Concrete pavers for new walkway?

Parent Cafe
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<p>We have an old colonial house with a crumbling concrete front walkway that needs replacement.</p>

<p>Thinking about putting in a simple traditional brick walk.<br>
Finding that many (most?) people around here are using concrete pavers instead.
Plan on a trip to a local stone yard this week.</p>

<p>Any experience, good or bad, with these?
Looking at Techno- something or CST.<br>
CST in based here in NJ, so supposedly good product availability. ‘Only’ in business since 1984, which to an old lady like me seems like yesterday.</p>

<p>Any opinions welcome!</p>

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<p>We went with flagstone instead. However other neighbor/friends have using the concrete pavers. My only advice is to make sure and have them properly installed. One neighbors did it themselves :eek:</p>

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<p>What sort of weather do you get?
I think flagstone can be slick when it gets wet.
I like permeable pavers.
[Permeable</a> paving < Great Garden Paths - Sunset.com](<a href=“http://www.sunset.com/garden/backyard-projects/great-garden-paths-photos-00400000043327/page26.html]Permeable”>You'll Be Inspired By These Creative and Inviting Garden Paths - Sunset)</p>

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<p>We have concrete pavers for our front sidewalk and driveway. They do have curb appeal. They have been in place for 20 plus years. Several have chipped for unknown reasons. The major drawback has been moss growth in between pavers. I have tried everything and this year resorted to Round Up! Our neighbors considered pavers for their patio, but decided on stamped concrete that has been colorized. It looks beautiful and was much more economical. This was not an option when we had our pavers installed, and if I were choosing today, it would certainly be something I would consider.</p>

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<p>I LOVE flagstone. My DH not so much.</p>

<p>Those are some gorgeous garden walkways, EL4. Our walk will be pretty boring.
Just a straight shot from small front brick portico to concrete sidewalk, maybe 30 ft.
We are in NJ, lots of rain, some snow, lots of freezing, thaw. Our slab concrete did last for 30 yrs so I should not complain.
No chance we will install ourselves so hopefully mason will know what they’re doing. :)</p>

<p>This is what we’re considering, in charleston blend color:</p>

<p>[CST’s</a> Holland Classic II Pavers | Hardscaping Ideas by CST Pavers And VERSA-LOK Retaining Walls](<a href=“{{title}}”>{{title}})</p>

<p>Thanks for your responses, keep them coming.</p>

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<p>We put in a front walkway with pavers two years ago. it looks great with our New England farmhouse. We are in the Boston area so similar weather to NJ. We have had only one issue in a spot where there was a large tree root . As the soil has settled, the pavers have sunk in a bit on one edge. It is a small area and the mason is coming back to fix it.</p>

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<p>Good to hear, EPTR.<br>
New England farmhouse, sounds lovely.
Did you use concrete pavers or brick?</p>

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<p>A few months ago I put in pavers in driveway and paths, using Old Chicago Brown. I also redid pool area, with Sandstone color. Both look great. I kept a dozen or so of each pavers, so can easily repair.</p>

<p>Real brick is more expensive than the pavers. Several neighbors used stamped concrete, but that fades. If done in a solid color, they repaint. I waited years to do this. My only compromise was not using travertine on pool deck, but the color is the same, and given the shape of my deck, I would have had to use herringbone pattern, which is busy, vs the French pattern I wanted.</p>

<p>I also widened the path to front door, making the path 4 feet wide.</p>

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<p>We love the look of our paver patio, but hate the moss and the weeds. While there is a very thick underlayment, the airborne weeds take hold in between the bricks. We have to have it power washed every couple of years and then we re-do the stone dust filling ourselves. A lot of hard work, but worth it. My only question would be the snow-shoveling aspect of its use on a front walkway. I would think the ups and downs would be hard to clear. Of course, if you live in a place where there’s no snow, you’re in great shape.</p>

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<p>We have hundreds of bricks in our back patio, circular eating area, and area surrounding the pool. We have tried everything we know to deal with the weeds, and feel it is a losing battle. We even had the spaces between the bricks power-washed and added a hardening material in between the bricks at a cost of about $1000, and the weeds still return. Whatever you choose, please take weeds into account!</p>

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<p>Weeds, yuck!</p>

<p>We are very far from meticulous homeowners.
I’ll have to ask the contractors who bid the job a d listen hard.
A neighbor a few blocks over gave me a reference…think I’ll check on the weed status on HIS walk!</p>

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<p>OK, update from the OP-</p>

<p>We settled on concrete pavers, 6 contractors came out, got 4 proposals back, checked references and even visited some completed projects. Hired a local guy, piece of cake. He’s personable, great references, mid price point.</p>

<p>So, all should be good, right?
Crew came out yesterday, demolished old walk and put down gravel for new pavers.
I come home to find pavers sitting on front lawn to be installed this morning.
Mmmmm…they don’t look like I remember in the brickyard. Maybe they’re dusty, let me hose them down. Nope, now they’re clean and very not like I remember at all.</p>

<p>I left messages for owner, crew shows up anyway to install this am. I send them away, they can’t reach owner either. I’m not accepting these pavers, I think they’re pretty awful actually. Not the colors in the blend we selected at all.</p>

<p>Owner shows up apologetically in the late afternoon. Yes, he says these are correct!
No, I say. I show him the brochure, I show him my camera with photo from brickyard.
Oh, when it’s done you’ll see, it will be fine.</p>

<p>Nope, no installing and then deciding it’s awful. So now , we’re all taking a field trip together to the brick yard (only a mile away fortunately) on Monday and discussing these pavers with the supplier.<br>
PLEASE let me be right on this…so I’m not incredibly embarrassed nor have to live with an ugly walkway!</p>

<p>Does everything have to be this hard??? </p>

<p>Thanks for letting me vent!</p>

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<p>Oh musicmom, I feel your pain. Fixing things around the house can be so difficult! (Not to mention expensive.)</p>

<p>ETA: Is it possible that once they’re installed, do they get some kind of sealer that changes the color to a deeper tone??</p>

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<p>Dye lots? Also, if the ones you saw in the distributor’s display have been outside for a while, they may have faded. Our patio has!</p>

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<p>Musicmom, you have every right to insist on what you want. Be firm! It is your money and you should get exactly what you desire. Yes, I too, wonder why it is so difficult to get some of these household projects completed!
Good luck - don’t give up until you get the walkway in the exact color and style that you want.</p>

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<p>I’m surprised the pavers varied, usually they are pretty consistent although aged ones will look better than brand new.
This is where I get mine from.
[Mutual</a> Materials | Brick, Pavers, Stone, Retaining Wall, Cultured Stone, Natural Stone, Slabs](<a href=“http://www.mutualmaterials.com/]Mutual”>http://www.mutualmaterials.com/)</p>

<p>And I love to wander around this place and dream of getting a nice hunk of granite to climb on.
<a href=“You are being redirected...”>You are being redirected...;

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<p>Thanks for the suggestions, they are SO appreciated.</p>

<p>I really TRIED to convince myself they were what we ordered, but just couldn’t.
Have NO suspicion that contactor is trying to slip something by, just think there’s been a mix up.</p>

<p>The pavers we selected are called Charleston blend, a kooky mix of subtle reds,greens,yellows,Grey’s. We love the look. The pavers sitting in our yard are quite uniform red. They are very distressed and PALE so it’s not that the display we saw was faded compared to these, kind of the opposite.
Just doesn’t make sense.</p>

<p>AND a neighbor two blocks over just by chance used THE EXACT SAME PAVER IN SAME COLOR. I paid a visit yesterday and his walk is identical to supplier display even though his walk is a few years old.</p>

<p>The sealer idea is interesting, contractor didn’t mention THAT.</p>

<p>I so realize what a minor problem we have going here…and I’m trying hard not to let it drive me crazier than I already am!</p>

<p>Thanks again!</p>

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<p>It sounds like they made a mistake either with the order or in the actual mixing.
Especially since your neighbor has the color you want
What a hassle.
We are having problems too. The neighbors behind us & next to us were having trouble with their sewer and the plumbers did something so it backed up into our backyard.
What a mess!
But so far we haven’t had to call plumber.
Good thing too, our neighbors were billed $18,000.
This is for work on a 5000 ft lot and most of pipe is pretty accessible.</p>

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<p>Yikes, EK!
I would not swap with you!</p>

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<p>And of course since I am recovering from knee surgery, I cant do any heavy work, so H got to clean it up. I told him he should at least bill the plumbers.
Luckily it was not that big but gross. Flies everywhere- he scooped up the contaminated soil & put it in yard waste then dumped bleach everywhere.</p>

<p>I was kinda hoping we would have to call a plumber to dig up our walkway, because I would like to have it reinstalled farther away from the house.
But better to have control over timing.
;)</p>