Posts Tagged ‘ brick pavers ’

Check Out These Three Styles of Pavers

Monday, April 27th, 2020

There are really only three main styles of pavers on the market.

If you have decided to invest in pavers to upgrade your driveway or patio, then you might have been overwhelmed with options. But there are really only three main styles of pavers on the market. Learn about them here to help decide which will be the best fit for your preferences.

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Posted in Masonry Construction

Brick or Concrete Pavers?

Monday, December 12th, 2016

Brick pavers last a very long time.

Are you preparing to spruce up your landscaping and utilize beautiful new pavers throughout your property? Making the choice between brick and concrete pavers can be tricky, so here are some helpful tips to aid you in choosing which to use during your project with Del Prete Masonry.

The Benefits of Brick

Brick pavers are a wonderful option for many home and business owners for reasons like these:

Brick pavers do a phenomenal job at retaining color over a period of years, even when exposed to sun
Bricks last a very long time, aside from minor chipping and cracking
Brick pavers don’t require much maintenance to keep looking great
Bricks are timeless and classic
Brick pavers are environmentally friendly and made from natural materials

The Downsides of Brick

While brick pavers are fantastic options, there are a few downsides:

Brick pavers are more expensive than their alternatives by 15-20%
Brick pavers come in a smaller range of colors, since they are naturally colored
Bricks can vary slightly in size due to the way that they are manufactured
Brick pavers can require a bit more elbow grease during installation

The Upsides of Concrete

Concrete pavers work beautifully for pathways and walkways, and it’s easy to see why:

Concrete pavers are less expensive than brick pavers
Concrete can come in just about any pattern, shape, size, or color you can imagine
Concrete pavers can be made to mimic stone or other building materials
Concrete pavers are a breeze to install

The Cons of Concrete

Concrete pavers are not without faults, however:

Concrete can undergo major color fading over time, since they use artificial color pigments for their hue
Concrete pavers can suffer from surface erosion and look worn and damaged over time
Concrete pavers can be of dubious quality depending on where they are purchased from and crumble or crack before you even get started

Concrete or Brick Pavers? We’ve Got You Covered!

If you are ready to upgrade your property, Del Prete Masonry has the experience and expertise to get the job done right for the right price. To explore our residential and commercial services and set up a consultation, please give us a call at 410-683-0650 or contact us online. We currently serve Baltimore City and County, Harford County, Carroll County, Anne Arundel County, and Howard County. To see examples of our work and get more updates, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and Pinterest.

Posted in Commercial Masonry Baltimore

Tips for Winterizing Your Brick Pavers

Thursday, December 1st, 2016

Brick is designed to withstand harsh winter weather.

Many people ask what they need to do to “winterize” their brick pavers. Good news: Interlocking brick pavers are designed and installed to be able to withstand even the harshest winter climate and frost cycles. That said, here are a few tips to further ensure the long-term success and aesthetics of your brickwork.

Remove heavy items and vehicles from brick pavers during the winter time. Areas beneath these heavy objects will not be able to flex during the freeze thaw cycle, which can cause sunken areas as the base shifts below. Heavy objects that are left over brick pavers may end up leaving a slight indentation.

If necessary, add some joint sand in all the joints. Resweeping joint sand between your brick paver joints each Spring and Winter will help ensure their continued longevity. When brick paver joints are properly filled they can drain late season rains better and hold the pavers in place. While you should keep your brick pavers filled year round for optimum success, doing a quick sweep heading into winter is always a good idea.

Try to redirect water and ice sources to prevent drainage on your brick pavers. Check gutter spouts to see if they are draining onto your pavers. If possible, connect a solid corrugated pipe to the end of the spout and run it into the grass or a nearby plant bed. The rapid freeze and thawing of snow and ice that hits your brick pavers can cause tremendous stress. It’s always a good idea to address drainage issues at the time of installation, but it’s worth doing a second check to make sure no new problems have arose.

While there’s no need to cover up your beautiful pavers or shovel off the snow right away, following these tips can increase the lifespan of your brick paver installation.

Masonry Repair and Restoration from Del Prete Masonry

For all of your questions regarding masonry repair and restoration, feel free to contact Del Prete Masonry. Our masonry restoration professionals have the experience and history of satisfied clients to prove that we’ll get the job done right, and cost-effectively. To get started with your masonry restoration project, please contact our office today at 410-683-0650 or email us at mike@delpretemasonry.com. We serve Baltimore City, County, Harford County, Carroll County, Anne Arundel County, and Howard County.

Keep up with our blog for masonry related information, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+!

Posted in Blog