Using the right de-icing salt can save your hardscaping this winter!

We all remember how bad the snow was last winter. If this winter is anything like last year’s, then you will need to stock up on sidewalk salt. But did you know that there are some kinds of salts that are bad for the life of your masonry hardscaping? When you buy sidewalk salt, you’re not just buying simply salt. You are buying salt that has different chemicals mixed in with it. Sometimes, the chemicals that get mixed in with the salt are harmless. Other times, these chemicals can burn human skin and kill vegetation. It’s important to know what to look for before stocking up for the winter.

What Happens When I Use the Wrong Salt?

If you have to repeatedly use heavy amounts of sidewalk salt, you put your masonry hardscaping at risk. With the wrong kinds of salt, the surfaces of your masonry might start scaling and flaking, a process which is called “salt fretting”. Salt fretting usually occurs at the base of buildings, where the building meets the sidewalks. It ages your hardscaping beyond its years, damaging your property value. To avoid salt fretting from occurring, make sure that you are using the right kinds of de-icing products. Here are some tips to help you buy and use your sidewalk salt correctly.

• When was your hardscaping done? If you have concrete sidewalks or steps that are less than 6 months old, do not use de-icing products at all! At this stage, the concrete is extra sensitive and prone to damage.
• Check the ingredients list. If your de-icing product has ammonium sulfate or ammonium nitrate, don’t use it! These chemicals are extra damaging to masonry.
• Wash up. In the spring, wash any area that you salted in the winter to get rid of the residue.
• Know your salts. There are four types of deicing salts: Sodium Chloride (rock salt), Calcium Chloride, Potassium Chloride, and Magnesium Chloride. Avoid Sodium Chloride and Calcium Chloride; they contain chemicals that are harmful to masonry, surrounding vegetation, and human skin. When shopping for de-icing salts, look for Potassium Chloride and Magnesium Chloride. These salts are great choices for deicing your hardscaping, because they contain drastically fewer harmful chemicals. This makes them better for your masonry, the environment, and you. With the right types of deicing salts, you’ll keep your hardscaping looking like new!

Tristate Paving Company

So, are you ready to call on the help of a professional paving company?

Call Tristate Paving. We’re a seasoned hardscaping company based in Maryland and have the experience and knowledge help you turn your backyard into the perfect retreat quickly and affordably. Our experts will work with you to find a design and layout for outdoor kitchen and dining area that you’re sure to love for years and years to come.

Our area numbers are:

West Chester: 610.563.9456

Oxford: 610.932.3566

Delaware: 302.757.4100

Check back here for weekly updates on current projects, important paving facts and info, and smart ideas for homeowners interested in concrete, asphalt or hardscaping work.

The post Use the Right Salts on Your Hardscaping This Winter appeared first on Tristate Paving Company.

Limestone is a great option for decorative hardscaping, as it stands up well to outside elements.

Outdoor living spaces, like kitchens and patios, continue to be a popular trend. Take a moment to read about some of the hardscaping materials available for classy and modern outdoor living!

Slate

Slate roofs are common in some areas of the country, but slate also works well as a hardscaping material. Slate usually comes in a gray, green or blue color, and it easily cracks into thin slabs of rock. Slate’s natural qualities make it a good choice for some outdoor applications. It is an excellent paving stone, and its natural water-resistance makes it a good hardscaping option for areas near water features or pools.

Limestone

Limestone is a great option for decorative hardscaping, as it stands up well to outside elements. This natural stone is made up of compressed rock, fossils and plants, along with mud and sand. Limestone comes in a range of colors from white to red and black, and works well as wall and flooring stones, for projects like patios or walking paths.

Fieldstone

Fieldstones are called such because these stones were typically found in fields or open spaces instead of being mined out of a quarry. These rounded stones come in a variety of colors and sizes, and can provide a more eclectic feel to a garden. Most often, they are used in hardscaping as wall stones, for use in free-standing walls or raised garden beds.

Granite

Granite has always been a popular stone for indoor kitchen and bathroom countertops. Now, it is being incorporated into outdoor kitchens as well. Granite is made up of large, coarse crystals of quartz, feldspars and mica. Its many minerals give it a speckled look ranging from an almost black to a cream. Since granite is very hard and non-porous, it can make for excellent counters and gorgeous accents in your hardscaping.

So, are you ready to call on the help of a professional paving company?

Call Tristate Paving. We’re a seasoned hardscaping company based in Maryland and have the experience and knowledge help you turn your backyard into the perfect retreat quickly and affordably. Our experts will work with you to find a design and layout for outdoor kitchen and dining area that you’re sure to love for years and years to come.

Our area numbers are:

West Chester: 610.563.9456

Oxford: 610.932.3566

Delaware: 302.757.4100

Check back here for weekly updates on current projects, important paving facts and info, and smart ideas for homeowners interested in concrete, asphalt or hardscaping work.

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The post Just a Stone’s Throw: Decorative Hardscaping Materials appeared first on Tristate Paving Company.

1. Experienced Craftsmen

The first of the three things to look for in a paving and masonry company are experienced craftsmen. Only with experienced craftsmen can you guarantee that your paving or masonry job is done right. At Tri-State Paving and Construction we have three generations of experience and hire only master stone masons and highly experienced crews to work at our company. We are experienced at the art of building with stone, Belgium block, brick, pavers, concrete, and asphalt. As an experienced team we have all our own equipment and can make a custom design to fit anything that you can dream. We craft driveways, patios, walkways, pool decks, curbing, walls, fireplaces, pillars, outdoor living spaces, and BBQ’s.

2. Professional Practices

After experienced craftsmen, the next of the three things to look for in a paving and masonry company are professional practices. Professional practices are important because they protect you the customers from being taken advantage of. You might hire a renowned masonry artist, but if you don’t get a real contract, you can’t expect real work. At Tri-State Paving and Construction we don’t give you the run around like an “artiste” might. We give you an immediate response with upfront pricing and keep you informed of project updates. Our uniformed and experienced crew stick with your project until it’s completed to your satisfaction and we guarantee our work twice as long as the competitors.

3. Personal Touch

The final of the three things to look for in a paving and masonry company is a personal touch. A personal touch in the paving and masonry company you hire is important for helping you design your project, meeting your expectations, and ensuring you’re satisfied with the company’s service. Tri-State Paving and Construction prides itself in being a family owned and operated business. We treat your project like it’s our own and are reachable 7 days a week and we work with you to make sure the project is as stress free as possible.

If You Need Paving or Masonry, Tri-State Paving and Construction Meets All Three Things to Look For in a Paving and Masonry Company

Call Tristate Paving. We’re an experienced paving and masonry company based in Maryland and have the experience and knowledge to do your paving or masonry project quickly and affordably. Our experts will work with you to design your project so that you’re sure to love it for years and years to come.

Our area numbers are:

West Chester: 610.563.9456

Oxford: 610.932.3566

Delaware: 302.757.4100

Check back here for weekly updates on current projects, important paving facts and info, and smart ideas for homeowners interested in concrete, asphalt or hardscaping work.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Google+

The post Three things to Look for in a Paving and Masonry Company appeared first on Tristate Paving Company.

Setting the standard in paving and construction throughout the Tristate area for more than 40 years, Tristate paving is here with the best in paving, concrete, and masonry work. We’re a family owned and operated business that’s active every day of the week building a better future for you. Our master stone masons and experienced work crews have the knowledge and tools at their disposal to make any asphalt, concrete, or masonry work an easy and affordable experience. We offer:

Superior Asphalt Paving

Our professional paving teams have decades of experience in a wide variety of asphalt paving projects ranging from residential paving services to commercial sealcoating. We have the tools and technique to take on paving jobs of any size. Whether you’re a Maryland homeowner looking to have the perfect driveway finally installed, or a Department of Transportation representative seeking a team that can handle building roadways to serve all of America, Tristate paving is your go-to paving company if you want the job done affordably, and done well.

High-Quality Concrete Services

Tristate paving offers an incredible variety of concrete installation and repair services including simple and sturdy flatwork, decorative concrete flats and walkways, curbs, gutters, beautiful new concrete steps, and slab-jack repair. Our experienced concrete installation and repair teams have what it takes to build the concrete pool deck of your dreams, or to refinish your office’s parking lot into one you’ve always wanted. Tristate paving is simply unbeatable when it comes to quality concrete work, in both price and quality.

Amazing Hardscaping

At Tristate paving we’re also well-versed in the art of hardscaping and can provide invaluable consultation on projects that will maximize your home’s beauty at a price you can afford. We have a long history of building exceptional stone steps, walkways, patios, columns, fire pits, walls, and much more. Hardscape design and installation is a crucial part of giving your home or office a look that emanates quality and success. The professionals at Tristate paving have what it takes to handle any decorative hardscaping project to provide you with a yard you can be proud of.

Tristate Paving is All About Excellence

At Tristate Paving there’s one thing we care about more than excellent paving, concrete, and masonry work: Your satisfaction. We’re not in this business to make a quick buck, or sell you on services you don’t need. We’re here to help you find a solution that’s right for you, at a price you can afford. Simple, straightforward, and reliable service, that’s our guarantee. Our area numbers are:

West Chester: 610.563.9456

Oxford: 610.932.3566

Delaware: 302.757.4100

Check back here for weekly updates on current projects, important paving facts and info, and smart ideas for homeowners interested in concrete, asphalt or hardscaping work.

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