Outdoor Living

Nothing ties a home together quite like a brick walkway or patio.

Brick and concrete paver outdoor fixtures have a clean and classic look that’s hard to ignore. On top of that, they can boost the resale value of your home while providing you with a functional outdoor space that your family and guests are sure to love.

Best of all, you don’t have to hire out an expensive contractor to create a walkway or patio. Here in Southeast Wisconsin, installing brick or concrete pavers is an easy project you can take on yourself.

Aren’t sure where to start? Here’s everything you need to know about how to install pavers yourself.

How to Install Pavers

While laying brick and pavers can be pretty easy, there is a bit of planning you’ll need to do before you can start. But, once you know what you’re going to do, all that’s left is to gather your tools and start laying brick.

1. Design a Layout

The first step to any home improvement project is to draw up a full plan of attack.

Before you can even start gathering up your equipment, you should figure out where you want your pavers to go and the shape you want to lay them in. You’ll also need to take the measurements of the area so you can calculate the number of pavers you’ll need to get the job done.

2. Stake the Area

Once you have your plan drawn up, you’ll need to stake the area where your paver feature is going to go. Doing this will allow you to do a test run of laying out your pavers so you can get a better idea of how they fit within the space.

3. Dig Out the Foundation

After you have staked out the location of your new patio or walkway, you’ll need to dig out the foundation.

As a general rule of thumb, you want the final hole to be seven inches deep.

4. Create a Gravel Base

With the foundation dug out, you’ll now need to prepare the base of your paver project.

Fill the bottom of the foundation with roughly two inches of 3/4″ crushed stone gravel. Then, compact the gravel with a vibratory plate compactor, or hand tamper. Repeat this process two more times before moving on to the next step.

5. Add a 1″ Layer of Bedding Sand

Sand gives you a soft, moldable area that will make sure your pavers don’t move around while you lay them. All while also helping to lock the units together once they are laid.

To make the sand layer, pour approximately one inch of paver sand over the gravel. You’ll then need to level the sand with a smoothing tool or spare piece of wood used as a screed to make sure the surface is completely even.

6. Lay the Pavers

Laying brick and pavers is a bit like completing a jigsaw puzzle—it’s easier if you already know how the final product looks. Make sure you choose a pattern that works with the size and style of paver you chose for the project.

Set each paver flat into the sand and tap it down with a rubber mallet.

7. Seal Pavers with Sand

Finally, when pavers are fully laid, you need to sweep in joint sand. You can use regular paver sand or, for less maintenance, use polymeric sand.

Pour the sand out over the pavers, and then use a broom to sweep it over the pavers in a back and forth motion until you fill all the gaps between the stones.

Once that’s done, you’ll need to sweep all excess sand from the patio, especially if you’re using polymeric sand since it could stick to the bricks. Make sure to follow the specific directions for the type of polymeric sand you are using, as not all polymeric sands are installed in the same fashion.

Finding the Right Pavers for Your Project

Now that you know how to install pavers, it’s time to get started on your brand new patio. Need some materials to help you out with that project? We can help!

We offer a large selection of gorgeous pavers that are sure to make your home look fantastic. Visit or contact us today for more information or to get started creating the patio of your dreams.

You walk outside to enjoy some needed sunshine only to find weeds. Lots of weeds. There’s little else to look at and practically nowhere that’s not spider-infested to sit. It’s time for a little sprucing up.

But where do you begin? How do you change your backyard’s or patio’s mess into a dreamy wonderland? Especially here in southeast Wisconsin where the best summer months can seem so short?

With these five design tips, you’ll find the inspiration to weed out the ugly and create your own fabulous backyard design.

5 Backyard Design Tips

Regardless of whether you would prefer an outside retreat or a place to gather the family, this list has something for everyone.

1. Add Walkways

Walkways are an excellent way to break up a large backyard, and decorative stone can provide an earthy, natural look.

Backyard walkways are excellent for garden paths and even smaller yards. They create a route for the eye to travel. Plus, they can add natural stopping points around certain elements.

Add a romantic or relaxed atmosphere to a small yard with a flagstone path leading to the patio or around a bench.

2. Bring the Inside Out

Couches and chairs don’t have to be limited to inside the house. Bring some of your indoor convenience outside.

In fact, outdoor rooms have become all the rage in design. All it takes is some outdoor furniture (wicker works nicely) arranged around a table.  Add some well-placed potted plants to create privacy.

3. Have a Fire Pit

During the winter months, fire pits are excellent for encouraging some outdoor time. During summer and spring, they offer relaxing nights.

Another wonderful thing about fire pits is that they come in all shapes and sizes, so yard size is irrelevant.

Purchase a fire pit and add some furniture to encourage late-night discussions. Emphasizing stone designs around it can also amp up the olden feel, but don’t forget to add your personal style.

From a tiki bar theme to in-ground pits for cooking, these pits add social enrichment wherever you put them.

4. Attract Nature

Birds might not come flapping when you sing, but some of these backyard designs might do the trick.

Add brightly colored flowers to attract hummingbirds and butterflies. Great butterfly attractors include the following:

• Lantana
• Verbena
• Pentas
• Zinnias

Throw in a bird bath and some feeders and you’ll attract flocks in no time. If you have the room, a small pond with a stone bench can do wonders to create a pleasurable atmosphere.

If you grow berries, many will survive through the winter months to bring additional wildlife during the cold weather.

5. Add a Pergola

Pergolas can be added to the side of a house or as a freestanding structure. They can create the perfect outside retrieve.

Not only are they easy to build, but they make for one heck of an outside entertainment area. You can have family gatherings beneath or enjoy late romantic dinners.

Plant some ivy and within a couple of weeks, you’ll have vines climbing up the sides, creating a natural but extravagant look. Adding other climbing plants can make you feel like you’re in a personal dream.

Relax in the Sun

Get rid of those weeds and start designing! These five backyard design tips are easy ways to spruce up any property from a weed-infested clutter to a miniature paradise.

Of course, you’ll need some materials. Take a look at our website, which lists all the resources we have for homeowners interested in a little TLC for their yards. From brick to decorative stone, we offer southeastern Wisconsin residents everything they need to get the most from their backyards.

Did you know that your rate of return on yard landscaping can be from 100% to 1000%? Clearly, your yard landscape projects are an investment that can yield huge returns.

Once you are near the end of the project, you will need to decide upon rock vs mulch for your flower beds, around trees and other areas. But how do you decide? Rock vs mulch gives a completely different look and feel to your yard, and there are benefits to both options.

The answer to which is right really depends on what factors are most important to you. For instance, what areas do you want to cover? Is it around a flower bed or around a tree?

Read on for the pros and cons of rock vs mulch so you can choose the right option for your needs.

Mulch

Some points about mulch:

• Generally, it is up to 75% less expensive than decorative stone.
• It is good for preventing weeds and water evaporation.
• It decomposes over time, and it adds nutrients to your soil.
• It works well at keeping your garden warm in the winter and cool in the summer.
• There is less risk of the soil becoming compact as people are less likely to walk on it.
• Another pro is that mulch reduces soil erosion by up to 85%.

But, it’s not all great news. The downsides:

• Mulch has a shorter lifespan.
• It must be replaced annually. So although it can be cheaper in the short-term, consider the recurring cost of maintaining the plush mulch look.
• It is limited in terms of selection. You basically can choose out of three colors: black, red and brown.
• There is little room for customization.

Rock vs Mulch

Rock for flower beds and rocks around trees is a great choice if you want a long-term solution. This is very low maintenance option: You’ll rarely need to replace it. In this way, rock mulch may be more cost-effective.

Some other benefits of using rock instead of mulch for your landscaping include:

• Rock is available in various sizes, shapes, and color blends.
• You can choose rock mulch as small as a pea to about the size of a golf ball.
• Stone can be combined to create a unique landscape. For example, you might layer colors and sizes to create a certain look.
• If your region is prone to wildfires, rocks are likely the best bet since they are inflammable.
• Windy areas can benefit from rocks as well because rocks prevent soil erosion.
• Stone is helpful in dry climates because it keeps weeds away better than mulch.

Here in southeastern Wisconsin, these environmental considerations can be important. Also, think about the other elements in your yard and whether rock vs mulch will highlight them best.

Rock mulch is a good choice around the pool because it will not make your water dirty with debris. Mulch could easily wash out into your pool with the wind. Choose rocks anywhere where rain is likely to wash away mulch easily.

But be warned, stone doesn’t assist water retention in your soil, so you may need to water more often. Another downside is if you ever want to remove the rocks, you’ll need to do so by hand!

Think carefully about rocks around trees. Most trees thrive in acidic soil. Rocks cause the soil to become alkaline, which can hurt your trees.

Final Thoughts

We hope this article has been helpful in highlighting the differences between rock vs mulch for your landscape project.

Next, read 5 benefits of manufactured stone and 5 landscape projects made with bricks for exterior renovations. And if you have any questions about what rock to use in your landscaping, feel free to contact us or explore our website for more information.