If you want to create a path in your garden or to your garage by using concrete pavers, it is advisable to be ready for a time consuming and labor intensive task. Creating a new base itself takes a lot of time. To avoid this step, some people prefer to install pavers on a pre-existing base. However, is this the correct way to complete the job? People have contradictory views on this topic. Let’s consider both sides of the argument.
The advantages of building pavers over concrete are obvious. Almost no labor is required for the first step and this translates into time and cost savings. The disadvantages, however, are as follows:
1) Reduced flexibility: There is little you can do to change the shape of the existing base to suit your unique needs. You are limited by the shape of the base while designing your paved path. Extending the previous structure may sometimes prove to be more time consuming. Laying a fresh base, however, does not impose such design constraints.
2) The overall structural quality of the finished work will suffer: This will only come into play if the existing concrete base has been subjected to environmental and/or climatic changes over time. Like all concrete structures the existing base may have developed structural flaws and/or deformities with time (e.g. cracks, irregularities in densities etc). These irregularities might also propagate to the paved path above, reducing the overall quality and therefore the life of the structure. Fixing the above will require re-installation of the pavers and perhaps even the existing base, which will increase costs and time spent.
3) Efflorescence: This refers to the white chalky substance formed on the surface due to chemical reactions taking place in the structure in the presence of water. This substance is basically salt that is released from the concrete as water evaporates. This is not a structural flaw, but the white patches reduce the overall aesthetic appeal of the structure. If aesthetics don’t concern you, this disadvantage probably doesn’t matter.
So what is the correct way to build a paved path? The answer to this varies from situation to situation. However, building and designing your own unique path suited to your needs is usually the best solution.
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