Category: Blog

Interlock pathways, driveways and patios are beautiful and offer a lot in terms of curb appeal. As long as they are maintained properly, they can remain beautiful for years. They only start to look bad when the stones start to get loose or sink or if weeds start to develop between the pavers or stones. Here are some tips to help you avoid these situations by keeping in some simple maintenance.

 

Power Wash the Interlocked Area

 

A good power wash on the interlocked stones or pavers will help to remove any debris and stains. Make sure that you address the entire area when power washing and especially concentrate on the spaces between the stones. You’ll want to make sure that all debris in the cracks is lifted and carried away.

 

Place Sand between the Stones

 

Once you have power washed the stones take some polymeric sand and pour it directly onto the interlocked pavers. Then give them a good sweeping with a broom. As you sweep, the gaps will fill in naturally with the sand. This will help keep the stones in place and help prevent them from sinking.

 

Mist the Area

 

It’s a good idea to give all of the stones a good mist to make sure that the sand settles in to keep the stones firmly in place. Make sure that you only spray a mist since using too much force will stir up the sand and drive it away.

 

It’s recommended that the steps above be followed every couple of years to maintain the integrity of the interlocked driveway, patio or pathway.

 

When you provide good maintenance to your interlock areas, you will be rewarded with fantastic curb appeal that will last and last. If you have any further questions about interlock that has already been placed around your home or would like to get a quote for an interlock job please contact us through our website at www.egeinterlock.com or call us directly at 416-887-0884.

A lot of people spend quite a bit of money to make their patios into an oasis where time can be spent either with family or alone. It’s a place where a person can retreat for some special “me” time to escape from the world to take a deep breath. Here are some ideas of activities you can use in the privacy of your home patio.

 

Gaze at the Stars

 

When was the last time you just went outside and enjoyed nature in the raw? When you have your home patio, you can head out in the later evening and enjoy a true natural spectacle of stars twinkling above. You may even want to invest in a telescope to turn your patio into an observatory in order to get even more up close and personal with the entire space above.

 

Exercise

 

Invest in a yoga mat and you’ll be able to exercise to your heart’s content without anyone ever knowing what you doing. You can enjoy the wind on your back and the fresh air as you tone your muscles and do the relaxing yoga moves on your patio. You’ll find that it’s much easier to unwind and release the stress of the day when you have space around you in the great outdoors.

 

Read a Book

 

Whether you like to read traditional paper books or have a Kindle or some other sort of electronic reading device, the world is yours on your patio. Don’t forget to put your device onto airplane mode, however, so that you don’t have to deal with any distractions while you’re reading.

 

There are a lot of things that you can do alone on your patio to enjoy the sanctuary that you have created. If you don’t yet have a patio or are in the midst of designing one, please find out more about our services at www.egeinterlock.com.

If you have any concrete around your home, whether it is stamped or not, it’s important to make sure that it is being maintained all year round. Generally speaking, it’s easier to care for concrete during the summer than it is in winter but you should still know what to expect and what you should do to prepare for the heat that lies ahead.
 

Winter Care

While it’s still cold outside, make sure that you pay extra special care of your concrete so that it still looks great in summer. The first cycle for freezing and thawing is especially important so make sure that no de-icing products are used at this time. As well, remember to avoid using salt to melt the snow on your concrete since it can damage the concrete and the sealer on it.

 

In the Spring
 

When winter has left for good and spring has arrived, examine your driveway to look for cracks. While cracks can occur at any time, spring is a good time to make sure that the freeze-thaw cycle didn’t leave behind any damage.  If all is well, it’s time to reseal the concrete surface if it hasn’t been done in the last 3 years. Look for a sealer that is naturally penetrating since it behaves and looks like a natural stone.

 

Make sure that the sealer is applied before the hot weather comes and it is still only warm outside. The concrete must be dry and check the weather report. You’ll want to be sure that there is no rain forecast for the next couple of days to give the sealer enough time to dry.

 

If you have any questions about caring for your concrete driveway or patio at this time of year, as we head into spring and summer, please get in touch with us through our website at www.egeinterlock.com. We’ll be happy to answer any questions you may have.

We have all heard about curb appeal but we may not have given it the value it deserves. After all, the topic usually comes up when a person is buying or selling a home, which does not happen often during our lifetimes. It is something, however, that is taken into account by your neighbours, people that are passing by and by visitors to your home. As well, even though you may not realize it, the curb appeal of your home is noticed by you every time you turn into the driveway.

 

The curb appeal is the part of the home that is seen first. It is the thing that provides a direct reflection of what your home would look like inside. For example, if there are toys strewn along the front lawn on a regular basis, people that see it from the outside will automatically assume that the home is untidy inside. This is just a regular human reaction that may or may not hold merit.

 

What Is Curb Appeal?

 

Curb appeal takes into consideration all of the elements that make up the most visible part of your homes such as the paving, landscaping, paint, decor, and lighting. It’s the area that sets the entire tone of the home so it’s important to consider what type of tone you want to set before doing any major renovations. For example, if you want your home to look friendly and inviting, interlock stones in a warm tone leading up to the front porch, lined with some shrubs or flowers, will say “welcome” to any visitor.

 

You can also have a lot of fun with curb appeal by changing it up according to the seasons. Fall, Spring, Halloween, Christmas and many other holidays can be celebrated at the front of your home. This gives you the chance to show your personality through your home to others.

 

Take another look at the curb appeal of your home and decide whether it needs some sprucing up. If so, please visit our website at www.egeinterlock.com for some great interlock and paving ideas.

 

Paving

If you have just purchased a home or have been in your home for some time, you may find yourself in the position where you need to upgrade the driveway with paving. You’ll have some choice in the materials you use since paving stones are currently being made from asphalt, stone, ceramic, clay and concrete. Each stone comes with its own set of benefits and the type you use will depend on your own personal preference and the ultimate use of the stones.

 

Driveway Paving

The most common types of paving for driveways include asphalt, concrete, and cobblestones. Cobblestones are more expensive than the other two but they look beautiful as a driveway material for any home.

 

Asphalt and concrete are easy to clean and snow removal is a breeze during the winter months. While concrete can last for many years, asphalt has more flexibility and will often last longer. Asphalt can also have a decorative pattern stamped into it just like concrete and it is usually the most cost-effective method.

 

Paving Installation

There are many things that must be taken into account to ensure a long-lasting, finished product. These requirements include installing the asphalt when the weather conditions are right, using the best paving materials, using experienced and skilled excavation contractors for grading along with a highly skilled professional paving contractor.

 

The soil beneath the driveway must be examined and suitable soil must replace any subgrade soil. To just add the paving material to the soil that doesn’t meet the standards is asking for trouble since the driveway will eventually shift and buckle under a load of a vehicle.

 

Find the Right Paving Contractor

Make sure that you look for a reliable contractor that has a lot of experience in the area and can provide references upon request. One of the best ways to find out what the company can do for you is to talk to someone who has already used their services and to look at pictures of comparable work they have done in the past. While you definitely want to find a contractor that is reasonably priced, you’ll want to be sure to work with a company that doesn’t under-charge either. When it comes to paving your driveway, it’s not worth it to cut corners on cost since you’ll want the paving to last for years.

 

Simply let us know what designs you like and we’ll make your dreams come alive!

 

Call today for a free quote for paving and concrete services in Toronto and the GTA or access our site here!

Retaining Wall

A retaining wall can serve different purposes for a property, including functionality, and it can also add aesthetic features. If you are in the market to get a retaining wall added to your property, you’ll want to be certain that the wall will last for many years and will continue to look beautiful as time goes by.

 

There are many new advanced technologies available for retaining wall materials. The stones used are constructed with a solid core and are specially engineered to be able to withstand the extreme range of temperatures and thawing and freezing cycles we experience locally. We make sure that durability is a top priority but at the same time, we don’t sacrifice beauty. Your retaining wall can resemble brick, cobblestone or natural stone and you’ll have a wide range of styles, colours, and shapes to choose from.

 

Retaining walls are the perfect way to outline your yard or to define its shape. The backyard is often used as a multipurpose area and with a retaining wall, you can make the distinction between the garden, the play area and the entertaining area quite obvious in a creative way. You can easily put everything into order when you put up a retaining wall.

 

Retaining walls are also a great way to provide a terracing effect for your garden and to split it up into different areas. Reduce the amount of soil erosion that is occurring in your garden and create attractive and distinctive garden beds with a new, awe-inspiring retaining wall.

 

Our company has constructed a variety of load-bearing and decorative retaining walls that will beautifully and exactly define the shape of any area. We can build a retaining wall that will exceed your expectations.

 

The retaining walls that we construct will last for years since we choose the right materials for each individual project, use proper engineering to ensure the best drainage and use highly skilled and experienced professionals to get the job done. We can transform your lawn and garden into something breathtaking and functional from design through construction to the finished product.

 

Simply let us know what designs you like and we’ll make your dreams come alive!

 

Call today for a free quote for retaining walls design in Toronto and the GTA or access our site here!

Natural Stone Pool

If you are thinking about building a brand-new pool in your backyard, make it your own personal oasis with natural stone. Use stone for the coping, the pool-surround and for the decking. By using natural stone, a wonderful setting can be created in your backyard.

 

How to Choose the Best Stone

There are different types of stones that would work best in different situations. For example, sandstone and granite are very durable while some other types of natural stones, such as travertine, need more sealant because they are very porous.

 

You’ll have different options available and the type of stone you choose will also depend on your own personal preferences. You may want to create a more traditional style or you may opt for something that’s more modern. The best thing you can do is to take a look at the stones available to see which one would be the best for you.

 

As far as colours go, earth tones continue to remain in style with tan and beige colours topping the charts right now. Grey and black still remain popular as well.

 

Both quartzite and granite are great choices for a poolside setting since they don’t retain the heat of the sun and are extremely durable. Bluestone and flagstone have also been popular choices throughout the years.

 

The Benefits of Natural Stone

Natural stone is an investment that will provide many benefits throughout the years. It is more durable and dense than concrete and can withstand a lot of heavy traffic. If you and your family have a busy lifestyle, natural stone is the way to go.

 

If you are going to be barbecuing or even eating around the pool, natural stone doesn’t absorb spills. Even if barbecue sauce or ketchup are spilled on the stone, you won’t be able to notice a colour change once the spill has been cleaned up. Stone remains colour-fast and unlike concrete, it doesn’t fade.

 

Natural Stone Maintenance

Natural stone is a sustainable choice for a poolside area and it adds natural beauty to the area. Each stone comes with its own grain and colour variations and they are extremely low maintenance. It’s recommended that the stones be deep cleaned and then professionally sealed once every 3- 4 years to keep them protected. When cared for properly, natural stone can be expected to last a lifetime.

 

Simply let us know what designs you like and we’ll make your dreams come alive!

 

Call today for a free quote for a swimming pool deck design in Toronto and the GTA or access our site here!

Interlock

When you look up the word “interlock“ in the dictionary you’ll find that it means connecting something with another so that it can’t move. Interlock pavers fit together in this way so that they remain fixed for many years. These pavers are usually made of concrete or cement and since they lock together so perfectly there is no need to use mortar to keep them together.

 

Interlock pavers can be used in a number of different ways, with a wide range of geometric designs as one of their highlighted features. Interlock driveways, walkways, patios, poolside areas and much more are lining the streets across Canada and in your local area. There are many different design selections and colours to choose from so any homeowner is sure to be able to find the perfect stones to create a brilliant look.

 

Durability of Interlock Pavers

Interlock stones also increase the property value of a home since they add to the curb appeal. If you’re planning on staying in your home for many years, they are also a wise investment since they can last for 40 years or more. Maintenance is minimal and repairs are usually very inexpensive since separate areas can be fixed without having to redo the entire driveway or walkway.

 

To ensure the longest life expectancy from your stones we recommend the use of 60mm pavers for walkways and 80mm stones for driveways. The larger stones are able to withstand a vehicle’s weight without cracking or shifting.

 

How to Choose the Right Interlocking Stones

It’s important to choose the right pavers for your project right at the beginning. The design aspect is going to be important so make sure that you work with a company that can provide you with different design ideas based on your preferences and your style of home. You’ll also want to make sure that you choose stones that work into your budget since every stone has its own price tag. You’ll have your choice of colours as well and our company can help you with your final colour selection. We’ll also recommend different stones based on where they are going to be installed.

 

Warranty for Interlocking Stones

Most interlocking pavers come with a 25-year warranty that covers their structural capacity. This may include deteriorating products, discolouration, etc. Many interlocking pavers, however, have been able to last much longer than the 25 years and can often grace the exterior of a home for 40 years or more.

 

When you want to add something special to your home, improve your curb appeal and increase the value of your property, turn to interlocking pavers. These types of stones can quickly transform the entire look of your place and turn it from a house into a home.

 

Simply let us know what designs you like and we’ll make your dreams come alive!

 

Call today for a free quote for interlocking services in Toronto and the GTA or access our site here!

When you need a paving job completed around your business or home and want to be sure that it’s done right the first time, you’ll need to work with a professional paving company. Look for a business that has years of experience with both commercial and residential paving projects and is able to supply pictures and references to you.

 

Here are some of the most important reasons why you should choose a professional company to get your paving project completed:

 

Materials

A professional company knows what types of materials would work best in different types of situations. Specialists will be able to assess your soil, predict the traffic conditions expected for the paved area and envision the type of look you’d like to achieve.

 

Lasts for Years

You’ll want your paving to last for years! A professional company will know how to do proper prep work to make sure that the foundation is laid for a high-quality paving job. Half of the work requires perfect preparation to ensure a highly functional walkway, patio or driveway is laid down.

 

Curb Appeal

Beyond the functionality of the project, the aesthetics are just as important. Look for a company that has a qualified individual that is able to work with your concept of a new driveway, walkway or patio and to bring that vision to life. A professional paving business will have one or more workers that understand the aesthetic art of paving.

 

Professional paving companies also get the job done much more efficiently because they have experience doing it. This will save you time and mean that the job will be done much quicker. As well, in the long-term, you’ll end up saving money down the road since the paving will have been done properly. If you need a paving job done, you can count on EGE Interlocking and Paving to get it done right. Visit our website now at www.egeinterlock.com for more information.