Construction process
With Winnipeg's always-shifting clay ground, hardscapes need to be engineered to adapt to inevitable movement. This can be accomplished through a proper foundation and a flexible interlocking brick system.
1. Excavate organic material
First we remove as much clay and organic matter as possible. Organics will decompose over time, causing settling, and clay expands and contracts significantly with changes in moisture content. The area under your future patio will be excavated to a depth of 8" or more to make room for a layer of drainage stone.
We escavate at a 1.5% slope to make sure water is directed away from your house or garage.
2. Lay geotextile
We install a geotextile membrane, sometimes called landscaping fabric, as a barrier between the stone base and the clay sub-soil. The geotextile is a water-permeable fabric that allows water to drain out of the base stone while preventing the clay sub-soil from mixing with the foundation.
3. Add and compact stone base
The excavated material will be replaced with a 6 to 8 inch layer of crushed stone. 3/4" down crushed limestone has excellent drainage properties, allowing moisture to drain away from the surface of the patio where it can do the most damage.
To increase load-bearing capacity and prevent settling, the crushed stone is pressed down with a vibrating plate compactor.
We ensure that the stone base extends beyond the finished footprint of the patio, driveway or retaining wall. This adds additional stability, preventing issues like edge cracking or a gradual caving.
4. Lay bricks
With the construction of a proper foundation complete, we have done what we can to minimize and control the movement of the ground. Unfortunately we cannot eliminate movement completely, so for the surface itself, we need to use materials that will accommodate movement. This is where concrete pavers and modular retaining walls come in. Rather than a single piece of concrete, hundreds of bricks function as a system that allows for movement between units.
5. Sweep and vibrate in polymeric sand
Many once-beautiful patios have transformed into weedy eyesores over the years. The sand often employed to fill the joints between pavers and stones tends to blow away with wind and washed away by rain. Weeds love unoccupied dirt and so do ants.
Polymeric sand all but eliminates this problem. It's a fine sand mixed with a powdered epoxy. We sweep and vibrate polymeric sand into the joints then we wet the entire surface. Water activates the epoxy adhesive, cementing the sand into places. It creates a flexible interlock.
Unlike with normal sand, patios with polymeric sand can be cleaned with a hose or even a pressure washer without a worry.
6. Clean up
With the polymeric sand installed, your patio only needs a couple of hours of drying time before it is ready to use. During that time we will clean up the work site and repair any damage to your yard caused by our machines. We leave your yard clean and ready to enjoy.
