HOW DO WILLOW CREEK PAVING STONES LOCK TOGETHER?

Willow Creek Paving Stones are installed on a compacted aggregate base topped with bedding sand. Joint sand is swept into joints and paving stones are pressed into place using a vibrating plate compactor. The combination of Willow Creek Paving Stones, bedding sand, joint sand, and compaction causes them to interlock and creates a unified pavement system. Below-grade edge restraints are used to protect project edges.

WHY DO WILLOW CREEK PAVING STONES OUTPERFORM OTHER PAVING PRODUCTS?

Beyond the aesthetic benefits, Willow Creek Paving Stones are ideally suited to the freeze/thaw cycles of our Midwest climate. Joints between paving stones allow the surface to move without damage. Patterned and stamped concrete surfaces are merely slabs of concrete with embossed designs. They are susceptible to the same types of deterioration as poured concrete surfaces, such as cracking and spalling. With proper installation of Willow Creek Paving Stones, you’ll have pavement that is solid, yet flexible. Another great advantage of our paving stone surface is that individual units can be seamlessly removed and replaced in the rare event of damage or underground work.

ARE WILLOW CREEK PAVING STONES DURABLE ENOUGH FOR VEHICLE TRAFFIC?

Definitely! A Willow Creek Paving Stone driveway is not only beautiful, it’s durable. Many municipalities and airports use paving stones for their traffic areas. A 6-inch to 10-inch compacted aggregate base is recommended for light vehicular use, such as automobile and pickup truck traffic. (A 4-inch to 6-inch base is recommended for pedestrian-only traffic.)

IS IT DIFFICULT TO REMOVE SNOW FROM WILLOW CREEK PAVING STONE SURFACES?

Willow Creek Paving Stones can be shoveled or plowed with no more difficulty than poured-concrete or asphalt surfaces. Heat absorption characteristics of paving stones can actually help melt snow and ice. As with other concrete products, avoid using rock salt or calcium chloride to remove ice. Contact your landscaping specialist for a suitable deicing product. A thin dusting of sand is always the preferred method for creating a slip-resistant paving stone surface.

WHY SHOULD I CHOOSE WILLOW CREEK PAVING STONES FOR A POOL OR SPA DECK?

Willow Creek Paving Stones are ideal for swimming pool decks because of their slightly textured surface, which increases slip resistance. Also, because paving stones are removable and reusable, repairs to utility or plumbing lines can be performed invisibly.

WHAT IS EFFLORESCENCE?

Efflorescence is a naturally occurring substance that appears as a white, powderlike deposit on the face of some concrete, stone, and masonry products. It is caused by soluble salt deposits in either the construction material (bricks, concrete paving stones, mortar, etc.) or the backfill behind the material. Efflorescence often diminishes with time as the soluble salts naturally “sweat out” of the source. If the efflorescence does not wear off in an acceptable period of time, it can be removed by scrubbing with a dry, stiff-bristled brush, followed by flushing with clean water. There also are a number of cleaning products specifically formulated for use on concrete paving stones. Please consult your landscaping specialist to help determine the best way to handle any efflorescence that might appear on your concrete paving stone surface.

HOW LONG WILL WILLOW CREEK PAVING STONES LAST?

Willow Creek Paving Stones are manufactured under extreme pressure using high-strength concrete and machinery exclusively designed for paving stone production. Our paving stones are manufactured to exceed industry standards and are covered by a limited lifetime guarantee in residential installations. Contact Willow Creek Concrete Products, Inc. for complete warranty information.

WHAT MAINTENANCE IS REQUIRED WITH WILLOW CREEK PAVING STONES?

Properly installed, Willow Creek Paving Stones require no regular maintenance. For those who prefer a wet appearance, paver sealants may be periodically applied.