This is particularly important with new construction since fill is often placed around the house or building. Secondly, we meticulously avoid any pockets in our stone and sand base that may be more or less compacted than the rest. These pockets freeze and thaw at different rates and will result in waves, high spots, and low spots after as little as one winter.

   We use stone base with a specific particle size, place only as much stone in each lift as our compactors can uniformly compact, compact each layer multiple times in multiple directions, repeatedly hand tamp all hard to reach areas, and carefully avoid jumping any waves of stone that might build up in front of the compactor.

   When selecting paving materials, we recommend only those with not only a high compressive strength, but also those that resist damage from moisture infiltration which can freeze in winter and break the pavers or stone apart. Many pavers sold in our area do not meet both of these criteria.

   Finally, some paving materials are not a good match for some of the more popular laying patterns. Others may not lend themselves well to interlocking patterns that are usually necessary in a driveway application. We make sure that the paving material you choose will look and perform its best in your landscape or we’ll suggest another that is the next best thing. 

Next > Retaining Walls

 

  

Plants and Planting
Brick and Stone Paving
Retaining Walls
Landscape Design
Finish Grading and Lawns

  
   Brick and stone paving add a warm and inviting dimension to landscapes. Proper material selection and professional installation can ensure long term integrity of the paving plane and surface. In other words, you’ve seen a lot of wavy brick installations that get out of whack just a year or two after installation. You may also see paving materials breaking down just a few years after installation. How do we at Merrill Hills Landscape Co. prevent this on our jobs?

   Ensuring the integrity of the paving plane can be summed up in two phrases- stable sub grade and uniform compaction. We always place our base material on top of a stable sub grade- compacted clay, gravel, or other site material that is virgin or has been in place long enough to have settled properly.