December Photo Contest-Best Paver Walkway

[Mbella]

Ok.... Here it is guys. Our first monthly contest will be for the "Best Walkway." The details are as follows:

Entries

1. One submission per entrant
2. Each entrant has to submit a minimum of two pics. The two required pics will be one of the project showing the overall scope and the other a close up of the border cuts (must be close enough to judge quality.) A third pic that you feel best showcases your project may be submitted as well. No more than three pics should be submitted.
3. The pics must be of work that was performed by the entrant, or their company.
4. All entries must be posted by midnight EST on 12/23/07.
5. The winner will be announced the first week of January 08.

Voting/Judging

1. Voting will take place between 12/24 & 12/31. All votes must be posted by midnight on the last day.
2. A poll will be set up in this forum to record the votes
3. Projects should be judged on the following critera: Creativity, Difficulty of project and Quality of cuts. Emphasis should be placed on the overall qualilty of the project.
4. Voting is limited to one vote per member
5. All voters must be registered members of Prohardscaper.com

Prizes

:first:$50.00 cash and a Prohardscaper.com T-shirt.:first:

Good luck to everybody. May the best hardscaper win!!!!!

[MuirView Design]

Mike, where are they to be posted? Do Travertine Pavers count?

[cgland]

Post them right here. For now we are limiting it to Pavers. We will be having future contests which will encompass natural materials. Pavers for now

Chris

[mckeeland]

Well these are the best looking pics i have of walkways on digital. I have got to get out and update my pics with some better shots. a lot of mine are immediately after construction. So here they are, can i least get honorable mention for posting first?:BigSmile:

[cgland]

........................

[zedosix]

Here are a few from 2 yrs past. Steps and pillars are unilock Brussels dimensional block, and pavers are trans-pave semita modular.

[scaper27]

well I know will get at least last place.

The grey in Grinnell Meridian and the other is Cambridge

[mrusk]

I do not think its fair to have canadians in the contest!!!!!

[MuirView Design]

Zedo,

Do you ever wish you would've curved that accent wall behind the circular step? I know it balances with the pillars on the stoop, but a curved wall seems less rigid. Just curious.

[zedosix]

There could always be design changes, but in this case I was happy with the outcome.

[tthomass]

Pavers........hmph! I just signed a wet lay.

[patpls]

I have a job that I thought was effective, let's see what you guys think.

[tthomass]

better be sober when we walk down that one!

[GreenMonster]

I like the circle work

Here's a couple from an extensive walkway we did last year.

Techo Allegro in Rusty grey.

The larger stones in the bed were sold to the homeowner when he went to pick out the stone. They described it as "accent" stone. I think it looks like chit. The homeowner agreed.... when we went back in the fall to do more work, it was gone.

Unfortunately, we didn't plant this and the homeowner butchered it.

[cgland]

Hey guys - Just a reminder.....This is a contest where people are posting pictures of work that they are proud of. This is not the place to criticize work. If you would like, after the contest is over we can open it up to discussion, but for now let's keep it positive. We are all professionals BTW.

Chris

[gary1328]

Since it is a walkway contest:

[mckeeland]

Really nice work Gary, love the porch and bullnose work. that 3" bullnose is a pain, i was so happy when they started making 6", especially that little corner pieces.

[gary1328]

Thanks man, I appreciate it. Also, I had to return a bunch of bullnose, because the thickness was very inconsistant. This batch must of got skipped at the quality control line.

[Colonial]

here is one

[Colonial]

here is one more

[cgland]

...........................

[MuirView Design]

If I had to choose.....

[tcalb2]

Colonial: How did those paver lights go in. Do they work well? I've been interested in using them next spring on a walkway I have coming up.

[Colonial]

Actually i was not a big fan of them at first, we have done about 6-10 of them now, some along driveways and they actually work pretty well. I just dont like the way they stand out. I'll try and track down some night time phots we took of a few that look really sharp. One thing to remember is to educate your customer that from a distance they do not look very bright, but once you are walking along that walk or pulling in the driveway they do a really good job at lighting it up, that and make sure your spacing is good, dont want a dark spot on a walk.

[tcalb2]

That would be great to see some night photos. I appreciate the help

[chardscapes]

Unilock from this year

[SCgreenscapes]

muirview: what stone is that you used. I love those pics. They really draw you down the path.

[custom patios]

Everyones work looks good. Just a couple of suggestions if i might. Always use a soldier or sailor course for better edge integrity. Never do a running bond pattern and split the pattern so that you have cuts on the inside. instead, run full patterns all the way to the edges even if you have a split walk. then use your border paver. always put cuts on outside and then border paver outside that. it just looks more professional. just a thought though.
Steveo:humble:

[zedosix]

Everyones work looks good. Just a couple of suggestions if i might. Always use a soldier or sailor course for better edge integrity. Never do a running bond pattern and split the pattern so that you have cuts on the inside. instead, run full patterns all the way to the edges even if you have a split walk. then use your border paver. always put cuts on outside and then border paver outside that. it just looks more professional. just a thought though.
Steveo:humble:

Pictures please.

[custom patios]

maybe someone can tell me how to get some pictures on this damn thing. i bang rocks around for a living. i dont know computers to well:alien:.ive got to get them off my slide show from another computer and then get them on this one. then what?:noidea:
steveo

[MuirView Design]

maybe someone can tell me how to get some pictures on this damn thing. i bang rocks around for a living. i dont know computers to well:alien:.ive got to get them off my slide show from another computer and then get them on this one. then what?:noidea:
steveo

Steve,

Sent you a PM regarding posting pics.

[MuirView Design]

muirview: what stone is that you used. I love those pics. They really draw you down the path.

That is EP Henry Coventry IV. 6x12 in a 45 degree herringbone. Thanks, I've been really working hard and taking better pictures. I think everyone should read up a little on photography in this business.

[kootoomootoo]

Everyones work looks good. Just a couple of suggestions if i might. Always use a soldier or sailor course for better edge integrity. Never do a running bond pattern and split the pattern so that you have cuts on the inside. instead, run full patterns all the way to the edges even if you have a split walk. then use your border paver. always put cuts on outside and then border paver outside that. it just looks more professional. just a thought though.
Steveo:humble:


Need an interpreter ......thanks.

[cgland]

Why should you never do a running bond walkway? I think they look great and they lead your eye. They don't belong in every installation, but in places where you are just installing a walkway, i love them. In a residential setting, strength created by a pattern is not super important, Plus they are easy to install.

Chris

[GreenMonster]

Why should you never do a running bond walkway? I think they look great and they lead your eye. They don't belong in every installation, but in places where you are just installing a walkway, i love them. In a residential setting, strength created by a pattern is not super important, Plus they are easy to install.

Chris

I love running bond for walkways. Generally, I try to sell that pattern for a walk.

[custom patios]

i didnt mean never do a running bond. i just saw a picture sent by gary that had a running bond, but where the walk begins to flair wider, the builder chose to split the pattern and make cuts in the middle of the pattern. instead, where the walkway widens, just add more courses of pattern and do your cuts on the outside by the soldier course. no harm meant. there is no wrong way. once i figure out how to resize some pics ill show you
steveo

[GreenMonster]

gary did it the same way we would

[cgland]

How can you get it to flow if you don't do it that way. To me it would seem as if the pattern would end at an inappropriate point.

Chris

[custom patios]

actually, its quite the opposite. because you dont have your cuts interupting the pattern in the middle of your walkway. you eliminate that wedge or triangle shape of cuts in your pattern. the pattern actually flows nicer i believe because it is uninterupted.try it. next time you do a flair at the driveway, go ahead and put your soldier course in. now. lets say you have a 4 foot walk and it flairs to 8 feet. continue the pattern centered inbetween the flairs. youll have open wedge shapes on either side of your centered 4 foot pattern. now fill in those wedges by adding courses of running bond untill you have to cut. do your cuts.try this and youll never do it the other way again. i cant count how many people i have shown this. but then again, there is no real right way.
steveo
Custom Patios... "why compromise"

[Colonial]

We have done it both ways, the "triangle" in the middle and by running the pattern out and doing the cuts on the outside. Really just depends what you like. A lot of customers love that "triangle" , gives it a little design in a running bond. It does nothing to harm or help structrally either way, really is more an aesthetics thing. I used to run alot of walkways in modified K and random because i thought the running bond was boring. i'll tell you what though a running bond using mixed pavers to me looks nicer now then a modified K and its alot quicker to lay. Again alot of it is personal preference. IMO

[CaptainsLS]

I agree with you colonial, here in New England the "triangle" in the middle concept is synonymous with any running bond brick walk. On paver applications I prefer not to cut in the middle. I don’t see how it affects the integrity of the structure? Completely aesthetics.

[SCgreenscapes]

hey guys...less talk, more pictures...

[SCgreenscapes]

Here are a couple of pics from one last year. It is not bad, but now my best work. actually, that was my first raised patio and raised sidewalk. the home had poor drainage, so we build a raised sidewalk and paito and back filled in front of it to correct the drainage. I am working on one today and tomorrow and will post pics tomorrow of it.

[cgland]

I understand what you are talking about, but in the project that Gary posted, I think it would not look as nice as the way he did it.

Chris

[cgland]

Hey guys, let's remember....this is a contest w/ only one project allowed per entrant. So make sure you have the project on here that you want to be judged, other wise it will be disregarded.

Chris

[zedosix]

gary did it the same way we would

We do our cuts at the border, not in the middle like shown. It tends to get a bit messy. Although Gary seems to have made it look not too bad.

[MuirView Design]

I like it both ways. I think Gary did a great job and I don't see any other way to pull it off when you have a walkway that splits into three. If you continue the bond you end up running the bond horizontally to the adjoining walkway. When doing a flair, I like to see the cuts on the outside also. But, when you come around a hard curve into a flair, you end up hugging the inside with the bond and having all your cuts on the outside curve. Either way works as long as it's locked in with a border.

[HRLand]

Remember, the focus here is on the walkway. We didn't do the planting.
535
536

[custom patios]

i love the walk. nice cuts. one question.how come you chose not to miter the corners of your flairs. anyway, from what i can see,nice crisp clean lines from great cuts.
steveo

[SCgreenscapes]

I was noticing the fact that on the left side of the flare the verticle soldier corse goes to the black top and on the other side is does not? is there a reason for this? I tyically take my horizontal soldier corse all the way accross and then run the verticles into it.

[Evening Star Lighting]

Tremron pavers in Decor & Old Cobble Heritage Blend. 6x6 & 6x9 in running bond. ES Accent Lighting. 6 weeks with 3 guys (Including me).

[HRLand]

Thanks Steveo. To answer both of your questions, that's what happens when the boss isn't always around. My guys do a good job but sometimes details get overlooked. Unfortunately the driveway was paved an hour after they finished otherwise I would have pulled up some pieces and matched the ends.

[mckeeland]

Tremron pavers in Decor & Old Cobble Heritage Blend. 6x6 & 6x9 in running bond. ES Accent Lighting. 6 weeks with 3 guys (Including me).

Man, i didnt know we had palm trees in NJ? :noidea:

[Colonial]

LOL mckee was thinkin the same thing

[CaptainsLS]

I like that paver in pict 1, you don’t see that pattern around here. Is that Pavestone? BTW, nice cuts and where is that project?

[cgland]

I'm pretty sure I said Walkways! Come on guys! Let's keep it within the constraints of the contest. Are we not reading the rules?

Chris

[kootoomootoo]

I'm pretty sure I said Walkways! Come on guys! Let's keep it within the constraints of the contest. Are we not reading the rules?

Chris


What month is landing pad for UFO contest>? We have a winner.

[cgland]

Hey guys - Just a reminder...Only one week left to get your walkway pics in. If you have posted more than one project, please choose only one as your entry. Remember the prize..ProHardscaper.com T-Shirt and $50.00 cashola! Next week we will post a poll, so be on the lookout! Good Luck!

Chris

[Evening Star Lighting]

Man, i didnt know we had palm trees in NJ? :noidea:


I bet you didn't know they have pavers in Florida... :loco:

They work all year round too.

[JZap]

Alright Here we go. This is actually my second paver job I ever did, but it took me 4 times as long as it would now haha. It is EP Henry OTC-HB with Granite steps and under bench.
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b7d835b3127cce858343648d2d00000036100AYtWzZu1aNm MA
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b7d835b3127cce858351c80cb800000036100AYtWzZu1aNm MA
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b7d835b3127cce858350ba4c5200000036100AYtWzZu1aNm MA

[custom patios]

those are some nice shots. the lighting is very dramatic. did you design the comprehensive plan for the clients, or or just the hardscaping and lighting?
nicely mitered corner by the way. good detail. info please.
steveo

[JZap]

those are some nice shots. the lighting is very dramatic. did you design the comprehensive plan for the clients, or or just the hardscaping and lighting?
nicely mitered corner by the way. good detail. info please.
steveo
Unless he flew his company down to Florida or at least where palm trees can survive in October (notice the pumpkins) I have a feeling it wasn't a vaild entry.

[custom patios]

im not so sure.:plane: tell em evening.

[JZap]

Did he me move from FL or something? I'm not doubting he did the work, but I have to say they look like professional photos as well. If he actually did it kudos to you!

[Sodking]

I pale in comparison to the work I have seen many on this board produce but here are two of mine...


The last one should be under the heading "most expensive 15' walkway at a university....$$23,000....

[JZap]

The last one should be under the heading "most expensive 15' walkway at a university....$$23,000....

Why $23K? even if it had radiant heat, I'm curious. Is that just concrete?

[chardscapes]

:boink:huh ????

[Sodking]

The issue was a very large piece of the old foundation, more like an old poured/barred step, was sitting under the slab walkway. Water would get between the two slabs and freeze pushing the walkway slab to rise and jamb the door shut. Removing the old step wasn't an option for some reason, structural. We had to excavate and pour three foundation walls, re bar and epoxy to the old foundation to divert the underground flow of water around the walk. We basically built a room under the walkway...Oh and the main trunkline for the phone/computer system ran through the middle of it...

[Mbella]

The issue was a very large piece of the old foundation, more like an old poured/barred step, was sitting under the slab walkway. Water would get between the two slabs and freeze pushing the walkway slab to rise and jamb the door shut. Removing the old step wasn't an option for some reason, structural. We had to excavate and pour three foundation walls, re bar and epoxy to the old foundation to divert the underground flow of water around the walk. We basically built a room under the walkway...Oh and the main trunkline for the phone/computer system ran through the middle of it...


Damn, I was betting that you traded a year of tuition for the work.:doh:

[Sodking]

I would have except I graduated from UNH 17 years before I installed the walkway....

[-EGLC-]

I bet you didn't know they have pavers in Florida... :loco:

They work all year round too.

Um your profile says "Central NJ".......

[GreenMonster]

The last one should be under the heading "most expensive 15' walkway at a university....$$23,000....

geez, Erik. $255/ft2K you could of at least done a paver overlay! :)

[Andrew Hardscape]

I have a decent walk that I'd like to submit.

But, man oh man, there are way too may posts in this contest thread that I really do not have time to wade through!

Is there anyway you can make the contest threads simply entail pictues, without the useless chit chat??

[Mbella]

I have a decent walk that I'd like to submit.

But, man oh man, there are way too may posts in this contest thread that I really do not have time to wade through!

Is there anyway you can make the contest threads simply entail pictues, without the useless chit chat??

No need to "wade" through posts to make a submission, just do it!:)

[Andrew Hardscape]

ya, but I wanna see other's pics.

i'm on dial up, out here in the sticks.

I don't wanna wait for 10 pages to load when a majority of them don't even contain pics!!!! :violin:

[Mbella]

ya, but I wanna see other's pics.

i'm on dial up, out here in the sticks.

I don't wanna wait for 10 pages to load when a majority of them don't even contain pics!!!! :violin:


Oh, come on. Don't let the other guys imtimidate you. You don't need to see their pics to make a submission.

Now, if you want to complain when it comes to voting....

[Sodking]

geez, Erik. $255/ft2K you could of at least done a paver overlay! :)


I put the sod down and they were...AAAACCCKKKK sod?....Its just going to die anyway....

[cgland]

OK Guys! Now is the time to cast your votes for the winner of the first monthly ProHardscaper.com contest - Best Paver Walkway! We have a limit of 10, so we, as moderators, had to narrow it down to what we thought were the 10 best submissions. Were sorry if you were not chosen, but don't be mad, our next contest starts in 7 days, so get yourself ready! Thank you to all who posted and GOOD LUCK! Let the voting begin!

P.S. Please remember to read the rules again to better understand what criteria the judging should be based on.

Chris

[mckeeland]

Where is gary123's ballot?

Also, next time can we do like Andrew suggested and leave the comments to the peanut gallery. I know i was guilty of it, but it was a real pain in the azz trying to look at the pics to decide to vote.

[zedosix]

[QUOTE=mckeeland;4553]Where is gary123's ballot?

QUOTE]

I wondered the same thing. He had a nice entry.

[Andrew Hardscape]

You have to look at the psychology behind this:

If fellow member 'Pauly Patio-Guy' submits a job that I am jealous of.....all I have to do is find a round about sort of way to submit posts picking the flaws of his work, with the intent of influencing others to not like what he is submitting.



I'd love to participate.


For this to work and to not deter other contendors all that is needed is a picture or two, a statement itemizing whatever info is requested, and thats it! :violin:

[cgland]

That will certainly be the policy on the next contest, which will be posted tomorrow! Pics only...No chit chat! Good luck guys!

Chris

[cgland]

Last chance to get your votes in!

Chris

[cgland]

CONGRATULATIONS! Zedosix has been chosen by the masses as our first monthly contest winner! Nice work! As an added bonus, we will also be sending a ProHardscaper.com T-shirt to McKeeland and Muirview for their second and third place finishes. (we will be contacting you for your info) Thank you to everyone for participating in the contest. Now let's move on to the next one!

Chris