The Patio Portfolio: A Publication That Should Be Added To Your Presentation Of Project Ideas
By Dick Gilmore
Cambridge Sales Specialist

Published by Schiffer Publishing Ltd., The Patio Portfolio is a 128-page book by David R. Smith of the Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute. It is an inspirational design guide that contains 200 full color photos of backyard spaces. 35 ICPI members submitted photographs of large and small projects across North America. Two installations using Cambridge Pavingstones are featured on the cover and others can be seen on inside pages. As a result, Cambridge products are well represented throughout the book.

When combined with photos of your own projects and the Cambridge Pavingstones 44-page DesignScaping Ideas Book, The Patio Portfolio will round out your presentation of visual ideas to homeowners and also assist you in narrowing down customer preferences. The Patio Portfolio is a great value at $25.00 and can be obtained through your Cambridge Sales Specialist.
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What You Need To Know About Edge Restraints
Edge restraints are an essential component of interlocking concrete pavements. By holding the pavers tightly together, a consistent interlock of the units is achieved across the entire pavement. They are designed to remain stationary while receiving impacts during installation. Restraints also prevent the spreading of pavers from horizontal forces as tires on vehicles pass over the pavement and from ground movement caused by freeze-thaw cycles. The information in this article covers the two types of edge restraints used for restraining concrete pavers placed on bedding sand and installed on a base.

Unlike concrete toe and curb, PAVE EDGE edge restraints are “tied into” the pavement system because spikes are driven through predrilled holes in the PVC edging material into the aggregate base and the sub-grade.

1. Manufactured Edge Restraints Plastic Edging. Use only plastic edging that is specifically designed for pavers. It can be used with light duty residential, commercial or on some heavy-duty industrial applications, depending on the design. This type of edging is popular because it installs quickly and will not rust or rot. It should be firmly anchored into the compacted aggregate base course with spikes. The spikes should penetrate well into the aggregate base. Edging for planting beds and flower gardens is not an acceptable restraint for interlocking concrete pavements.

PAVE EDGE is the edging material recommended by Cambridge. Made from Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), a structural plastic, the reinforced, triangular, hollow core shape provides the best possible rigidity. The vertical edging wall stays perpendicular to the paver. When spiked at an angle, this allows for truly straight edges and smooth curves.

A frost heave/sand retention lip is designed to be placed under the paver and the sand to hold the paver in place and also prevent sand from migrating even as the pavement moves from load, frost and moisture. PAVE EDGE provides the best section-to-section connection strength along the edging without any weakness at the joints. It is available in both a rigid product for straight areas and flexible product for smooth curves. Using 10” x 3/8” steel spikes, predrilled holes allow you to spike anywhere along the length of the edging material. The spike is driven through the aggregate base into the sub-grade. Unlike concrete toe and curb, PAVE EDGE is “tied into” the pavement system. Refer to Cambridge 2005 Product Line Specifications.

Full Depth Precast Concrete And Cut Stone Edging. Generally, these types of edging should extend the depth of the base material and can be set on compacted aggregate or concrete backfill. Partial depth precast concrete edge restraints may be used for residential and light duty commercial applications and should be anchored on a compacted aggregate base with 3/8 in. (10 mm) diameter steel spikes. The top of the concrete edge can be hidden or exposed depending on the design.

Concrete edges applied with a trowel should be placed against the edge of the pavers on the compacted base so that it is recessed and sloped away from the pavers allowing grass to grow next to the pavement.

2. Restraints Formed On-Site
Poured-In-Place Concrete Curbs Or Combination Curb And Gutters. These types of edging are required by municipalities to make suitable restraints for pavers. Exposed concrete edges should have a 1/8 in. (3 mm) radius edge to reduce the probability of chipping. As with precast, the side of the curbs should extend well below the sand bedding course. The minimum cross section dimensions of the curb are 8 in. x 8 in. (200 mm x 200 mm) and apply to residential driveways and low volume streets. Larger sized curbs will be necessary in higher traffic areas or for support over weak soil. Concrete edges may necessitate a layer of compacted aggregate base as a foundation.

Utility Covers In Streets And Walks. Covers on sewers, water and gas valves, telephone and electrical lines should have concrete collars around them. Collars should be
1/4 in. (6 mm) below the pavers to prevent catching snowplow blades. Drain and catch basin inlets should also have a concrete collar around them if they are not encased in concrete. (top)

Some restraints allow the pavers and bedding sand to be installed prior to placing the edging materials. In this case, extend the field of pavers past the planned location of the edge. Mark the pavers with a chalk line. Use the edge material itself as if it were a large ruler when marking. Cut the marked pavers with a powered saw or mechanical splitter. Remove the unused ends and excess bedding sand up to the cut pavers and install the edge restraints. This technique is particularly useful for creating curved edges. If the gap between the pavers and the restraint exceeds 3/8 in. (10 mm), fill the space with cut pavers. Cut pavers exposed to tires should be no smaller than one-third of the whole paver. Remember, the paving pattern may require shifting to accommodate cut pavers. Also bear in mind that stability of cut edge pavers exposed to tire traffic is increased when a running course (string or sailor) of whole pavers is placed between the edge restraint or concrete collar and the cut edge pavers. Cut the pavers to fit against this edge course. Other shapes include edge pavers that make a straight, flush edge. This can reduce incidental chipping of the cut pavers. In some circumstances, site fixtures can be installed after the pavers are placed and vibrated and the joints filled with sand. Openings can be saw cut, the edge restraints placed, and the tree grates, bollards, or other fixtures installed.
Installation detail drawings can be found on ICPI Tech Spec No. 3 by visiting the Learning Library on www.cambridgepavers.com.
Click ICPI Tech Specs. (top)

Fourth in a series on the benefits of using proper tools when installing Cambridge Pavingstones

Cutting Can Make Or Break Productivity
Here are a few words of wisdom: The more you handle each paver during the installation, the less productive you are. On the jobsite, strive to handle each paver no more than once.

Perhaps the term “running helter-skelter” may well have originated during the installation of pavingstones. Why? Pavers that require cutting are marked next to the spot where they are to be placed. Typically, the marked pavers are then carried off to a table saw set up in another area — then carried back after cutting. Often, a cut paver doesn’t fit and the cut must be attempted again. Bear in mind, all of the pavers that have been laid were previously handled. Oops! They were handled twice and… the running around may not be over.

Shown: Partner handheld, gas powered, cut-off saw.

The solution: Over digging is done so the base can accommodate edge restraints. But did you know that it also allows for cutting pavers in place? Lay the pavers beyond the cut edge for the border course. Envision cutting a pattern out of fabric. In this case, the fabric is the field of pavers. Mark the pavers that need to be cut to the desired shape. Leaving the pavers in place, score them with a handheld gas powered cut-off saw as you walk along the marked line. Once scored, it is easy to cut through the pavers already in place again using the handheld saw. Put the cut off pieces beyond the cut edge and lay in the border course. And don’t discard those leftover cuts; some may be ideal for cutting other sizes. (top)

Free Publicity: A Little Effort Can Gain A Lot Of Added Exposure

A press release is a news document that is sent to publications, radio and television stations and other news groups by businesses and organizations. Editors rely on press releases because they may contain information that would be of interest to their readers and audiences. Included in the Co-op Rewards Package provided to all Authorized Cambridge Distributors and also available as downloadable Word documents in the Distributor Info section of the Cambridge Web site are two prewritten press releases that can be easily customized to promote your location.

You will find a press release that compares Cambridge Pavingstones to asphalt and poured concrete. This article can be of interest to home improvement and home and garden editors at your local daily and weekly newspapers or magazines. The second release is designed to alert homeowners to an upcoming Interactive Do-It-Yourself Pavingstones Workshop at your retail location. This release is targeted to community news departments at local publications and cable TV systems. Modifying these press releases is easy. Instructions are included in each document allowing you to insert relevant information such as dates and times and to attach your name as an authoritative spokesperson for the concrete paver industry in your area.

The steps to obtaining free publicity are also easy. Simply modify the press release(s) that you want to use following the format supplied in your Co-op Rewards Package. Releases should be put on your company letterhead and mailed to the news departments of local publications and cable systems in your area. You can find the names of the publications and cable media in the Yellow Pages of your telephone directory. Additional contact information can be found in the mastheads of the publications — a block of type usually found on the first pages or on their table of contents pages. If you are using both releases, distribute them separately and at different times. Do-It-Yourself Workshop releases should be distributed 4 weeks in advance of the event. Or if you are an advertiser, give the modified release(s) to your advertising representative who can hand deliver the release and often influence a news department to run your news.

As you plan for the 2005 season, be sure to include these powerful marketing tools. For assistance, contact your Cambridge Sales Specialist.
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CONTRACTOR: KJA Masonry, Commack, NY INSTALLATION DETAILS: Facing On Stoop Over Concrete — Cambridge 4 x 8 Holland Without Spacer Bars & Chamfered Edges in Salmon/Onyx and 8 in. Bullnose from The Crusader Collection. Facing On Landscaping Wall Over 8” Concrete Block — Cambridge 4 x 8 Holland Without Spacer Bars & Chamfered Edges with 8 in. Bullnose from The Crusader Collection in Salmon/Onyx. Cambridge Pavingstones — 4 x 8 Holland from The KingsCourt Collection and Circle Design Kit from The RoundTable Collection all in Salmon/Onyx

Cambridge 4 x 8 Holland Without Spacer Bars &
Chamfered Edges Adds Curb Appeal

Introduced by Cambridge in 2004, 4 x 8 Holland Without Spacer Bars & Chamfered Edges added a finished appearance to the sides and risers on this front stoop. The look was carried through on the facing of the landscape wall along the entrance walkway. The wall was capped with Cambridge Bullnose. Using Salmon/Onyx, a popular Cambridge Blend, the contractor selected a common color pallet for the entire Cambridge DesignScape.
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