Enjoy the comfort of your backyard
STEP BY STEP PROCESS
FROM START TO FINISH
We put this program together to help you understand the entire process from start to finish. Here at affordablepatio.com we want to educate and make sure you understand everything with your upcoming project. It is in your best interest to read through this entire page and browse our videos before we come for our in-person estimate, it will help you truly get a grasp on the future work we do together! Most of all, ensuring this is the easiest project you have ever completed at your home. Read everything carefully as we have made sure to include all the information and FAQ’s you may have.
One of our knowledgeable team members will come to your house and start to go over ideas and layouts with you. We will take measurements and provide you with our AP Brochure and paver catalog, ensuring that you have all the information you need for your patio installation project. It is important that you take this time to ask the estimator any important questions or topics you were unsure of while reviewing our customer playbook. When the consultation is complete, we will go back to our office and start to work on your estimate for patio installation and patio installation cost estimate.
One thing we pride ourselves on is getting you an estimate in 24 hours or less. We do this because we know people, including ourselves, do not like waiting days or sometimes weeks for an estimate. We break down each part of the project to give you an “a la carte” feel and not pressure you into doing everything all at once. This will allow you to understand the project and allow you to budget and or save up for a future date.
After you fully review the estimate for patio installation and understand everything that was quoted, and you are ready to move forward with the project, you can call or email us to give the okay. At this point, we are so excited to work together. This is when the fun starts!
At this point you will be placed on our job board. This means your installation date is pending. At this time we will let you know approximately how far out we are on the schedule. We do this because we can not give out actual dates. We face a lot of obstacles in the day to day operations. For example bad weather is a key component in how our schedule is affected.
We left you with catalogs to help you pick out colors but we highly recommend you go to Astro Masonry Supply to see all the products in person. The catalogs have filters and edits on them so the material may look different in person than in the magazine. The staff at Astro is knowledgeable and ready to help. They will also make sure you are aware of the price differences between upgraded colors and sizes.
Now that we are about a week or two before your project starts we will contact you with an estimated start date and collect all information about your selections. If you have any questions after this please don’t hesitate to ask!
After we collect all your material selections we will place the order with the local supplier. They will deliver the order directly to your home. Depending on the size of the order, it may not all arrive at once. Also, at times we will pick up materials. The most important part about this step is letting us know where you would like the pallets of pavers to be placed. The most common areas are on top of the driveway or in the street on the curb.
Now that we are getting closer to the start date, we will contact you 1-2 days prior to starting your project. At this point we will send you over the contract through email via DocuSign. Please make sure you review and understand all of the notations that you are initialing and signing. After everything is signed it will automatically send us the signed copy.
The day we start your project the team will show up and go over the details with you. If you cannot be present and there is any uncertainty, we will be sure to be in constant communication with you. This will ensure we are all on the same page. The only thing we will need access to is water and electricity (hose spigot and outlets).
Our team will be bringing an equipment trailer and a skid steer to work at your home. The trailer is approximately 14’ long and the skid steer is about the same size as a car. We will need to leave both in your driveway or in the street throughout the duration of the project (once started the skid steer can also be parked on the lawn near the patio area).
Now that all the equipment and machines are onsite and the guys are ready to start the job, a deposit will be collected. One of our managers will collect the deposit from you, in the amount stated on the contract. They can sign off for you that it was collected. We accept all forms of payment including cash, credit card, and check. Fees may apply if necessary.
Our typical day starts at 8 AM and ends around 4 PM. There are times we will arrive earlier depending on the distance from our office and times we will leave your house later depending on the job process. The crew will take lunch mid day. At the end of the day the crew will clean up and organize the property before heading out. Each crew we have only does one project at a time so rest assured, once we start your project we will be there until we finish it
Throughout the job, one of our managers will be checking in with the crew to make sure all is going well. Each crew is appointed a crew leader to run the rest of the team (foreman). Any communication you have is best to go through management or the office so we can guarantee your questions or concerns get communicated to the right people.
It is super important during your estimate for the patio installation project that if you have any questions, please ask. The best time to ask is during the installation process, as it’s the easiest way to make adjustments if needed. When the job is complete and your property is cleaned up, we like to do a final walkthrough of the project and ensure everything is up to your expectations. We are here to help you and make sure your experience is great. If you are happy with the project, this is where we collect the final payment.
When everything is complete and you are completely satisfied, we ask that you leave us a 5 star google review. This helps more than you think! If your experience with us was great and we provided you with great service and an awesome end product, we hope that you can share it with others.
Services
This area will explain how we install each product for your project
Patio
A paver patio is a great place to enjoy your family’s best memories! Experience outdoor living & learn how we install patios.
Walkway
Walkways have form and function. Dress up any space leading from point A to point B. Walk safely rather than on rough ground.
Driveway
One of the quickest and most cost effective ways to increase your curb appeal and increase your home’s value!
Fire Pit
Why be ordinary, when you can be extraordinary! Ditch the old home depot rusty fire pits! Check our fire pit kits.
Pool Patio
Dress up any pool with beautiful pavers! Concrete will crack over time, pavers are the smart choice.
What's Underneath Our Patios?
Patios & Walkways
Driveways
PITCH
No one wants to risk having water enter their home. This is especially true for homeowners having finished basements. During heavy rain events, water could collect on the patio or sidewalks.
All Patios, Walkways & Stoops are ALWAYS pitched away from the house for water run off. Pitch is 1.5” over 10 feet.
PITCH
No one wants to risk having water enter their home. This is especially true for homeowners having finished basements. During heavy rain events, water could collect on the patio or sidewalks.
All Patios, Walkways & Stoops are ALWAYS pitched away from the house for water run off. Pitch is 1.5” over 10 feet. (NYS code)
Pavers Included
Coping
Coping is the term used to identify the material used to cap the pool edge or shell wall. Besides simply being necessary, the coping provides an opportunity for a decorative accent, which can greatly enhance the appearance of the pool, steps or walls.
The Cambridge Shapes are specially designed for specific structural, landscape and pavement applications and hardscape solutions such as steps, pool coping, edging and curbs, facing and permeable pavements.
Options we recommend are:
Cambridge Crusader 12×24 Cap
6 x 12 Bullnose
Ledgestone Cap with Armortec
Patio Space & Usage
What is efflorescence?
There is a chance that after a few weeks or months pass, a white haze may appear on the surface of the pavers. This is known as efflorescence. It may appear randomly or in certain areas, and will be more pronounced on dark colored pavers. The white haze may give the impression that the color of the pavers is fading. When wet, the white disappears and the color of the pavers is enhanced. When they dry, the white haze reappears.
Efflorescence emerged from pores within a magnified area of a concrete paver. The calcium has been carried to the surface by water.
WILL IT GO AWAY NATURALLY?
There is no reason to be concerned that your pavers are damaged or defective. The concrete pavers are going through a natural process. It is a condition that occurs in all cement-based products, as well as in many other paving products.
It is difficult to determine when efflorescence will stop. Just as it appears naturally, efflorescence will eventually disappear. Over time, rainwater can wash and wear it away. In urban areas with acidic rainfall, efflorescence may go away faster than in rural areas.
WHEN WILL EFFLORESCENCE STOP?
When the supply of calcium hydroxide is exhausted. If you live in an area of frequent rain and sunny days, efflorescence and its passing may occur quickly. The process may take much longer in drier climates.
CAN IT BE REMOVED WITHOUT THE WAIT??
Yes, efflorescence may be cleaned with commercially available cleaners formulated specifically for concrete pavers. The only thing we want to warn you about is this is just speeding up the process, the natural process of the paver and will weather the paver faster then the rest.
THE CHEMISTRY OF EFFLORESCENCE
Most pavers Manufacturers put chemical additives in the concrete to reduce the likelihood of efflorescence. Completely eliminating the chance of efflorescence, however, isn’t possible because it’s a natural byproduct of hardened concrete. It will stop when no more calcium hydroxide is available to move to the surface. There are cleaners available that can remove them. These will enhance the natural beauty of your concrete paver project. Consult with your supplier to find an appropriate cleaner.
Efflorescence Cleaner
Use Alliance Efflorescence Remover. Dilute according to instructions on the container. Apply and rinse with water.
Eliminating Efflorescence
Most producers of pavers put chemical additives in the concrete to reduce the likelihood of efflorescence. Completely eliminating the chance of efflorescence, however, isn’t possible because it’s a natural byproduct of hardened concrete. It will stop when no more calcium hydroxide is available to move to the surface. There are cleaners available that can remove efflorescence. These will enhance the natural beauty of your concrete paver project. Consult your paver supplier to find an appropriate cleaner.
Examples of what similar projects could cost
FAQs - company
What happens sprinklers?
Is there tax on this job?
What is your warranty?
Payment Methods
What happens sprinklers?
If you have sprinklers in the area we will make sure we relocate the sprinklers to the outside of the patio. We want to make sure that no sprinklers are under the base just in case a line breaks and it needs to be repaired. We are not a sprinkler company so you are responsible for having a company come in and adjust sprinklers or relocate after your project is completed. If your project has a lot of lines in the way we may just cut and label each one to the best of our ability to help the sprinkler company.
Is there tax on this job?
Most patio jobs are qualified as capital improvements. A capital improvement is any addition or alteration to real property that meets all of the following conditions: It substantially adds to the value of the real property, or appreciably prolongs the useful life of the real property.
If your project is a capital improvement there are no sales taxes so when you get the price of the project that is the final price.
What is your warranty?
Here at affordablepatio.com we offer a 3 year warranty on all the work that we install. This warranty covers moving or settling of pavers. This also covers concrete edges broken apart and loosening of paver borders. Sometimes the concrete edge will have a crack which doesn’t mean it’s broken or will break apart, it’s just a surface crack. Cambridge paver has a fully-transferable limited lifetime warranty. This warranty will be taken care of by the Cambridge rep. They will come and view the warranty and will be able to help you with it.
Payment Methods
Here at affordablepatio.com we accept multi types of payments. We accept cash, personal checks and credit cards. When using a credit card there will be a 3.75% charge to the total part of the job.
Contracts will be emailed 1 to 2 days before the project is started via docu-sign. We do not take any deposit until we are at your property. Payment breakdown will be 50% day we start and 50% on completion. If a job is longer than a week or a job is larger than 25,000 payment will be broken down 50% on start date, 40% ⅔ of the job and finally payment 10%.
FAQs
Maintenance
Remember, one of the main advantages of concrete paving stones versus asphalt or concrete if a stain cannot be removed – the PAVER CAN! Also with pavers if a stain can not be removed or you have a damaged paver it can be removed and replaced.
Alliance Rubber, Paint and Tar Remover. Follow the directions on the bottle and reapply if necessary. Also you can try the following: chill with ice (if warm outside) and scrape away excess with a hard plastic scraper and apply Alliance XP Oil and Grease remover and follow directions on the bottle.
Cutback asphalt and roofing tar – Use Alliance Rubber, Paint and Tar Remover and follow directions on the bottle.
Use liquid dish soap and let it penetrate for 20-30 minutes. Scrub and rinse with hot water. You may also use Oxyclean mixed 4 scoops to a gallon of hot water. Let soak for 15 minutes and then scrub with a nylon bristle brush, then rinse.
Scrape off excess and scrub with a poultice of denatured alcohol. Rinse with hot water and detergent.
Follow guidelines for removal of dried paint. Use Alliance Rubber, Paint and Tar Remover or Alliance Eco Soy Stripper.
Scrape off dry material. Scrub and rinse with hot water and Alliance Shampoo.
Apply a poultice with paint thinner and talc. Scrub and allow to dry. Scrape off and scrub with scouring powder and rinse with water.
Use Oxyclean 4 scoops to a gallon of hot water. Apply and let soak for 15 minutes. Scrub with a nylon bristle brush and rinse with water. You may also use Pool Shock. Wet the entire surface to be cleaned then mix 1/2 lb of pool shock with 4 gallons of water. Apply, scrub, and rinse off.
Use Oxyclean or pool shock (follow the same directions as above).
Apply and let soak for 15 minutes. Scrub with a nylon bristle brush and rinse with water. You may also use Pool Shock. Wet the entire surface to be cleaned then mix 1/2 lb of pool shock with 4 gallons of water. Apply, scrub, and rinse off.
Polymeric haze from the use of polymeric joint sand may appear on your concrete products if the sand was not removed from the surface of the paver properly. This does not affect the integrity of the product or your installation. The hazing will weather away naturally with time and rain or it can be removed with a specialized cleaner. You are advised to contact your contractor. Cambridge Pavers, Inc. accepts no responsibility or liability for this occurrence.
Soak up excess with rags and apply Alliance XP Oil & Grease Remover. Leave on for 6-8 hours until it dries to a powder and sweep off. Also works on antifreeze, brake fluid, hydraulic oil and citronella wax.
Extremely difficult to remove. If mortar is fresh and not hardened, try Alliance Efflorescence Remover. Scrub and rinse with water. Reapply if necessary. It may be necessary to replace the paver.
Fresh paint should be mopped up immediately with rags or paper towels by blotting. Do not wipe as this will spread the stain. Soak and then scrub the area with hot water, scouring powder and a stiff brush until no more improvement is seen. Let the remaining paint dry and remove as described below.
Scrape any excess oil based paint, varnish or water based latex paint off the surface. Use Alliance Rubber, Paint and Tar Remover or Alliance Eco Soy Stripper and follow the directions on the container or a commercial paint remover and let it sit for 20-30 minutes. Loosen with gentle scrubbing. Do not rub the loosened paint into the surface of the paver. Instead, blot up the loosened paint and thinner. Repeat as necessary. Note: latex paints once dried are more difficult to remove.
Use a solution of trisodium phosphate (TSP) diluted to directions on the container. Scrub and rinse with water.
Alliance Rubber, Paint and Tar Remover or scrub black area with water, detergent and scouring powder. In the case of small stained areas, removal and replacement of marred pavers may be an easier option.
Define the rust stain (sprinklers, patio furniture, fertilizer?) Apply Alliance Rust Remover and scrub with a stiff bristle brush. Multiple applications may be necessary. Follow directions accordingly. Test a small area of pavers first. Note: Rust Remover will damage a sealer.
There are common questions that people ask when it comes to their paver stones when it comes to the finish on it. When pavers are first installed sometimes there is a white scarf marks on the top of the pavers. This is normal due to when the product is shipping it white plastic that is in between the layers will rub on the top but this will weather off within a few weeks.
When looking over the catalogs or pictures of the paver sometimes the color or blends may look different. We want you to keep in mind the pictures will have filters and edits on them and we recommend you to see the product in person.
Sealing pavers is going to be your personal opinion but doesn’t need to be done. Seal will help prevent stains but most times people do it to have that wet look. We want you to keep in mind that after you start to seal pavers you have to keep up with that process and you are adding some type of maintenance to the product.
Cambridge offers multiple types of wall but all for different purposes. When building steps bbq or sitting walls the most common products are matrix and olde english walls. Both walls are 2 sided which means you can view both sides for example a sitting wall that you will see the back side of it. The matrix wall is a rock face or textured wall. This means the wall has been spilt to give you that ruff texture. The other wall is olde English which is a smooth wall but with broken/ aged tumbled look to it. Olde English always offers in select colors a non tumbled wall which has more of a modern look to it. If you are building a structural retaining wall we recommend using a cambridge sigma wall. This will be used to hold back earth and has a 1 inch step back to help prevent the wall from falling forward. This wall has the same texture as the matrix wall but is one side