate your landscape and give color, style and value to an area that was not adding as much benefit. You are making a worthwhile investment when you install pavingstones.

5. Guarantee

Many companies (including Pacific Interlock) guarantee their product for 30 years. If a company can stand behind their product like that, you can rest assured that this is a good long term investment.

6. Won't crack or break

In order to be considered a paving stone, the individual units must pass a PSI test. Pavers must meet 8000 psi (twice poured concrete's max psi). This, combined with the fact that pavers are individual units that can adjust with the earth's movement, prevents the cracking that can occur in other surfaces.

7.Price comparable to stamped concrete

Since pavers are a concrete product, they do not incur some of the costs that come from natural stone. They are a bit more than concrete or asphalt to install, but most of that difference comes in the labor aspect. The product costs tend to be very similar.

8.Quick and efficient installation process

The paver installation process is relatively simple and can be done by most do-it-yourselfers. It can be convenient to hire a team to do the work for you, but the process is something that can be done by the average homeowner...probably just not as quickly. The pavers require a layer of compacted base, a small layer of levelling sand and the pavers!

9. Easy Repairs

One of the best parts of pavers is that if you need to get to piping underneath, or repair an area where tree roots have uplifted, all you have to do is remove the pavers, do the underground work and put them back. The repair will not be noticeable like it would if you had to cut out a section of concrete and patch it. Even mortared in stone can make the process more difficult.

10. Long term lower cost

With the ability to do repairs easily and the fact that the pavers won't break will lead to a long term low investment cost. Asphalt, while the cheapest initially, requires maintenance every few years. Concrete, depending on the earth movement and degrees of cracking, may need to be repaired regularly. Natural stone may be subject to similar repairs and has a higher initial cost, so it does not offer the benefits of pavers either.

All of this said, this decision comes down to personal preference. Some people are looking for a quick and cheap solution while others love the look of natural stone (we do even offer pavers that mimic the look of natural stone). This list was composed to give a few topics to think about as you go about making this investment in your property.

Something to be thankful for: Monterey County renews Water Conservation Rebates

With funding from California American Water and the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District, water conservation rebates are back! These rebates include more efficient toilets and water heaters, but they also include landscaping rebates. If you are planning to take out an area of grass, contact this group first! They need to evaluate the site before you take out the turf.

Once you go through an application process, you can qualify for up to $1.00 off your new landscaping. This rebate is good for areas replaced with drought resistant plants or permeable pavement. Join the two types together to create your dream backyard. There are even additional rebates if you use Smart Irrigation Systems, new sprinkler heads, and rain water holding tanks! Contact us if you're looking for a contractor in your area!

Take a look at this website for more info about the rebates: http://www.montereywaterinfo.org/rebatesNEW.html

Santa Clara University in the rain

It has been about 2 years since Hydro-Flo Technology pavers were installed on the Santa Clara University Campus. They are one of the first groups that saw the benefits of using Hydro-Flo Technology. During the downpour on Friday, we captured some images of the project that show how well Hydro-Flo Technology continues to work.

 

This picture goes to show how sometime the pavers can function more effectively than a natural substance (disintegrated granite)!

Hydro-Flo Pavers and Permeable Concrete at the Gilroy Library

The bold colors of B4 Textured Estates create an excellent focal piece

Hydro-Flo Technology Pavers have now been installed at the Gilroy Library for months. In addition to beautifying the landscape, they were installed as a functional tool. Designed to take 3 inches of water per hour, Hydro-Flo pavers are proving themselves to be more slip-resistant and a better environmental alternative.


Hydro-Flo Pavers thrive where normal concrete fails

Take a look and see how puddling can occur on the surface of normal concrete. We've all seen and experienced this. Imagine not having to dodge puddles to get anywhere after a rainstorm! That makes Hydro-Flo an improvement even on natural surfaces!



Permeable concrete also helps keep water off surface

There are alternatives out there. For instance, the library also decided to use permeable concrete for the parking area. The regular concrete still had some puddling on it, while the permeable concrete does not. It has served that purpose very well.



Close-up of "permeable" concrete

I would like to address some of the differences between permeable concrete and Hydro-Flo Pavers. As you can see, "permeable" concrete depends on holes for its permeability. As such, the permeability can be reduced by dirt, leaves and debris collecting in the open spaces. This fault makes you choose between constant maintenance and a clogged system.

Bits of permeable concrete aggregate have broken off

Also, upon arriving, it was clear to me that the concrete was disintegrating. Because permeable concrete is more loosely held together with cement, some of the bits and pieces were breaking apart under the pressure from cars. Now in this application, Hydro-Flo Technology was not used in the parking area, so there is no direct comparison. However, all of Pacific Interlock Pavingstone's pavers (including Hydro-Flo) must meet ASTM and ICPI standards for strength and durability, even under freezing conditions!


In the above picture, there are four options of surfaces. One is the natural planting area. They can look great, and act as great places to keep water on-site. However, they cannot be driven on or walked on after rain (at least for those who don't want to be covered in mud!). Regular concrete is another option. It has proved its usefulness time and time again, though it just isn't permeable. It matches the old mindset of getting the water somewhere else as fast as possible. Permeable concrete has already been discussed, but can be a viable solution. The last option is Hydro-Flo Technology by Pacific Interlock Pavingstone. This offers the strength of concrete, with the permeability of "permeable" concrete, and it mimics a more natural infiltration system. It offers many other benefits as well, but the one I want to mention is the design possibilities! It can come in nearly any color and many shapes and sizes. This option is the icing to the cake for architects and designers. Not only do you have a functional product, but you do not have to sacrifice style to do it.

From Phoenix to Long Beach

Last week, Pacific Interlock Pavingstone was at the ASLA Show in Phoenix, and now we're gearing up for the 2012 Long Beach Landscape Expo.

According to the Landscapeonline.org website, this Landscape Expo "is the longest running landscape trade show and conference in the Southwestern United States dating back to 1960, has once again emerged as the premier landscape event in the region. In 2011, more than 3,500 industry professionals filled a twice-expanded, but still sold out, exhibit hall featuring 265 exhibitors in 557 booths. This year the 2012 Landscape Expo - Long Beach will be . . .The Largest Expo Yet . . . With 586 booths filling the 130,000 sq. ft. exhibit hall the 2012 Landscape Expo - Long Beach offers more booths and more exhibitors than ever before!"

We hope to see you there! Stop by our booth for a demonstration of Hydro-Flo Pavers, the only truly permeable concrete paver that is reimagining the possibility of paved surfaces.