Capitol Pavers

[MuirView Design]

http://www.capitolconcrete.com/index.php

Anyone ever use this product? One of my local vendors has these at $3 a sf for the tumbled modular. Thought this was a good deal and they seem like they are well made. I was just talking to a buddy who just got back from a trip to their manufacturing plant and he said he left very impressed with their operation. The Genesis line is pretty interesting. A 3 piece with a 12x12 paver. Never saw that before. Might make laying a little quicker.

[cgland]

I've only known them to be junk. A local contractor is a dist/installer and his work is real chitty. I have seen some of his work close up and was not impressed by the pacers either.

[CaptainsLS]

Adam, I cant comment on the brand but the three piece with the optional 12x12 is great. Bolduc which is my brand of choice has that set up. I'm not sure of the availability of Bolduc in your area? It runs me about 4.25 a sq.

[STLPONDS]

Captain what is that in the left corner?

[CaptainsLS]

There is a engraved granite compass in the center (it marks the cap for a septic tank). other than that do you mean the pool noodle in the planting bed?

[MuirView Design]

Looks good Capt'n. I like the idea of the 12x12. Makes for quick laying. (As my back let's out a low grumble)

Chris, is your opinion of them based on a chitty installer or the fact that they are not a big name company? Have you known a contractor to ever have issues with the quality? (Off square, fades quick, missing corners, lots of efflorescence, etc.)

It seems to me that all paver manufacturers are required to put out a product that meets the ASTM guidelines, which would lead to a somewhat uniform quality across the board. Some manufactures go above and beyond the base standards and some just do what it takes to meet them, which is I guess the difference. That being said, the base cost of manufacturing a paver would seem to be around the same margin, but then why is one manufacturer up to $1 more a SF than another for what is seemingly the same stone? Is that cost really reflective of a better quality paving stone, or are you paying for the extensive marketing that a bigger company is doing and the higher price is also being generated by increased demand as a result of that flashy marketing? Do the bigger companies go above and beyond the ASTM standards, or do they cut corners and do the minimum so as to increase profits for their shareholders? Are we all a little brainwashed by our suppliers and the manufacturers to believe that one paver is better quality than another based on it being more expensive? Has anyone ever seen a cheaper paver just crumble into dust when tamped, or turn green and orange when wet? Does a pair of Nikes make you run faster than a pair of Pumas? (do they even still make Pumas?.....man I'm getting old)

Just something I've often wondered.

[JZap]

A reputable company out in Bucks county uses them exclusively, I guess certain styles look better than others, but I've never used them myself.

[STLPONDS]

There is a engraved granite compass in the center (it marks the cap for a septic tank). other than that do you mean the pool noodle in the planting bed?


No, I was looking at the septic lid. Good way to hide the septic lid.

[cgland]

Not only was his work crappy, the fit and finish of the pavers was really bad. They just didn't look good.

[MuirView Design]

Not only was his work crappy, the fit and finish of the pavers was really bad. They just didn't look good.

Where is this guy? Probably lurking in the shadows on this forum......Show yourself! Let us reform you from your crappy ways!

This Buds for you...Mister Crappy Paver Layer Guy LOL:pound:

[ToddQuality]

I don't know much about the capitol pavers, but i know they don't have the spacers on the sides.....so they get laid tight side to side....seems to me that would stop the sand from going between the joints and you would lose your interlock....i like dealing with the supplier here in my area, and the pavers are definately cheaper, but i stay away from capitol because of that......i do know a couple guys who use them and don't have any complaints.

[STLPONDS]

I don't know much about the capitol pavers, but i know they don't have the spacers on the sides.....so they get laid tight side to side....seems to me that would stop the sand from going between the joints and you would lose your interlock

A lot of the tumbled pavers around here do not have the spacers.

[slip1961]

In the past all pavers were spacerless about 15 or so years ago spacers were introduce to insure that installers would indeed have the 1.5mm joint between pavers to insure interlocking of the leveling bed and the paver joints. The first spacer used on paver molds were up the entire side of the paver about 10 years ago manufacturers introduce what we call blind spacers which end about 10mm from the top edge of the stone. It is very important that all pavers with no be spacer be laid with opprox 1.5mm spaces.

[cgland]

I believe that during the tumbling process(traditional tumbling, not chain whiping) the spacers are damaged and can sometime look as if they are not there.

[JZap]

interesting enough the only company I know that used themis now a unilock supplier.