How to Select a Great Paver Contractor

By William Grander

Installing concrete pavers, either as a driveway, patio, or walkway, is a great way to beautify and increase the value of your home. Many homeowners may find, however, that installing them is no easy feat. In fact, many years of experience are required in order to properly do the job – and a proper installation will ensure your project’s durability for years to come. Here are some questions to ask your prospective contractor to find the most skilled and reliable one you can.

First: Experience matters, and in particular experience with your specific job request. Ask your contractor how many years of paver installation experience they have. Ask them if they have ever done a project like yours before. Many problems and special circumstances could arise during the installation of your project, so you want to make sure your contractor can handle any contingency.

Second: Obtain references from other customers. In particular, unsolicited references are the best, as it is doubtful that the contractor will give you references that will damage his or her reputation. Searching for online reviews, if possible, is a good way to obtain candid reviews.

Third: Ensure that your contractor has the requisite licensing and insurance to complete the work legally and safely. Some contractors use illegal immigrant labor. This is illegal and should be a concern to you. Clearly communicate that you want all workers to be legal and have the proper paperwork.

Fourth: Is your prospective contractor part of any professional paver organization? Membership with these organizations brings benefits to the contractor of potential leads in exchange for constant education in the newest paver techniques and technologies.

Finally: How will the contractor do the work? How long will it take? What are the payment terms? And does he or she offer any warranties? Make sure you get all of this out in writing beforehand (such as when the estimate is completed) in case of potential disagreements in the future.

For more information on this and other topics, see this website on concrete pavers. Other information on finding a paver contractor can be found on this site as well.

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Harry Lee’s Landscaping & Concrete
Nashville, North Carolina 27856
252-462-2392

Where to Find Inspiration for Your Outdoor Living Space

Need Ideas for Your Backyard, Patio or Other Outdoor Living Space? Look Here

By Lisa Hallett Taylor, About.com

At a loss for what you want to do with your backyard or outdoor living space? Are you tired of living in a cookie-cutter environment but don’t know how to subtly break out of the mold? Ready to try something totally new, but not sure where to start?

Follow these ideas to give you ideas on where to go to for inspiration. Have fun!

Browse Through Magazines

The most immediate sources for ideas include magazines, design books or the internet (you’re here, aren’t you?) Chances are good that something will catch your eye or inspire a possible idea for your yard.If you don’t want to drop a small fortune on the many home and garden magazines available, try other ways to get them. Swap or borrow with friends or co-workers. My favorite sources are “Friends of the Library” bookstores, where kindly, usually older, volunteers oversee a small room stuffed with donations. I often find magazines the same month of their publication date, along with vintage landscaping and garden books by Sunset Books. Magazines are usually 10-25 cents; books are usually under a dollar.

It’s a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

Photo by Lisa Hallett Taylor

When the magazine thing loses its appeal, get out and stroll through your neighborhood. Scrutizine the landscaping around you: consider tree and shrub choices, annuals and perennials, and anything different, like native grasses or succulents. Besides plants used, look at their arrangements and relationships. Take a look at hardscaping materials like wood, brick or pavers; things like raised planting beds, berms (small hills) and foot-path materials like pea gravel, cedar bark, or decomposed granite (DG). If there’s something that stands out about a neighbor’s yard, try to figure out what that is. Take photos are talk to your neighbor — gardeners love to share their secrets and might send you home with some cuttings.

Or Check Out Someone Else’s ‘Hood

Photo by Lisa Hallett Taylor

If you can’t find any inspirational designs in your own neighborhood, cruise on over to another area with houses and yards you like. Park and take a stroll, checking out the yards and landscaping. Take a small digital camera or use your cellphone’s camera to capture images of features that capture your attention. If anyone asks what you’re doing, tell them you’re with a local real estate office or are scouting for a yard-makeover cable series. Or tell the truth — they’ll probably be flattered. Who knows, they might invite you to look at their backyard, stay for a cocktail, bbq, etc.

Take a Garden Tour or Attend a Home & Garden Show

Photo by Lisa Hallett Taylor

Most of the home and garden tours occur in the spring, but check your local newspaper listings or nursery to find out when and where these tours occur. Many are held by garden clubs and local chapters of gardening and horticulture groups and associations.Home, pool, spa and patio shows are held at convention centers throughout the year. While many are product-heavy, they often hold seminars and feature guest speakers on topics like eco-friendly homes and gardens and small-space landscape design.

Visit Botanical Gardens or Nature Preserves

Photo by Lisa Hallett Taylor

Some of the best ideas or inspirations for redesigning your living area come to you when you get out of your environment for awhile. Visit one of the many botanical gardens, wildlife preserves, nature conservancies or parks that are usually a short drive away from most major cities. While most of us can’t precisely recreate a favorite botanical garden, you can take away with you the feeling of the garden. Make it a fun day trip: pack a picnic, take along a fellow nature lover, wear comfortable shoes and don’t forget your camera. Take photos of architectural and landscape design details, along with features like rocks, stones, walkways, fences, or whatever you find interesting.

Take a Vacation & Open Your Mind

Photo by Lisa Hallett Taylor

Travel is one of the best ways to physically remove yourself from stress and distraction. If you’re lucky enough to do so, use some of your time in a different environment or culture to really observe things beyond the typical tourist attractions. Consider where and how residents live. Take note of local materials used and how they relate to their setting. Does the landscaping seem to naturally blend with the architecture? Look at details, like pathways, gates, mosaics and planters. Again, you’ll want to bring your camera to capture intriguing images along the way. Besides a respite from our everyday lives, traveling helps us look at things in a different light. And that’s when inspiration is ignited.