Garden Elements - Tumbled Pavers

            Gardens generally consist of 2 elements, softscape (plants, lawn, trees, etc.) and hardscape (patios, pathways, water features, etc.).  This series on Garden Elements will touch on how to use hardscape to improve your garden.  Today’s topic is Tumbled Pavers. 

            Pavers are made from concrete and come in a wide range of colors and styles.  One particular style is the tumbled paver.  Manufacturers create this material by loading a standard paver into a long metal drum.  The drum is then spun.  This softens and chips the edges of the paver and gives the material an old world look.  Pavers are laid on top of a sand base and carefully fitted together with a synthetic piece of edging to hold the borders in place.  Depending on the style of paver, the client can choose from several different patterns from running bond to modified herringbone.

Tumbled pavers are my favorite material for creating patios.  They are only a little more expensive than concrete ($10-$15 per square foot installed for pavers, $8-$12 for concrete) but have a more attractive look. Pavers are also a permeable surface, which means that rainwater goes in between the seams of the pavers and does not runoff into the storm drain.  I especially love the Stone Top Tumbled Paver in brown as seen in the photo above. 

A terrific place to look at all the different styles of pavers is RCP in Santee.  They have a great showroom and wonderful sales staff.  Here is the info for that location, RCP also has stores in Chula Vista, Lemon Grove, Escondido and Encinitas.

RCP Block & Brick  
8755 Magnolia Ave, Santee,
619-448-2240
http://www.rcpblock.com/



Paver patios under construction.

Photo by Doug Kalal, taken at a client's garden in Point Loma & Tierrasanta.