FAQ’s
Products
What types of products does Artistic Pavers manufacture?
Artistic Pavers manufactures architectural concrete pavers, paving slabs, driveway pavers, pool coping, specialty pieces, pedestal pavers, and custom paving solutions. Our products are designed for residential, commercial, hospitality, and public-space applications, including pool decks, patios, walkways, driveways, rooftops, courtyards, and other outdoor environments.
What is the difference between StepLock® and RoadLock®?
StepLock® is the Artistic Pavers pedestrian paving system for applications such as pool decks, patios, walkways, lanais, courtyards, and decorative outdoor features. RoadLock® is designed for vehicular applications such as residential driveways and other areas that accommodate vehicle traffic. StepLock products are generally 1-5/8 inches thick, while RoadLock products are 2-3/8 inches thick.
What is Shellock®?
Shellock® is a pedestrian paver collection made with natural seashells incorporated into the concrete and polished to expose their distinctive appearance. It is designed for pool decks, patios, walkways, lanais, coping, steps, fountains, raised walls, planters, and other architectural applications.
What is EuroLock®?
EuroLock® is a polished StepLock paver collection with a clean, European-inspired aesthetic. Available in Glacier and Dune, it is designed for contemporary patios, pool decks, pathways, courtyards, and other pedestrian applications. Multiple sizes allow designers and homeowners to create customized patterns and layouts.
What is PlankLock®?
PlankLock® is a linear-format paver designed to create a modern, architectural appearance. Its elongated proportions can be used to create running-bond, offset, directional, and other contemporary layouts for pool decks, patios, walkways, and outdoor living areas.
Which Artistic Pavers products can be used around swimming pools?
Several StepLock collections are designed for pedestrian applications around swimming pools, including pool decks, patios, walkways, steps, raised walls, and coordinating coping. The appropriate collection should be selected based on the project location, desired appearance, finish, color, installation requirements, and regional product availability.
What coping options are available?
Artistic Pavers offers coordinating coping and specialty pieces for pool borders, raised walls, steps, spillways, fountains, benches, planters, spas, and other architectural details. Depending on the product collection, options may include single-sided, double-sided, three-sided, four-sided, adjacent-sided, straight-edge, and renovation coping.
What are pedestal pavers used for?
Pedestal pavers are designed for raised installations such as rooftop terraces, pool decks, walkways, and seating areas. The raised system can accommodate drainage and provide access to plumbing, electrical, and other utilities located beneath the paved surface. Pedestal pavers may require minimum quantities and project-specific installation planning.
Are all colors, sizes, and product collections available in every region?
No. Artistic Pavers manufactures and distributes products according to regional availability. Product lines, colors, sizes, coping options, finishes, inventory, and lead times may differ between the East Coast and West Coast markets. Customers should confirm current availability with their Artistic Pavers sales representative before specifying or ordering materials.
Can I combine different paver sizes and colors?
Yes. Many Artistic Pavers collections are available in multiple sizes that can be combined to create distinctive patterns. Before selecting a pattern, verify that every required size is available in the chosen product, color, finish, and region.
Will the pavers have color or texture variation?
Some variation in color, shade, aggregate exposure, shell placement, and texture should be expected because concrete pavers are manufactured with natural raw materials. Installers should blend pavers from multiple pallets or bundles during installation to create a balanced overall appearance.
Should I review a sample before ordering?
Yes. Artistic Pavers recommends reviewing an actual product sample before making a final selection. Samples provide a general representation of the color, finish, aggregate, and texture, but natural material and production variations mean the completed installation may not match one individual sample exactly.
Can Artistic Pavers be used for applications other than pool decks and patios?
Yes. Depending on the product and application, Artistic Pavers may be used for walkways, driveways, rooftops, terraces, courtyards, steps, raised walls, fountains, benches, planters, spillways, outdoor tables, bars, and other architectural or decorative features. Always confirm that the selected product is appropriate for the intended pedestrian, vehicular, or pedestal application.
Does Artistic Pavers offer custom products?
Custom paving solutions may be available for qualifying commercial, hospitality, civic, and large-scale projects. Custom colors, dimensions, shapes, or architectural requirements may be subject to minimum order quantities, production feasibility, lead times, and project-specific approval.
Installation
Does Artistic Pavers install its products?
No. Artistic Pavers is the product manufacturer and does not provide installation services. Customers should select an experienced and qualified paver contractor familiar with base preparation, grading, drainage, edge restraints, joint sand, cutting, compaction, coping, and local construction requirements.
How are Artistic Pavers typically installed?
Many Artistic Pavers products are installed as a sand-set paving system over a properly prepared and compacted base. Installation requires appropriate excavation, base preparation, bedding material, slope, placement, cutting, compaction, edge restraint, joint filling, and initial cleaning. Project conditions and local codes may require additional specifications or professional engineering.
What pitch or slope should be used for drainage?
A minimum pitch of approximately 1/8 inch per foot is generally recommended when preparing the bedding material. Actual drainage requirements should also account for the project design, local codes, surrounding structures, soil conditions, and recommendations from the project’s qualified contractor or design professional.
Can pavers of different thicknesses be used in the same project?
Yes, but the base must be adjusted so the finished surfaces align properly. This is particularly important when a thicker field paver is installed with thinner coping or border pieces. Installation details should be reviewed with an experienced contractor before construction begins.
Can Artistic Pavers be installed around saltwater or chlorinated pools?
Yes. Artistic Pavers products may be installed around saltwater and chlorine-system pools. Proper installation, drainage, water chemistry, and routine maintenance remain important to the performance and appearance of any pool-deck material.
Can Artistic Pavers be installed over an existing concrete surface?
In certain applications, pavers may be installed over an existing concrete surface if the slab is structurally sound and the project has adequate clearance, drainage, and edge restraint. A qualified contractor should inspect the existing surface and determine the appropriate installation method.
Is edge restraint required?
Edge restraints are an important part of many interlocking paver installations. They help prevent lateral movement and maintain the integrity of the paving pattern. The appropriate restraint method should be selected based on the application, surrounding materials, and installation conditions.
Why is proper base preparation important?
The performance of a paver installation depends heavily on the quality of the base. Proper excavation, compaction, grading, and drainage help reduce movement, settling, uneven surfaces, and water-related issues. Installation should follow applicable specifications and local building requirements.
Should pavers from different pallets be blended during installation?
Yes. Blending pavers from multiple pallets or bundles helps distribute natural color and texture variations across the installation. This creates a more balanced and consistent overall appearance.
Care & Maintenance
Do Artistic Pavers need to be sealed?
Sealing is not required because of the density of Artistic Pavers products. A customer may still choose to use a sealer for a particular appearance or maintenance objective, but any sealer should be specifically recommended for concrete pavers. Always test the product in an inconspicuous area because a sealer may affect color, sheen, texture, porosity, or slip resistance.
How should Artistic Pavers be cleaned and maintained?
Sweep and rinse the paved surface regularly to remove leaves, dirt, and other debris. Mild detergent and water may be used with a nylon brush for routine cleaning. Stains should be addressed promptly, and any cleaner should be tested on an inconspicuous paver before it is applied to a visible area.
Can I pressure-wash Artistic Pavers?
A pressure washer may be used carefully. Use only enough pressure to clean the surface, maintain an appropriate distance, and avoid directing the spray parallel to the joints because excessive pressure may damage the paver surface or dislodge joint sand. Inspect the joints after cleaning and replenish sand when necessary.
How should oil, rust, fertilizer, or organic stains be treated?
The cleaning method should be selected according to the source of the stain. Remove stains promptly, use a cleaner intended for concrete pavers, follow the cleaner manufacturer’s directions, and thoroughly rinse the area. Always test the cleaner first because certain chemicals may alter the paver’s color, texture, or surface.
How often should pavers be cleaned?
Cleaning frequency depends on the environment, traffic, landscaping, weather, and surrounding conditions. Routine sweeping and rinsing can help prevent dirt, leaves, and organic material from accumulating on the surface.
How should joint sand be maintained?
Joint sand may settle or become displaced over time because of weather, cleaning, or regular use. Inspect the joints periodically and have an experienced contractor replenish or stabilize the sand when necessary.
Can damaged or stained pavers be replaced?
Yes. Individual pavers can generally be removed and replaced if they become chipped, damaged, stained, or uneven. Replacement material may vary slightly from the original installation because of production batches, age, weather exposure, and natural color variation.
What cleaning products should be avoided?
Avoid harsh or untested chemicals that may discolor, etch, weaken, or alter the surface of the pavers. Any cleaning product should be suitable for architectural concrete pavers and tested in a small, inconspicuous area before broader use.
Advantages
What are the advantages of pavers compared with poured concrete?
Interlocking pavers create a segmented paving system rather than one continuous slab. This allows individual units to accommodate minor movement and makes it possible to remove, level, or replace specific pavers if settling or damage occurs. Repairs to a paver system can often be more localized than repairs to a cracked or damaged poured-concrete surface.
Are Artistic Pavers comfortable underfoot?
Many Artistic Pavers products are manufactured in lighter colors and with surfaces designed for pool and patio environments. Lighter paving materials may remain more comfortable underfoot than darker surfaces, although actual surface temperature will vary based on color, finish, sunlight, climate, and surrounding conditions.
Are Artistic Pavers slip resistant?
Artistic Pavers are designed with surfaces appropriate for outdoor pedestrian environments, including pool decks and patios. Slip resistance can vary based on the product, finish, installation, surface condition, maintenance, and the presence of water or other substances. Customers should review the applicable technical information and consult a qualified professional when selecting products for wet areas.
Can individual pavers be repaired or replaced?
Yes. One advantage of an interlocking paving system is that individual units can generally be removed and replaced without replacing the entire paved surface. This can simplify repairs related to damage, staining, settling, or access to underground utilities.
Are Artistic Pavers suitable for residential and commercial projects?
Yes. Artistic Pavers products are used in residential, commercial, hospitality, civic, and public-space projects. Product selection should be based on the intended application, traffic level, regional availability, installation method, and project specifications.
Why are beveled edges beneficial?
Beveled edges help define each individual paver and create clean, consistent joint lines. They can also help reduce edge chipping during handling, installation, and normal use.
Are Artistic Pavers resistant to algae and mildew?
The dense composition of many Artistic Pavers products can help limit moisture absorption and surface growth when compared with more porous materials. However, environmental conditions, shade, drainage, landscaping, and maintenance practices can still affect algae or mildew development.
Are Artistic Pavers salt resistant?
Many Artistic Pavers products are designed for pool and coastal environments and offer resistance to salt exposure. Proper product selection, installation, cleaning, and maintenance are still necessary to support long-term performance.
Can Artistic Pavers support custom design layouts?
Yes. Multiple sizes, colors, patterns, coping options, and specialty pieces allow architects, designers, contractors, and homeowners to create customized outdoor environments. Product availability should be confirmed before finalizing the design.
Why choose Artistic Pavers?
For more than 25 years, Artistic Pavers has focused on craftsmanship, innovation, architectural design, and dependable product performance. Our collections are developed for residential and commercial environments and supported by regional manufacturing, experienced sales representatives, and a broad range of design options.
Need More Information?
Our team is here to help you find the right products, specifications, and resources for your project. Contact Artistic Pavers for additional information about product selection, regional availability, installation guidance, or care and maintenance.