Six Things to Check Before Buying Paving Stones in New Zealand

Installing pavers or paving is one of the great way you can add curb appeal to your home. It is also a fantastic way to create an amazing outdoor space and transform a patio into a beautiful and extraordinary place. Paving stones and paving services are getting more and more popular in New Zealand. According to local stonemasons agency, 60% New Zealander have fascination to decorate their house or garden by paving stones. The demand of paving stones are getting higher and higher as well. 70% paving stones are outsourced by local stone suppliers or local garden suppliers. It is really challenging to select proper size , color and quality paving stones in Auckland, New Zealand. Selecting the best materials to use on your patio can be quite a challenge as they come in different colors, textures, styles and designs and are made by a number of manufacturers. Paving stones are the ultimate choice for anyone who needs an absolute makeover for their patio. They are naturally sourced which means that the color and texture is solely dependent on the parent rock. For natural paving stones, there is no precise continuous color or pattern which is a good thing as it allows you to explore variety. Another great characteristic of paving stones is their extreme durability which allows them withstand the test of time as well as other elements of nature. Here are the six things you need to check before buying paving stones:

I am keen to share some of core technique to select right paving stones from thousands suppliers.

Maintenance Cost :  A patio can be made using many materials but using one made from paving stones gives you an upper hand as it is much easier to install and maintenance cost is considerably lower. Inasmuch as the initial cost is higher than the alternatives, you are guaranteed to save much more in the long run as you will not have to seal or stain continually. Besides, in case repairs are necessary, they are much easier than other options.

Drainage :  It is necessary to have a level patio but you need to ensure it slopes away from the foundation of your home, preferably to a drainage area that already exists or one that can handle some extra moisture. You will need to keep off as much moisture as possible in order to curb the efforts of unwanted vegetation encroaching upon your patio. For a perfect drainage system, it is advisable to plan at a drop in elevation by a quarter of an inch for each two-feet distance.
Variety Incorporation Just as you would run into a few color variations in tiles and wood flooring, paving stones come in different colors. You can take advantage of this and make the slight variations in color work for you. You can blend the varying piles of the stones together to come up with a natural look. That way, you avoid the otherwise obvious traditional patchwork appearance.

Buy Some More Stones
It would be a great idea to purchase a few extra paving stones to avoid inconveniences as you progress with the paving process or in the future. There is no certainty on when your patio may be discontinued and having some more stones available makes repairs easier. Likewise, you may need cut some stones for a perfect natural fit which means you might end up with uneven or fewer stones to actually finish up on the exercise.

Make Cuts in the Stones You may need to create some sort of pattern on your patio using the paving stones. This probably means you will have to cut some stones which also calls for special tools, a cold chisel for instance. For a beautiful and natural looking patio, use different shaped stones or make the sizes vary, but ensure they match. If you need squared stones, the best combination would be with rectangular ones and varied in size.
Keep the Edge Tight Plan for a perfect solid edge as this will help control the effect of movement on your paving stones. This can be done by using additional stones(one of the reasons why you will need some extra), a solid cement lip or vinyl edging. Other than making your patio stable, this will significantly help to minimize creeping weeds.