Pavers (contractors, assessment, install)

[jen919ifer]

Is it better to have pavers installed over a slab of cement, or over the sand & crushed cement?

[PANIC]

Originally Posted by jen919ifer

Is it better to have pavers installed over a slab of cement, or over the sand & crushed cement?

If the cement is in good shape then i would install over it instead of ripping it out

[Kbinspections]

Tough question. The manufacturer wants sand and RCA and that is the true way to do it. Problem is weeds and grass growth and loss of sand undermining the pavers. Ant are an issue too.

The issue with concrete is that it traps water between the pavers and old concrete, you get freeze/ thaw damage.

[MacTAC]

Dry laid is better than on a concrete slab. Bluestone screenings, also known as stone dust, is superior to sand as the leveling course. Sand only compacts when it's wet. Bluestone blend is even better than RCA for the base, although much more expensive. Many contractors will push concrete as a stronger base (easier for them), but dry laid is the right way to do it.

[azzurrony]

My cousin did our walkway in pavers. He's been doing it for years. He recommended a concrete base. He pulled out our old walkway (concrete), laid new concrete down, then the pavers and sand. Seems to be great so far.

[crv1010]

for a deck pavers over a cement base equals a permit & an increase in assessment since its considered a permanent improvement. pavers over sand or stone dust generally no permit & no increase in assessment.