Unilock pavers vs Menards Pavers
Eric
5 years ago
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Revolutionary Gardens
5 years agoRelated Discussions
concrete patio vs pavers.any opinions?
Comments (19)We are in a real mess because of bad concrete on an almost 4 year old pool. The entire 1000 square feet is failing. It started showing signs of problems from the first week. Our builder has been evasive and defensive concerning this issue. Finally he said "call my lawyer." So, even though it is not "our style," we are forced to go the lawsuit route. We have paid about $1000 for a core sample which said it was a bad mix due to lack of entrained air, and needed to be entirely torn out and replaced. We have spent MONTHS trying to get an estimate on the tear-out and replacement. No one wants this kind of job! Finally today we should get a written estimate which is likely going to be about $16,000. I am very concerned about what else might break as the concrete is being chopped up. I keep wondering if the replacement should be something other than concrete.........See MoreUnilock factory Blowout - Worth Going?
Comments (2)Just went this past weekend and wanted to share my experience in case anyone else was interested in the future. Products/Pricing ----------------- The prices were 75% off for many different things. I was hoping one of three items would be available (Hudson Vally, Umbriano or Brussels). As luck would have it, all three were available at between $1-$4SF. Ended up buying a combination of Umbriano and Brussels. What wasn't available was wall systems which went early in the day. The Catch ========= Sure, there were some undesired seconds around but I mostly saw first rate product. The difference was that you were buying last year's color or version of color. For example, I got Autumn Umbriano and Sandstone Brussels which was supposedly slightly off than the normal color. Honestly, they looked very similar to me and variances of color is normal anyway. The Hudson Valley didn't look like the catalog though. But it still looked nice. Another note: Product is nonrefundable. So you can't return the extras. But at 75% off, seems worth it. The Experience ====================== I got to the Uxbridge location around 10am and was about the 50th customer. You wait in a little tent and look through a several page list of inventory while you wait. They give out #s and you have to wait for a rep who helps you out and shows you product. The people there were very nice and very helpful. Recommendation =================== If you can time your project right, this seems like the way to go. With 1500 SF of project, I literally save thousands for spending a Sat morning in Uxbridge. Only if I could do that with the rest of my pool project. The real test will be in 2 weeks when it arrives at my house. Hopefully the batch will represent what I saw. IF you want to ensure you get access to maximum inventory including walls, make sure to get there early....See MoreConcrete or Pavers
Comments (16)If you follow a concrete truck around for a day, you'll see the vast majority of concrete placed has no base under it. In many cases, it's placed over excavated soil without additional compaction. Rebar and mesh don't prevent cracking. Their main function is to prevent surface misalignment of the work, should a crack develop. (If one side of the crack upheaves or the other settles, it makes for an unsafe walking surface.) Mesh is less expensive and is more common for work intended for light duty. That said, one does what one can to minimize the potential for cracking. One could spare no expense with excavation, compaction, rebar and additions to the concrete mix itself. But usually cost is a factor. Part of how deeply one excavates has to do with the soil conditions themselves. It's not a good idea to place concrete on soil with high organic content and the potential for decomposition and the resulting settling. The idea is to get down to soil that doesn't compact. Tree roots are another problem. Since they are growing, even if they are removed, they will return so there's a lot of "it depends" on the immediate environment. With tree roots present, it would probably be worth it to upgrade to rebar over mesh and make a slightly deeper excavation (beyond 4") to be refilled with a cushioning layer of sand separated from the subsoil with geotextile in order to buy time from root growth. (Roots can push into the sand without upheaving the slab.) You haven't yet said that anyone has made test excavations in order find out exactly what the soil conditions are. I would do a few of these to determine what you are combating. Then account for this in the design specs. And then be reasonable if cost is a consideration. Really, you need to DESIGN this project (which includes determining the specs.) If you don't feel competent to do it, you should hire a professional rather than have each subcontractor design it. If you find a sub whom you have complete confidence in (because of his reputation, references, portfolio and manner) and wish for him to design it because of your respect for his work, then there is no need to have others "design" and bid on it also....See MoreNeed Help with Outdoor Plans! What Type & Color Pavers?
Comments (22)@Pink_Peony First, thank you for saying the work is stunning. Good field staff make all the difference. Hmmmm.....There could be a construction driven reason why North Carolina clay is problematic for bluestone but Chicago clay is not. For the life of my I cannot think of what it would be. I would be very reluctant to accept that explanation without some engineering to back it up. Those contractors could be right, but I am suspicious of their simplistic response. There used to be very few landscape material distributors but now they are a common site. I mention this because those distributors typically sell manufactured concrete pavers as well as an assortment of natural stone. If you call a distributor that sells both manufactured and natural stone products, ask whether there are issues with bluestone or natural stone in your area. If they sell both types of paving products then they do not have a vested interest in selling modular brick versus natural stone. I suspect that the negative contractor responses at the show on bluestone are driven by the skill of their work forces, not an issue with clay soils, but perhaps not. Of the manufacturers you listed I am somewhat familiar with Belgard and Pavestone. I took a look at the Cambridge stones you mentioned. Yes, Cambridge does have some very good looking product and they also have a trademarked face mix technique called Armor Tec. That casting technique is a real plus in my mind. Of all the modular products on the market I am most familiar with Unilock but I'm not sure if they are in the Carolina's. If you do have distributors in your area ask them who the three best contractors are locally for you. What you will get is probably 1) Their biggest buyer, 2) The best installer, 3) The next best installer. :)...See MoreYardvaark
5 years agoUser
5 years agoAurora Tee (Zone 6a)
5 years agoEric
5 years agoAurora Tee (Zone 6a)
5 years agoKelsen N Alyson Depp
3 years agoKelsen N Alyson Depp
3 years agoEric
3 years agoAlec Fotsch
3 years ago
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