Upgrading your hardscape with Belgard pavers is a big deal. When properly installed, your new Belgard pavers have the potential to completely transform the look of your entire property, add to your usable living space and increase your property’s value.
This means that you must demand expertise and precisions throughout the entire installation process. Whether you’re planning on completing the work on you own or would prefer to hire a professional to handle the work, it’s up to you to know how Belgard pavers should be installed so that you can take measures to ensure that the job gets done right.
That’s exactly what this post is all about. After reading through the following five expert tips and tricks for installing Belgard pavers, you’ll be equipped to make the right decisions for your hardscape makeover.
Tip #1: Think Ahead
Just because you want your Belgard paver project to be located in a specific area of your property doesn’t mean that area is ideally suited for your purposes.
Underground utilities and cables might need to be re-routed first, or you might need to level an uneven parcel of land before commencing work.
Taking the time to evaluate your property before breaking ground will save you a lot of time, grief and even money in the long run.
Tip #2: Use the Right Tools
Don’t try to cut corners by working with what you have rather than with what you need. Make sure that you have the right equipment for excavation, compaction, establishing a foundation and setting your pavers.
Tip #3: Place Pavers With Precision
Trying to “eyeball” the design layout of your pavers is a big mistake. It doesn’t matter if you or your contractor has installed hundreds of patios and driveways with Belgard pavers – you should still rely on more than your best guesswork to apply your pavers evenly and with precision.
In this case, following the patterns isn’t enough. You also need to be able to ensure that each paver is spaced evenly and that all units are assembled in a way that is geometrically pleasing, and in the case of some designs, with symmetry.
We recommend that you utilize measuring tape and 2 pieces of 1-inch PVC pipe in order to accomplish this level of precision. The PVC pipes should be laid parallel to one another and the leveling sand should be poured between the pipes until level with the PVC.
This ensure that the depth of the pavers will be the same throughout. Once you begin laying out the pavers, you’ll simply need to refer back to the edges of your work space with measuring tape or string to ensure that you are staying on track.
Tip #4: Use PermaSand
While regular mason sand can be used to fill in the joints of your pavers, those who are serious about keeping their pavers in place should give some serious thought to working with a polymeric sand like PermaSand.
As the name suggests, polymeric sand features polymers that are activated when they become wet. This causes the sand mixture to actually harden, allowing your newly installed pavers to become fixed in place so that you won’t have to worry about shifting, sliding, or settling over time.
PermaSand is also a great choice because it helps to keep weeds and other pests at bay, thus increasing the structural integrity and improving the longevity of your paved surface.
Tip #5: Make Sure Pavers are Set Evenly
After spending a good deal of time on carefully arranging pavers so that they are evenly spaced and placed while following the pattern of your desire, the last thing you want is for the units to become dislodged or jostled and then set irregularly.
To avoid problems like this, you or your professional landscaper will need to be meticulous and smart when setting the stones into place. The best way to do this is to fill in the joints with your PermaSand from the outside corner of your project area, inward.
The sand should then be swept across the surface of the Belgard pavers and into the joints diagonally. As you go, a rubber mallet should be used to gently tap each paver into place evenly.
For best results, this process should be repeated twice before a final layer of sand is swept over the surface, thus ensuring that every joint is completely filled. Make sure that all excess sand is removed from the surface of the pavers prior to applying water to activate the polymers.
Contractor vs DIY
Now that you know what’s involved with the Belgard paver installation process, it’s time to ask yourself whether you believe that you’re up to the task, or if you’d be better served by seeking the help of a reliable professional.
One of the great things about Belgard as a brand is that they design hardscaping materials that are intended to be quite simple to install. Even so, we generally recommend that those who have little to no DIY experience consider hiring a Belgard Authorized Contractor (BAC) to do the work.
Belgard offers incredible warranties and guarantees on its products, but those warranties are only valid when the materials are properly installed. What’s more, Belgard products are designed to be extremely tough, durable and long-lasting.
As such, you want to make sure that, once installed, your pavers look absolutely perfect. After all, you’re going to be looking at them for a very long time.
Before making a choice between handling the job as a DIY gig or hiring a pro, ask yourself the following questions:
- Do I have the ability to accurately assess my workspace?
- Do I have the proper tools and equipment to get the job done? If not, can I affordably access these tools?
- Do I fully understand how to follow the design patterns and installation techniques?
- Do I feel entirely confident in my ability to complete the work?
If you answer “no” to one or more of these questions, it’s in your best interest to seek out a Belgard Authorized Contractor. It’s absolutely imperative that you hire a BAC as opposed to “just any” contractor or landscaper on the market.
These are the contractors that are most familiar with Belgard products, specifically, and have been given the Belgard stamp of approval for their installation techniques. You’ll be able to count on the fact that the job gets done properly and that the completed work will be backed up by warranty.
Working With Belgard Pavers in NJ
If you’re interested in moving forward with plans to introduce Belgard pavers to your landscape or hardscape, be sure to visit Braen Supply. As a Belgard Authorized Dealer, we are the largest and most trusted Belgard supplier in NJ and its surrounding areas.
We can help you select the right materials for your project and provide you with useful tips and information on the installation process. We’re also able to help you find a Belgard Authorized Contractor who can help you to complete the hardscaping upgrade of your dreams.
Our Belgard pavers are competitively priced and can be picked up from our location or can be bulk delivered to job sites throughout NJ, NY, NYC and PA.
