Pavers: Building a Better Driveway

When planning a new driveway, three main questions should be addressed. A driveway takes some heavy wear and tear so the first should be “How durable is the paving material?” Question two would be "Is it easy to clean?" Driveways have a habit of collecting dirt and stubborn unsightly stains. Question three should be the aesthetics and overall appearance. Your home’s driveway is usually the first piece of real estate observable to visitors, and it is preferable to create a favorable impression.

The one paving material that can positively answer these questions is concrete pavers. The first and possibly the most important characteristic of concrete pavers is that they are stronger than ordinary or stamped concrete. They are easy to clean, repair or even replace if necessary. Pavers seldom crack because they are set in compacted sand, which gives them just the right amount of adhesion and mobility to stay strong yet flexible. Asphalt, concrete or stamped concrete cannot compare with the versatility and practicality of concrete pavers.

For a hard wearing, easy to clean and very attractive driveway, patio or walkway, there is nothing that can compare with concrete pavers and the only limit to driveway design is your imagination. One of the great things about pavers is that they come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors, giving you many different options for your design.

Grill Safety

Cookouts are a favorite summer pastime--ideal for an easy weeknight family dinner or when entertaining a large weekend crowd. A deck or patio can be a useful and fun extension of the house, the perfect setting for taking the heat out of the kitchen! But before you fire up the grill, remember a few tips from the Home Safety Council®.

• Designate the grilling area a “No Play Zone” keeping kids and pets well away until grill equipment is completely cool.

• Before using, position your grill at least 3 feet away from other objects, including the house and any shrubs or bushes.

• Only use starter fluid made for barbecue grills when starting a fire in a charcoal grill.

• Before using a gas grill, check the connection between the propane tank and the fuel line to be sure it is working properly and not leaking.

• Never use a match to check for leaks. If you detect a leak, immediately turn off the gas and don’t attempt to light the grill again until the leak is fixed.

‘• Never bring a barbecue grill indoors, or into any unventilated space. This is both a fire and carbon monoxide poisoning hazard.

Now that you’re on your way to ensuring a safe cookout, you’ll be able to enjoy the real fun at a barbecue: the food, family and friends. Here’s a recipe to try!

Mixed Grill Kabobs
Servings: 6 to 8 servings | Prep Time: 20 minutes | Cook Time: 10 to 15 minutes
Ingredients:
1  pound boneless beef sirloin, cut into 1-inch cubes
2  large red, orange or yellow bell peppers, cut into chunks
12  strips bacon, blanched
1  cup red pearl onions, peeled or red onion chunks
12  ounces smoked sausage or kielbasa, cut into 1/2-inch slices
1  pound pork tenderloin, cut lengthwise in half; then into 1/4-inch wide long strips
1  cup pineapple wedges
1-1/2  cups favorite barbecue sauce

Directions:
1.  Arrange beef cubes and 1 bell pepper on metal skewers, weaving bacon strips around all. Place sausage, 1 pepper and onions on separate skewers. Ribbon strips of pork on additional skewers with pineapple wedges.
2.  Baste the different kabobs with some of the barbecue sauce. Cook on a well-greased grill over medium-high direct heat, basting often with remaining barbecue sauce.
3.  Serve a trio of kabobs to each person with additional sauce.

Tips: To blanche bacon, place bacon strips into boiling water for 1 minute. Drain thoroughly.
To easily cut pork, freeze about 30 minutes until very firm.
Photo Copyright PIL 2005

Even if you love the outdoors, you may not want furry little creatures turning your deck or patio into their favorite habitat. Every situation is unique and there are several ideas you can consider, whether building a deck or patio.

To keep animals from making their home underneath your deck, it can be screened with lattice from the deck floor to the ground. A deck built close to ground level can have wrap-around steps added that would entirely encase the underside.

A paver patio can be built with a short or stepped garden wall around most of the perimeter, keeping unwelcome visitors at bay. Our best suggestion is to meet with a LONG® FENCE sales associate to view ideas and photos of deck and patio options. All consultations are FREE and our sales associates will let you know what might work best for your situation and property. Contact us today!