Research your options and needs before buying Paving
Paving is an attractive and useful way to spruce up your back yard, patio, path, or driveway. With an increased focus on outdoors living and entertaining, paving provides a functional addition to any property while adding resale value.
Garden paving comes in a variety of materials, from marble to concrete, and can be professionally laid, or tackled as a relatively simple DIY job, depending on the type of paver chosen. Paving has a big effect on the overall look of your property and can make or break your patio, driveway or path.
When you are actually buying paving the number of different options can be confusing and it can be difficult to decide which is your best buy. The
Buyz123 three step guide - Research, Evaluation, Purchase - is designed to assist you in this buying process.
The
Research step firstly involves investigating essential features of paving available on the market, and secondly identifying your actual needs in paving.
In the
Evaluation step you focus on how well the different features of individual paving solutions meet your needs, and then how well the most suitable paving compares in detail, one to another.
Finally, in the
Purchase step, the issues considered are: what to look for when actually buying the paving, what questions to ask and what information you should seek on warranty, customer service, and after-sales support.
As you work though the
Buyz123 purchase strategy you will clarify your thoughts about your intended purchase, confidently compare paving options one to another, and then purchase paving that really does meet your needs.
Step 1: Research
In order to end up with the paving best suited to your needs, you have to clearly understand what you are looking for and what options are available to you. This is done by researching in two areas.
Firstly, you research the market to find out what kinds of paving are available, familiarizing yourself with the different features, styles and price ranges etc. Secondly, you examine your own unique requirements in paving.
Research the market: Paving essentials
The first part of the research step is to investigate just what's available in the paving market. The range of options can seem daunting, but you can make a good start by understanding the following major features:
Type: Paving materials come in every shape and size imaginable. You have a wide choice of paver design patterns, including the simple, stacked bond pattern, the running bond, the classic basket weave, the formal zigzag herringbone, or rustic stone pavers. Once you go in pursuit of the perfect paver, you will find there is a huge selection to suit every type of garden, from contemporary courtyard to cozy cottage.
Materials: There are many different types of paving materials to choose from, including stone and marble, pressed and colored concrete, asphalt, brick (old or new), ceramic tile, crazy-paving, and terracotta pavers.
Size: Paving comes in all shapes and sizes and is used by those with the smallest outdoor patio, to completely paved backyards for those who dislike garden maintenance. Your imagination - and budget - is the only limit to the design of your paving.
Cost: Depending on whether you opt for garden paving of marble, brick, or concrete, prices range from affordable for a pressed concrete patio, to extremely pricey for a decorative path paved with custom-made, heart shaped ceramic tiles.
Research your needs: Questions to ask yourself
Now it's time to determine what your requirements are in a paving. For example, will you use the paving only to create some paths through your garden or do you need to pave a backyard entertaining area?
You can start this process by considering the following questions - as well as any others you think of yourself - and recording your answers.
| Have I used paving before? |
| | If you have used paving, work out what you did or didn't like about the paving. You may be looking for some exactly the same, hoping to upgrade, or even trying to avoid any particular features that you found inconvenient. |
| What is the main purpose of the paving? |
| | Perhaps you want paving for a patio, to create an attractive garden path, or to make a stunning, yet practical, driveway to complement your home. |
| What type of paving do I want? |
| | You may like the natural, varied look of stone, but are thinking concrete may be more functional. You could have a crazy-paving path or antique brick patio, or a basket weave or herringbone paving, rustic terracotta or contemporary ceramic tile. |
| How long do I want the paving to last? |
| | You could want your paving to endure as long as the garden or maybe you like to have a back yard makeover every few years. If you will be moving house within a two year period, unless the paving increases the value of your house so that you will make your money back, you probably should limit the money spent on garden paving |
| Am I a DIY addict? |
| | You may have the skills and tools to lay the paving yourself or perhaps you will have to budget for a professional. |
Planning for garden paving requires careful consideration of both aesthetic and functional issues. Because paving is more enduring than plants, it is important to get it right first time. The time you spend on planning will be time well spent.
Understanding your needs is the key to a successful purchase and you can revisit your list of needs at any time during the buying process.
Once you complete this Research step, having informed yourself about the essentials of paving and identified your needs, you are ready to move on to the next step: Evaluation.
Video Links
Buyz123.com Research Links:Eco-FriendlyEco Friendly Rubber PaversPaving AlternativesStamped ConcretePicturesPictures of Paving PatternsTypesClay PavingRubber PaversPictures of Concrete Pavers