A paving stone is a hard block that can be made from glass, cut stone, cast concrete, brick, clay tile, and plastic and come in many colors, textures, sizes and shapes. They can be used a variety of ways but they are all used to create a hard, smooth outdoor surface. A contractor can create outdoor steps, driveways, patios, and pathways using paving stones. There are some that will use paving stone blocks to construct landscape features and retaining ways. The homeowner can find a variety of these blocks at most home improvement stores. They can also be ordered from the manufacturer. If you do not want to do it yourself there are landscapers and contractors who will do the job.
If you decide to go ahead with installation yourself it will require some time and effort to ensure that it is done correctly. One of the first things that you will need to do is make sure that the area where the paving stones are going to be installed is mapped out carefully so you can devise a pattern. Next you have to make sure that the ground is cut, compacted, and leveled so the paver stones you are going to use will lie on a flat surface. If you fail to make sure that the ground is level it could result in the paving stones to sink or buckle. The next step is installing the paving blocks carefully in the desired pattern. They will need to be compacted so they will sit evenly. The last step is force some type of pacing material like sand between the cracks to keep the stones stable and even and discourage weed growth.
One big advantage in using such type of stone for installation is that they are extremely durable. As long as you make sure that they are installed correctly they will normally last for years without needing any maintenance work. They are not hard to install but it does take time to do the proper job. Because they are easy to install and durable paving stones make great home improvement projects.
To make sure that the area is even and level for the paving stones you will need a soil compactor, which you can usually rent from a home supply store or a store that rents tools. You will also need a shovel to dig out the dirt in the area where you are going to do a paving stone installation. A stiff broom is needed also to sweep the packing material into the gaps between the paying stones.