Landscaping & Design Ideas

When trying to find the right contractor for your paver job, there are some important questions you should ask. The answers can reflect differences in job price and job quality amongst different contractors competing for the same job. By looking for the best price in town, consumers may be sacrificing quality, safety, and in some cases liability.

In order to ensure a quality installation, the following questions should be asked:

• How long have they been installing pavers?
• Have they been trained by a manufacturer or by the ICPI?  Do they have a written certificate of completion?
• What percentage of their total business consists of installing pavers?
• Will they provide you with three references?
• Can you contact their references and inspect their jobs?
• Do they have a portfolio of photos to qualify themselves?
• Do they currently have a liability insurance certificate?  While on your property, they should be insured for any damage and injuries that may occur.
• Can the contractor provide proof of Worker Compensation insurance?
• Do they install the job per ICPI specifications?
• Do they guarantee their work for at least one year?  Will they return for an inspection before the guarantee expires?

These questions, along with any job specific questions, will ensure you are selecting a competent contractor for you paver project.

On this web site, in the Paver Services section, we make mention of being ICPI Certified.  That may sound good, but what exactly does it mean?

ICPI, or Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute, teaches the ICPI Concrete Paver Installer Certification Course.  This course communicates high standards to contractors who build concrete patios, driveways, plazas, parking lots, and streets.

What do certified installers learn at the program?

• Material and labor estimating
• Sound business practices
• Job layout
• Use of labor saving specialty tools
• Soil classification and compaction
• Base material selection and compaction
• Bedding and joint sand selection and installation
• Edge restraints
• Paver selection and installation
• Basic contract law

Considering that these are factors in all paving jobs, you should insist that your hardscape contractor is ICPI certified.  The industry is also pushing for municipalities to require certification for all paver contractors performing work in their cities.  All too often, paving jobs are undertaken by companies that lack the experience and knowledge to successfully complete a job, leaving customers dissatisfied, and giving our industry a bad reputation.

So, why choose an ICPI Certified Installer?

Knowledge:

ICPI certified installers are industry professionals.  They recognize industry standards on constructing interlocking concrete pavements.

Assurance:

You can be sure that a company with a certified installer on staff is dedicated to quality installation standards and on-going education.

Investing Wisely:

You’re investing in a low-maintenance, long-lasting pavement.  Certified installers can help get the job done right the first time and on time.