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Toronto Landscaping design & interlock driveway paving company

M.E Landscaping provides landscaping services such as Interlocking, driveway pavers, outdoor kitchens, Stonework, Woodwork and Patio Design in the greater Toronto area

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Choose the best pavers for your patio or walkway

If you’re looking for ways to upgrade your landscaping, there are many areas outside your home – from walkways and edging to driveways, garden areas, patios, and pool decks – that would benefit from the beauty and durability of paving stones, also called interlocking pavers.

At ME Landscaping, we’ve been the premier landscaping company in the Greater Toronto Area for more than a decade, specializing in innovative designs and professional installations for projects ranging from patios to pergolas and everything in between.

Interlocking patio pavers are made from a wide range of materials including brick, clay, concrete, natural stone, and poured and stamped concrete, and come in a near dizzying array of colours, shapes, and textures that will match any landscape design or architectural style you choose. Few hardscape surfacing materials offer as much versatility for designers, professional installers, or experienced do-it-yourselfers as pavers. Thanks to their durability, ease of maintenance and installation, and simple repairs, pavers are the ideal choice for any outdoor area.

Interlocking paving gives designers and homeowners the option of creating truly unique or theme-based patios in a way not possible with regular concrete or other materials. As with any outdoor project, homeowners need to understand the benefits of each option and what the project involves.

Key Questions you should ask your patio pavers

Before starting your project, we recommend the homeowner write down and answer a series of questions that will help them focus on the task at hand.

  • What is the best type of interlocking paver material to use?
  • Where will the pavers be installed?
  • Are you interested in a specific colour range or style?
  • How are pavers maintained and repaired?
  • What’s my budget?

Materials for Interlocking Pavers

One of the best ways for homeowners to decide on what kind of material to choose for their paver patio or walkway is to see real life examples. At ME Landscaping, we have several project examples you could review, not to mention customers we could refer you to for testimonial. Another method is to simply drive around your neighborhood or subdivision, as chances are good that a neighbor or someone down the street has used pavers for a recent landscaping project. Spring garden and home improvement shows normally have paver samples on display, as will your local home improvement retailer.

Here are the interlocking choices to think about:

  • Brick interlocking pavers come in many colours, shapes, and sizes. Installation is simply a matter of setting the individual pavers into a mortar bed or a sand bed. The drawback to brick pavers placed in mortar is they are more likely to crack because of movement in the ground, particularly in regions with frequent freeze and thaw cycles. The main attraction is they are strong, durable, inexpensive, and easy to install. For the experienced do-it-yourselfers, brick pavers installed in sand are the most popular option for a variety of paving needs.
  • Normally made from high quality ceramic shale, clay pavers are extruded or pushed into form and cured at temperatures up to 2,000°F. As a result, they’re tough, heat and water resistant, and not prone to fading with direct exposure to sunlight. If you’re looking to add warmth, elegance, and smoothness to high traffic areas like sidewalks, patios, plazas and roadways, there are few better options than clay pavers. They’re also environmentally friendly and hold up well to vehicle traffic.
  • Sturdy concrete interlocking pavers are made in a factory to imitate the look of clay using two ingredients: cement and aggregate. They’re available in a wide range of colours and styles, but should be sealed after installation to increase their lifespan.
  • Natural stone pavers are made from natural materials like limestone and flagstone. They’re also available in a wide range of sizes and shapes, with distinct colours and shades that vary from paver to paver. These are two of the most expensive paver materials on the market, and are usually featured in higher end luxury homes with custom landscaping.
  • Poured and stamped concrete pavers may give homeowners and designers the most durability and greatest range of options to choose from. Once the concrete is poured, intricate designs and shapes can be stamped into the slab, giving the appearance of individual pavers while benefiting from the overall toughness afforded by concrete. Like any type of concrete, poured and stamped pavers need to be sealed to protect against minor surface damage and colour fading.

Other Considerations When Selecting Interlocking Patio Pavers

A new interlocking paver patio can add beauty and elegance to any home, often lasting for decades with simple and regular maintenance. Depending on the materials used, this type of project may be more expensive because of design features and the skill level and experienced needed for a proper installation, but there are other considerations before making a final decision.

  • We always recommend that homeowners choose a paver that matches their existing architecture or landscaping. Even though interlocking pavers can blend in with different styles, they may not be the best choice for contemporary architecture, for instance. It’s also important to think about how much installation will cost, so don’t hesitate to ask for estimates based on different materials or where the pavers will be installed.
  • Many customers ask about the possibility of doing the work themselves, and while we would never discourage a committed do-it-yourselfer, we strongly advise homeowners to choose a paver to suit their skill level. In most cases, individual pavers are easier to install than stamped or poured concrete pavers, which require concrete mixers and other specialized equipment.
  • Finally, give careful consideration to how the weather may affect your pavers. Some materials are better at absorbing heat and reflecting sunlight, while others are better suited in colder environments. In extreme weather conditions, other paving surfaces like an asphalt walkway, for instance, may crack and require repair or maintenance. Interlocking pavers, on the other hand, are strong, easy to clean, and resist insects and weed growth while adding beauty to your outdoor area.

Are you looking for the best interlocking pavers in Toronto? Call M.E Landscaping today for a free consultation

 

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Things you should consider before installing an outdoor kitchen

As homeowners look for more ways to get value out of their residence, they invariably look not only to new landscaping like sod, shrubs, and flowers, but also to expanding their usable space by constructing patios or decks.

Over the last few years, demand for another stylish and affordable home improvement has grown by leaps and bounds – the outdoor kitchen.

At ME Landscaping, we’ve been the premier landscaping and outdoor construction company in the Greater Toronto Area for more than 10 years, and we’ve been hired by hundreds of customers to design and build the outdoor kitchen of their dreams.

Why the surge in popularity? Perhaps because of the economy, consumers are doing more entertaining at home, and a huge part of that revolves around the kitchen and dining area – cooking, sharing a meal or snack, or just lingering in casual conversation with family and friends. But the kitchen and dining area of most homes is restricted and can seem claustrophobic at times. Can you imagine how enjoyable those experiences would be outdoors, in a kitchen and dining area the size of your entire backyard or patio?

When it comes to building an outdoor kitchen, the experts at ME Landscaping can offer designs and accessories to fit any budget or architectural style.

Here are some things to consider before making your final decision.

  1. How often do you cook outdoors? If you’re an experienced chef who cooks on the barbecue at least two to three times a week, then it may be time to think about an outdoor kitchen. This is especially important if you spend a fair amount of time transporting food, ingredients, and cooking utensils between your kitchen and patio – while cooking and entertaining guests at the same time.
  2. What do you cook most often? If your weekly dinner menu consists of hamburgers, hot dogs, brats, or shish kabob occasionally, then an LP gas grill with a side burner may be sufficient. But if you use a rotisserie to cook chicken or other meats, or perhaps even prepare pizza from scratch, then a dedicated outdoor kitchen area could be a better fit.
  3. Choosing the right equipment: Keep in mind the bare essentials of a minimally equipped outdoor kitchen are the grill, the island for food preparation, cabinets to store non-perishables, a sink, and of course a refrigerator. A more experienced cook could elevate his game with side-burners, rotisseries, smokers, and stylish lighting.
  4. Do you need a pizza oven? Pizza cooked from scratch is another reason to think about an outdoor kitchen, especially one equipped with a wood-fired pizza oven.
  5. BBQ or flat surface? Think about whether you cook most often with gas, electric, or charcoal grills. A built-in gas grill – perhaps accessorized with a flat cook top – is probably the most cost-effective option for an outdoor kitchen.
  6. Do you want a gazebo with it? A nice feature for an outdoor kitchen is a gazebo or pergola which, if large enough, could also serve as the dining area.

While cost is an important factor, consumers also need to pick the right outdoor construction company to bring their outdoor kitchen design to life. If you have questions about designs and options, or would like to see samples of our work, call ME Landscaping today at 416-455-9296 for a free consultation.

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Tips for cleaning your flagstone landscaping

Flagstone is a type of stone that is porous and as such it does require some maintenance to keep it looking great.

Here are the steps we recommend for keeping your Flagstone landscaping in like-new condition:

  • Attach a high pressure nozzle to your garden hose and wash away dirt and debris.
  • Add a mixture of mild dish washing liquid and warm water to a bucket, then use a brush to remove any stains from the stone.
  • If the stone is stained by leaves, sap, or other natural debris, it may be necessary to use an organic cleaning solution.
  • Remember to use a cleaning product designed for Flagstone, which can be purchased from most home improvement warehouse centers or hardware stores.
  • If other cleaning solutions have failed, we recommend using a solution of one quarter muriatic acid and 2 gallons of water – but only after you’ve tested the solution on a small part of an individual stone.

IMPORTANT! Make sure to take safety precautions when using muriatic acid, including wearing safety goggles and gloves, and make sure the cleaning solution doesn’t touch your skin.

Thinking of installing, repairing or designing a new landscaping project in the greater Toronto area? Why dont you give us a call today and request a FREE, no questions asked on-site consultation? Our landscaping design professionals will listen to your landscaping design ideas, provide you with some advice and should you choose, give you a detailed quote.

About M.E Landscaping

M.E Landscaping has been Toronto landscaping contractor of choice for over 10 years. we have great experience with all landscaping, interlocking, decking & fencing projects. We know the specific needs Toronto projects have and are ready to help you with your hardscape & softscape at any time. CALL US TOAY!