Though laying pavers is a simple step-by-step process, every stone has to be laid with meticulous care, says Gary Stowe, owner of Stowe Contracting, Inc. in Marina. It’s a skill that comes with practice, which in turn comes only with experience.
“Paving jobs are much better now than they were 15 years ago, merely because the installers have so much practice,” says Mr. Stowe. He says the first rule when choosing a paving company is to look for experience. “People have lost their homes over significant accidents that have occurred,” he continues, “so it’s vital for a paving company to be licensed.” Anyone you hire should also be certified by the Interlocking Concrete Paver Institute (ICPI), the industry’s governing body. ICPI sets standards for all paving products and installations.
Before hiring a paving company, Mr. Stowe suggests you check references—a policy by which he even abides. “With 23 years in the industry, I still find myself going back to subcontractors,” he says.
Be on alert for “paper contractors” whose sole job is to sell pavers, says Mr. Stowe. They have no installation crew backing them, and they wait until a sale is made before even contracting with one. “Companies without crews advertise all the time; the only crews they have are made up of salespeople,” he says. “You never know who’ll be working for them, or what the end result will be. Their business isn’t dedicated to pavers. It’s dedicated to selling.”
