Base Layers

In Calgary, your sub-base material, for the most part, is clay. In some areas, you may have silt, and in other areas, you may have rock bed. The most desirable sub-base for a Paving Stone Installation, Patio slab install or Flag-stone project is rock face. We would find rock face near the Canadian Shield or near mountainous areas. However, since we are near neither, we will have to use some technology to overcome our specific limitations.

When building on clay, it is critical to use a higher quality geo-textile grid before adding paver stone base material. Clay has high water content, and water can either crash or flow with temperature and hydrological changes. If adequate measures are not taken to reinforce you Paving Stone installation, then the clay will shift, heave, and upturn your stone patio.

Base material will differ in size depending on what or who will be using the Paving Stone Installation area. Most interlocking stone installations will use 25 mill base material whereas heavier traffic areas could use 80 mill base material or a combination of both. Base depth is further modified depending on what type of traffic will use the Paving stone area.

Leveling Layer

Once the base is in place, you now can use the leveling material of your choice. The different variations of leveling layers will accomplish different things. Some material allows for fast drainage, others medium and still others slow or no drainage, so it is essential to know your soil conditions and where your water is going. Whichever leveling material you chose it is vital not exceed 1 inch in depth. A leveling layer of greater than 1 inch will collapse in on itself with the seasonal precipitation changes.

Paving Stone Options

The thickness of the Paving Stone Installation will determine what kind of traffic can use your space. If it is an Interlocking stone installation, the minimum stone width will begin at 2 3/8 inches. Whereas, patios slab installations are one ¾ inch and water permeable and vehicular traffic installations could be as thick as 4 inches.

There are many wonderful stone manufacturers. We primarily use two brands: Expocrete and Barkman. These two players have a great deal of product and colour variation that will certainly please. However, if you prefer a different interlocking stone manufacturer, we can use this too.

For Specific Product Info: EXPOCRETE, BARKMAN

Paver Installation

Once the Interlocking stone has been installed, it is time seat the Paver stone into the leveling material. Plate tamp stones into place using either a hand tamper or vibratory plate tamper.

Joint lock

The Paving Stone Installation is not complete without a joint lock. To create the joint lock use the appropriately sized sand or aggregate material. If using sand, you may wish to use sand with an added polymer.  Polymeric sand will help prevent undesirable plants from rooting in between the joints.