Category: brick pavers

Remarkable Ashburn VA Driveways

Designing a driveway requires careful planning. The driveway is one of the first things that people see and it is a major element of your landscape and the curb appeal of your Ashburn VA home.

The driveway will need to fit into the style of your landscaping and your home. A gravel driveway leading to a large mansion will look out of place, but beautiful stone pavers will ‘fit’ better with the home and landscaping.

The driveway for a house with a brick facade can be constructed of brick pavers for a classic look.

Some of the popular paving types for driveways are:

Concrete
This is the most popular material for driveways. Concrete can be poured or stamped. Stamped concrete can recreate the look of many other materials like natural stone, cobblestone, slate or brick – for a lower cost than the ‘real’ material. Stamped concrete can be colored, it’s easy to maintain and quite tough and long-lasting. One disadvantage is that concrete can crack.

Asphalt
Asphalt offers high durability and low cost. There are some color options for asphalt available now.

Gravel
Gravel is one of the lowest cost driveways available. If installed properly, gravel driveways will serve you well for may years. A few disadvantages of gravel are: a heavy rain can wash the gravel away (if not properly maintained), and gravel can sink into the ground over time.

Pavers
Driveway pavers offer durability and lots of styling options. Initial cost is slightly higher, but repairs can be made easily if needed.

If you have any questions or concerns about what material you should use for your driveway, give us a call. We will be glad to help you decide what is the best driveway for your home.

I Never Want To Shovel My Driveway Again! Fairfax VA Heated Paver Driveways

How would you like to never again fear whatever a snowstorm dumps on your driveway. You can sit inside, drinking a hot coffee, watching a light ‘steam’ rising from your driveway – while a blizzard is raging outside. All of your neighbors will be wondering “How is that possible?” It’s possible because of your new heated paver driveway.

While it might seem a luxury item, a heated driveway is very practical. Factor in the cost of potential back injury, heart attack, or just property damage due to shoveling snow – and a heated driveway makes sense.

If you are in the market to replace your old cracked concrete driveway, be sure to check the cost of adding ‘heat’ to your driveway. You will probably be surprised at the relatively low cost of adding this to your Fairfax VA driveway project.

If you want to discuss the options and possibilities of a new driveway, contact the paver experts at Premier Paving. We will be glad to explain all the options to you.

Fairfax VA Brick Paver Driveway Maintenance

Brick pavers are a great material to use for driveways. They are forgiving of environmental conditions, standing up to heat and freezing temperatures well. But this not to say brick pavers are totally maintenance-free.

What maintenance does your Fairfax VA brick paver driveway need?

  • Regular sweeping can help keep the bricks looking their best and help them to ‘fade’ evenly so the color looks equal throughout the driveway.
  • Clean and use an absorbant on any oil spills on the driveway
  • Replenish the sand between the bricks. The sand will naturally wash away over time, just be sure to add some sand to keep the proper amount between the bricks.
  • Sealing can extend the life and help maintain the appearance of the bricks.

If you have any concerns about your Fairfax VA brick paver driveway, or want to discuss getting a paver driveway to replace your old cracking concrete driveway, give the paver experts at Premier Paving a call, we will be glad to help you.

Caring For Your Ashburn VA Brick Paver Driveway In Winter

November brings cool weather and the fierce cold of winter is quickly approaching. An Ashburn VA winter also brings something else –  snow! How can you properly care for your Ashburn VA brick pavers during the winter months?

Caution should be used when applying any de-icing chemicals and excessive use should be avoided. Here is a list of some common de-icers:

  • Sodium Chloride – Can actually be safely used throughout your property – including on your pavers. Although rock salt is generally effective, be wary of temperatures below 15-20 degrees. Rock Salt can become ineffective at these temperatures and seep into the pores of the pavers. If the temperature drops low enough and the ‘brine’ that has seeped into the pavers refreezes, spalling and cracking could result. Always be very aware of the low temperatures before using.
  • Calcium Chloride – Many prefer using calcium chloride ice melting products due to it’s ability to resist ‘tracking’ into the home. This is good for several reasons: the ice melt will remain on your pavers not come indoors with foot traffic and when the chemical does not stick to your feet, it is less likely to be forced into the gaps between pavers. This can lead to some discoloration and be difficult to remove. Calcium chloride is an effective de-icer on pavers in temperatures as low as -25 degrees Fahrenheit, reducing the risk of spalling and cracking.
  • Calcium Magnesium Acetate – Another great solution for pavers is a calcium chloride rock salt that has been coated with calcium magnesium acetate.It works well in low temperatures, and is safer for children, pets and the environment.

Have additional concerns about your brick pavers? Contact Premier Paving today – before the snow starts…

Should You Be Cleaning the Brick Pavers at your Arlington VA Home?

Yes – you should absolutely be cleaning the brick pavers at your Arlington VA home. Cleaning the pavers will help to maintain the beauty, integrity, and safety of your hardscapes.

There are 5 steps in deep cleaning brick pavers:

  1. Sweep your brick pavers on a regular basis, and always sweep immediately before you clean your pavers with water. A broom with stiff bristles will do the best job.

  2. After sweeping, remove any loose bits of paver before washing with water – you don’t want those bits flying during washing or rinsing.

  3. Power washing is the preferred method to clean brick pavers; however, if you don’t have the experience to judge the proper strength of water to use – you best leave the power washing to the experts. (When using a power washer, follow all directions, especially those pertaining to safety precautions.)

  4. Scrubbing brick pavers by hand is a safe bet, as long as you wear gloves and eye protection. If you have mold, mildew, slime or deep staining, you will need to mix a 10-percent solution of chlorine bleach to water, and scrub the area with a stiff-bristle brush. Afterwards, you need to rinse the brick thoroughly with clean water.  If you only have dirt and minor staining, scrubbing your brick pavers with a milder cleaning solution of one tablespoon of borax per gallon of warm water will do.

  5. Sealing your brick pavers is the final step. This will help keep the brick pavers in their best condition between deep cleanings, and will make it easier to do quick clean ups along the way.

If you have questions or concerns about your brick pavers in Arlington VA please contact the experts at Premier Paving & Planting. Established in 1987, Premier Paving & Planting, Inc. delivers a full compliment of high quality landscape services, including concrete work and lawn and garden services, along with installation of permeable and non-porous paver and hardscape surfaces and structures.