Paver Styles
Concrete pavers offer clean lines, geometric layouts and many colors; brick pavers give a classic look in a durable, weather-resistant material. A border in a contrasting color frames the walk.
Concrete Pavers or Brick Pavers
Concrete pavers come in the widest range of shapes, sizes and colors, from large modern slabs to tumbled pieces that look aged. They suit contemporary houses and long, straight walks.
Brick pavers bring the warm red and brown tones of a traditional brick house. Laid in a herringbone or basketweave pattern, they make a formal front entry.
Either way, the walk is only as good as what is under it.
JP Companies also builds concrete walkways and stone walkways, and stone front steps to finish the entry.
Built on Concrete, Not Just Sand
Compacted Stone
The ground is prepared and a compacted aggregate base goes down.
Reinforced Concrete Base
A 4” reinforced concrete base under the pavers.
Setting Bed
Pavers bonded on a 1” Portland cement setting bed, or set on a sand leveling layer.
Polymeric Sand Joints
Polymeric sand is activated in the joints to prevent weed growth, erosion and joint movement.
Why a Concrete Base
Many walkways fail because of poor base preparation. Pavers laid on sand alone can settle and shift where the ground is soft or where water collects by the house.
A concrete base spreads every step across a solid slab, so the pavers stay level and the joints stay tight at the front door, where the walk gets the most use.
Borders and Patterns
A soldier-course border in a darker paver frames the walk and holds the field in place. Inside it, the pattern can run straight, follow a curve, or step into herringbone or basketweave.
Matching the Driveway
A paver border along a concrete driveway ties the walk and the drive together. See concrete driveway replacement.
Permeable Pavers
Permeable pavers let rain soak through the joints instead of running off the walk. They are an option where water collects or where you want less runoff toward the house.
Options and Upgrades
Pavers come in options for every walk, in size, shape, color and texture, from modern slabs to tumbled pavers. A contrasting border or a band that matches the driveway finishes the edges, and low-voltage path lights can be set along the walk.
How Do You Care for a Paver Walkway?
A paver walkway needs a sweep now and then and a check of the joints every year or two. Polymeric sand holds well, but where it wears low after years of rain, topping it up keeps the pavers locked.
Pressure washing too close to the surface can blow the sand out of the joints, so wash at a low angle and from a distance. Stains from leaves or rust usually lift with a mild cleaner and a stiff brush.
Paver or Concrete for a Front Walk?
A concrete walk is one smooth surface with the least upkeep. A paver walk costs more in materials and labor but gives pattern, color and a border, and a single damaged paver can be lifted and replaced instead of breaking out a whole section.
Paver Walkways on a Slope
Where the yard rises toward the door, a paver walk can follow a gentle slope or break into level runs with steps between them. Steps keep each run flat and easier to walk in rain or snow, and they can be faced in stone to match the front steps.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are paver walkways set on sand or on concrete?
We build paver walkways on a concrete base. The pavers sit on a Portland cement bed or a sand leveling layer over that base.
How do you keep weeds out of paver joints?
JP Companies activates polymeric sand in the joints to prevent weed growth, erosion and joint movement.
Concrete pavers or brick pavers: which should I choose?
Both last when they are built on a solid base. Concrete pavers offer more shapes and colors; brick pavers give a classic, traditional look.
How long does a paver walkway take?
A JP Companies paver walkway usually takes one to two days on site.
Do you install permeable pavers?
Yes. Permeable pavers let rain soak through the joints instead of running off the walk.
Can one broken paver be replaced?
Yes. A single paver can be lifted out and replaced without disturbing the rest of the walk.
Planning a Paver Walkway?
Tell us the look you want at the front door and we will bring paver options and lay out the walk with you.