Interlock Archives - Oaks Home Services

Design Trends for Interlocking Driveways in Vaughan: What’s Hot in 2023

Interlocking driveways have become increasingly popular for homeowners in Vaughan, as they provide an aesthetically pleasing and durable option for paving their driveways. With spring of 2023 just around the corner, it’s worth looking at some of the design trends expected to be popular in interlocking driveways.

Natural Stone Look

Creating a natural stone look is expected to be a trend in 2023. This look can be achieved by using interlocking pavers that resemble natural stone. With a wide range of colours and styles available, it’s easy to create a unique and custom look for your driveway.

Large Format Pavers

Another trend that is expected to gain popularity in 2023 is the use of large format pavers. These larger pavers create a sleek and modern look, with fewer seams and joints. They can also help to make a small driveway look larger.

Mixed Materials

Mixing materials is another trend that is likely to continue in 2023. Homeowners are combining different types of interlocking pavers to create unique designs and patterns. For example, combining concrete pavers with natural stone pavers can create a stunning visual effect.

Bold Colours

Bold colours are set to be popular in 2023. Homeowners are no longer afraid to add a pop of colour to their driveway designs. Vibrant blues, greens, and yellows are all expected to be popular choices.

Geometric Patterns

Geometric patterns are another trend that is set to be popular in 2023. From hexagonal pavers to diamond shapes, these designs can create a unique and eye-catching driveway.

Permeable Pavers

Permeable pavers are a growing trend in interlocking driveways. They allow water to drain through them, which can help to reduce the risk of flooding and water damage. These pavers are also environmentally friendly, as they help to prevent rainwater runoff from polluting local waterways.

Minimalist Designs

Minimalist designs are expected to be popular in 2023. Simple patterns, neutral colours, and clean lines are all elements of this trend. This design style is perfect for homeowners who want a modern and minimalist look for their driveway.

If you’re looking to update or install an interlocking driveway in Vaughan, consider working with Oaks Home Services. Our team of experts can help you choose the perfect design trend to fit your style and budget. With years of experience in the industry, we have the knowledge and expertise to install a high-quality interlocking driveway that will last for years to come. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and take the first step toward creating your dream driveway.

Preserving and Maintaining Your Interlocking and Flagstone

How Do I Ensure My Interlocking and Flagstone Stay Looking Beautiful?

Oaks Home Services has hundreds of satisfied clients all over the GTA. If you are lucky enough to have flagstone or interlocking stone from Oaks Home Services on your property, congratulations to you.

When it comes to preserving your interlocking flagstone, there are a few key things to keep in mind. You should seal your flagstone on a yearly basis to protect it from moisture and stains. If you live in an area like Canada that experiences freezing temperatures, be sure to take measures to prevent your flagstone from cracking or breaking by using de-icing products and/or covering it with a tarp or other protective material when the weather is bad.

You have a beautiful and unique space that should last for many years with the proper care. Here are a few tips and tricks to keep your flagstone or interlocking stone looking its best:

Sweep regularly to remove dirt, debris, and leaves to prevent buildup and damage.
Use a hose with a gentle nozzle sprayer attachment to clean the surface. avoid using a pressure or power washer, as this can skin a layer right off of the stone and significantly damage it.

Canada tends to have some snow, in that case, use a plastic shovel to remove snow from the surface. As metal shovels have the ability to scratch the stone.
In cases where moss or algae is present, mix up a solution of 1 part bleach to 10 parts water and scrub the surface with a brush. rinse well with clean water afterwards.

Stains can be left from leaves and other natural debris, when this occurs you can use a mild detergent or soap and a stiff brush to clean them. always rinse the surface well afterwards.
If you are experiencing tougher stains, such as oil or grease, you can use a diluted solution of trisodium phosphate (tsp) and water. scrub the surface with a brush and rinse well afterwards.

For rust stains, mix up a paste of oxalic acid crystals and water and apply it to the stain. let it sit for 30 minutes before scrubbing with a brush and rinsing well.
Cracks and chips are commonplace issues for all types of interlocking stone over time, epoxy resin is the perfect solution to fill in the holes and cracks.

Following these simple steps will help protect, preserve and maintain all types of interlocking surfaces and flagstone hardscapes. Oaks Home Services is committed to helping all homeowners get the absolute most out of every inch of their place.

Different Types of Stone Commonly Used for Residential Interlocking

What Type of Interlocking Stone Do I Need For My Home?

Interlocking hardscapes can be constructed with many different types of stone. Granite is a popular choice because it is highly durable and strong. Other popular choices are limestone, sandstone, and slate.

In interlocking design, granite is a very popular choice because it is so strong and durable. In addition to being a highly attractive material, granite can also add value to your home. Nevertheless, granite can be quite expensive, and it can crack in freezing temperatures, so it is not always the best choice for homes in cold climates

For interlocking projects, limestone is another popular choice. It has a beautiful natural colour and is less expensive than granite. In addition to being extremely strong and durable, limestone is also extremely easy to clean and maintain. It can withstand a lot of wear and tear, making it ideal for high-traffic areas. Usually, you simply need to sweep it or hose it down to keep it clean. The affordability of limestone makes it an attractive choice for budget-conscious shoppers.

As a result of its durability, weather resistance, and affordability, sandstone has become a popular choice for interlocking. Sandstone also comes in a wide variety of colours and styles, making it possible to find the perfect match for your home’s unique aesthetic. The porous nature of sandstone means that it is susceptible to external elements and stains easily.

Interlocking stone with slate is a beautiful and unique option. It is extremely durable and strong, but it can be quite costly. Slate is available in a variety of colours, making it an excellent choice for many different design schemes. If you live in an area where it rains or snows a lot, slate may not be the best choice since it can be very slippery when wet.

Interlocking designs around your property will enhance the curb appeal and value of your property, as well as the form, functionality, and design of your home. In addition to our years of experience sourcing and installing interlocking stone, Oaks Home Services has experts who have first-hand knowledge of all different types and kinds of interlocking stone, as well as what type of stone will work best for your property.

So now you know the different types of Interlocking stone that are most commonly used in residential interlocking projects. Our professional interlocking experts have experience installing every type of stone listed above and know which stone will work best with your backyard space.

We can help you find the best option for you and your interlocking. Looking for some inspiration? Check out some of our previous backyard design galleries. Ready to get started with your projected vision? Contact Oaks Home Services.

How To Install Interlocking Stone Pavement The Right Way

Your driveway must be able to withstand any kind of wear. Good composition of different materials means that the entrance is not deformed over time. As you are building a new driveway from scratch, it is important that you take into account its function, the house’s façade, the environment around and not least for your own taste and taste. The diligence and accuracy with which the work is performed is one of the most important parts when constructing a driveway, and at our company you will find a wide range of different materials available.

Constructing durable interlock driveway: Toronto experts dish their secrets

Ensuring that your interlocking driveway stays strong and looks sparkling new as years go by starts with hiring the right team of professionals to lay it. Making the interlocking driveway surface strong and durable requires skillful performance. The work is divided into different parts.

Preliminary work – measure and mark
Leveling
Laying the edges
Laying the basis
Paving
Creating a stylish finish

If the outdoor flooring is designed for patios, terraces, arcades, driveways or even walkways in the garden, it is important to choose a material in harmony with the style of the interiors. Continuity is important in general for all external areas: especially if the spaces are not large, it is good to avoid the use of completely different materials or in any case different finishes (for example for the pool side different from the pedestrian path that reaches it). When choosing the material it is necessary to take into account the climatic conditions: in an area with a high risk of frost, it will be necessary to orientate on tiles with high resistance, while in areas with frequent rainfall it will be more suitable for outdoor coatings with low water absorption. These specifications, such as for example the resistance to slipping and the resistance to bending or the visibility of the fingerprints, are also indicated with intuitive pictograms on the technical data sheets and in the product catalogs.

Failproof instructions for laying pavers

Before buying the materials and proceeding with the work, it is essential to carry out a survey of the area and a preliminary outline of what will have to be done. An important precaution in the preparation of the pavement is to create a slight slope in the opposite direction with respect to the walls of the dwelling, equal to at least 2%, to allow the drainage of rainwater and avoid stagnation. To make your future work easier, create the edges of the area to be paved, possibly using bricks or square stones.

Here are our tips to perform the laying of the lining properly, depending on whether it is on sand, grass or gravel, the latter indicated for large surfaces, for laying with joints of reduced width or without grass. In the case of elevated laying (on terraces or practicable floors) it is possible to realize a raised floor level, but able to allow the evacuation of rainwater.

Level and compact the surface and remove any raised elements (stones or raised roots). In the case of grass, it is possible to prepare a special substrate. Excavation is carried out in depth (approximately 10-12 inches) and is filled with gravel (grain size 3/4 inches) or sand to be compacted before dry laying.
The stoneware elements are placed side by side, leaving 1/8-1/4 joints. In the case of turf, the aesthetic result will be enhanced by the growth of grass at the joints. The result will be of good duration but subject to the movements of the ground.
Dig the soil to a depth of at least 8 inches in dry climates and with draining soil, or higher in cold or rainy climates. Compact the bottom of the excavation and make sure it is slightly sloping. Laying a layer of non-woven fabric is recommended. Position and compact a layer of gravel (grain size 3/4 inches). Overlap and compact a layer of fine gravel (grain size 1/4 inches) to make it easier to level the surface.
Check the flatness of the surface with a straight edge. It is advisable to leave a slope of at least 2% to ensure the flow of water from the floor.
Install the stoneware elements, leaving joints of at least 2 millimeters. When laying, spacers can be used that are usually applied for laying tiles.
After checking the flatness of the floor with the straight edge and possibly using a rubber hammer to correct small differences in level, fill the joints with very fine sand (grain size 0-3 mm) or with fine sand with added polymers.
After making the floor and its slopes, install the waterproofing sheath.
The number of supports required varies according to the format and the geometric characteristics of the environment in which it is installed. It is advisable to follow the instructions for the provision provided by the manufacturer. In the case of laying near a wall, cut the base of the supports with a hose or hacksaw, without damaging the central circular part. During installation, adjust each support to obtain a planar floor. If necessary, use slope correctors.

Essential Tips For Maintaining Your Interlock Driveway, Walkway Or Patio

Properly constructed interlocking driveway is an area that you can enjoy for many years. The surface is largely maintenance-free, but like with everything that is outdoors, there is a gradual soiling through pollution caused from air and traffic. In order to keep your pavers in good condition, here are some tips and care instructions.

Interlocking driveway in Toronto, Richmond Hill, Vaughan and other Ontario cities: how practical is it?

It is practical and aesthetically rewarding to use interlocking stones to construct driveways, not only because they look better, but because of their durability that spans up to 4 decades, which is a total win if we take into consideration the contrasting temperatures of Ontario. The stone pavers are easy to lay and are available in different sizes and designs so that you can easily create your own practical and personalized driveway – and don’t have any trouble in upkeeping it. It is nevertheless essential to observe several simple rules to prolong the longevity of your interlocking driveway – today, the experts in tiling works dish their secrets on how to use your sophisticated stone paver driveway in a way that will spare you the trouble of renovating it in years to come!

Practical maintenance tips for interlock driveways, patios and walkways

Cleaning

Dirt caused by air and traffic pollution is easiest to remove with water and broom. At harder coating add detergent.

Filling joints

The joint is an essential part of the ground stone and it is important that it is filled for the entire period of use in order to the surface should not become unstable. A good and well-stocked joint makes it also harder for weeds to get attached. Weather and wind can remove some of the joint material, this is why it may be necessary to supplement joint sand (recommended grain size 0-2 mm).

Moss, mushrooms, algae

On terraces, interlocking walkways and driveways, the stone may in some cases get a coating of algae, fungi or moss. If necessary, the coating can be removed by 10% ammonia solution, weed poison, 1: 1 chlorine solution or a specific formula.

Oil

Oil stains can be removed with scouring agents and hot water. Different types of degreasing are also good. Fresh oil stains are sucked up with paper, cloth or sawdust. Oil does not damage the stone.

Paint

To soak up paint based on solvent, a cloth is used, then the surface is covered with sawdust in approx. 1 day. Water-based paint is also taken up with a soaked cloth, but then the surface is washed clean with water.

Rust spots

Rust stain spots can be removed with brush washing.

Efflorescence

Lime precipitation may occur, but is not compulsory. It does not impair the product’s durability but is a natural part of the concrete’s curing process. As a rule, the precipitates are torn off after one time. In severe attacks, hydrochloric acid (mixture 1: 5) used with subsequent washing. Care should be taken near vegetation.

Winter Maintenance

Winter and snow are not only about sparkling landscapes and hot chocolate. It is also associated with ice, both visible and hidden, but always to the bother whether it’s lurking in the garden path where you go or the road where you drive. Salting is a popular method. The result is often good but it is a method which is not particularly gentle on the surface it is lying on and the environment around. As an alternative, you can:

Do not use salt on the ground or flat surface; corrosion damage to the concrete surface can occur with more porous and more fragile stones / pavers. Especially newly made concrete products are extra sensitive to salt. Instead, scoop off the snow and sand or alternatively then grind the surface to get a better grip.
Rinse surfaces where cars are often parked, especially if they are in one place every day. The snow mud in the wheel arches often contains concentrated amounts of salt which over time wear out on the concrete surface.

Weeds

In order to combat possible weeds, in addition to weed can, several methods are used. On smaller surfaces, mechanical cleaning is a good and effective alternative. Another environmentally friendly method suitable for larger areas is burning with LPG. Excessive use, however, can damage the surface.

Category: Interlock