Patio pavers were first introduced in America during the 1970’s and were generally used for decoration due to the ability to arrange them in patterns of shapes and colors. The idea was to mimic the look of older European city streets and homes, where the use of stones and bricks to create a hard surface was common for many hundreds of years. As the practice of installing patio pavers grew in popularity, it became more apparent that in many climates like Las Vegas, the use of this type of ground covering also had benefits as far as functionality. The extreme heat of Las Vegas tends to break down surfaces that it strikes every day, creating wear issues over time. Essentially, ground coverings do not last as long in Las Vegas as they do elsewhere, because the heat of the sun causes the materials to break down over time. This is especially significant to the comparison to concrete, which is the other typical surface that is used for patios. Concrete will tend to break down faster than pavers will due to the fact that pavers are not a continual solid surface. Because there are small gaps in between pavers they are provided with the ability to swell and shrink as temperatures change without cracking. Cracks in concrete gome not from the surface itself, but instead come from the ground swelling and contracting underneath it, creating uneven and unstable surfaces. This leads to cracking, which will ultimately wear even larger as the area rubs against itself season after season. Pavers are far more durable and will allow for the expansion and contraction that causes concrete to crack.
Not only can pavers be used to beautiful patios, pool decks, driveways and open areas but they are also far easier to perform maintenance on than other surfaces like grass. Simple hosing off and blowing with air to remove debris is generally the only maintenance that will ever be necessary with a paver patio. Pavers also provide a better non-slip surface than most tiles, making them a better surface to install around pools or in areas that may get wet. Keep in mind that on concrete and tile there is little ability for sitting water to seep in and dissipate, making any low areas prime for pooling issues. Water that is sitting on top of concrete will generally have to be dried by the sun, whereas water that sits on pavers will distribute itself down into the cracks.
If you would like an estimate for a paver patio to be installed into your home or business, contact us today. We are experts on the Las Vegas area, and know the types of materials that hold up best in our heat. We can also make recommendations on which pavers will stay the coolest during the summer months, which is an issue with asphalt and some other ground coverings including rock. We are the Las Vegas experts for patio pavers, and will insure a quality installation that will add value and beauty to your home.