Modernise your home with pavers

Concrete pavers are manufactured in a steel mold under exacting factory conditions, thus resulting in a product that is many times stronger than regular poured concrete. PHOTO BY RACHEL MABALA

Compounds are diverse and many types have been developed over time. However, concrete pavers provide opportunity for varying style, colour and texture.
Hellen Burungi, a manager at Jokamax Construction Company in Mukono says you should first of all before deciding the type you want know the purpose.
Concrete pavers come in different types (gauges) ranging from two to three inches (small and big).
They are also available in different design options such as double T, I-shape, octagon, rectangular, moon and star type, among others.
According to Burungi, some pavers are made to accomodate heavier duty than others. For this reason, one should be mindful of where you want them to be first before applying any type to avoid losses.
The gauge used at home should be different from what is applied in public places. At home, apart from having them in the compound, they can also be applied in drive or walkways.
A three-inch paver is more applicable in places where heavy duty is inevitable. They are bigger than two-inch pavers that are okay to use at home.
Depending on how they are laid out, pavers provide artistic beauty, functionality and durability for a compound.
Fred Mukasa, a builder, says while looking through all of the options, you should not only consider the aesthetic features of the pavers but also the performance.
“Before laying them, level the area, compact the lake sand and fix the pavers according to the desired design,” advises Mukasa

Don’t fall for fakes
Identifying fake pavers from genuine ones might be hard as this calls for expertise during purchase. The extra cost to have an expert tag along is worth it to avoid losses.
Burungi tips that genuine types are characterised with durability thus eliminating breakage, cracks and shrinking. They are also easy to maintain compared to fake pavers that easily break or soak when fixed in a water logged area.
“Poor quality pavers are as a result of poor mixture ratios during production,” she notes

Shopping guide
The cost of pavers depends mostly on the type. On Average, in central region;
•Double T pavers cost Shs700 to Shs800 per piece.
•Rectangular pavers cost Shs700 per piece.
•Moon pavers cost Shs700 to Shs800 per piece.
•Star type pavers cost Shs800 per piece.
• Coloured paver cost Shs50,000 per square metre.

When choosing paver colour
•Paver colour can change depending on the amount of sunlight that hits it. Check the area throughout the day in bright sunlight, filtered sunlight and even at night when landscape lights shine on the pavers. If the area is completely sheltered, you may want to opt for light-coloured pavers that will lighten the area.
•Beware not to fall in love with a paver colour that may not match your home’s exterior. Take a look around and see if you can tie in the colour by repainting window shutters, changing rain gutters and downspouts, switching the front door colour or by refreshing other accents.