Monday, June 15, 2009

Multiple size, textured and tumbled.....

The customers have spoken and there's been a shift.
Gone are the days of traditional, commodity paver products-the 4x8 hollands and 2pc cobbles sets. End users are now looking for multiple sizes, random appearance, textured and/or tumbled products.



Our sales of these products have grown at amazing rates, while the traditional Bella Stone pavers still get requested, 75% of our sales are now tumbled or multi-piece pavers such as Bella Vista Rustic.


The local dealers are stocking and displaying these products and contractors are urging the consumers to utilize these products. ICPI indicates this trend will continue to increase, as the midwest continues to play catch-up to the east/west coast trends.....

ps- Free Standing Wall products are an easy up-sell to any project. Create a boundary and additional seating areas on your same base you've prepared for your pavers.

Turn that $2,000 patio project into $3,500
with little additional effort and high returns to your bottom line.


For additional info hit our website!

Monday, June 1, 2009

Seal-it........

Disclaimer: We don't sell paver sealer, We don't make paver sealer, We don't distribute paver sealers, but we do recommend it!


Contractor: If you're installing Interlocking Pavers (like Bella Stone Pavers) and not including or upselling a paver sealer, you're missing a golded opportunity....One, it's a easy sell before, during or after your install so increase that final ticket and profit while you're on the job. Two, It's easy to do- enough said. Three, it makes any job look GREAT, so it will help lead to new jobs!



There are a number of quality paver sealers out there, but be warned--you get what you pay for. So we'd recommend you do a little research and find a company that will stand behind there product for a limited period.



Homeowner: Sealing your final Paver project gives the product more "pop" and helps reduce fading over time from the sun. It's relatively inexpensive and you can easily do it yourself.

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Retaining Wall Design Estimator

Estimating your Hardscape project correctly is one of the most critical components to making a profit at the end of the day.
If you over estimate your materials you run the risk of loosing the job,
if you under-estimate you risk loosing your company!
Anchor Retaining Wall Systems provides a "free" estimating program (HERE) for all Hardscape installers, as well as the Do-it-yourselfer. This program allows you to select your product, input the job parameters, select grid, even retaining wall cap.




A few simple steps and the program gives you: # of units needed, # of caps, amount of rock, amount of goe-grid, even the # of tubes of glue you'll need for your project.

This program allows you to focus on selling your labor hours, not materials--it's figured for you......

For this free program contact us.

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Permeable Interlocking Concrete Pavers (PICP's)

Permeable Interlocking Concrete Pavers have been around for while,
but as this "Green" movement continues to gain speed,
so are Eco-Friendly products like permeable pavers......
Relatively easy to install, permeable pavers reduce run-off,
cool water temperatures, capture TSS pollutants and control peak-flow during storms....


They can be produced in a variety of colors and blends
making them an attractive alternate to concrete and/or asphalt.


They are set on a clean rock base and filled with a 3/8 clean aggregate that allows the water to filter down through to a "holding" area or detention base, beneath the parking area.

For more information contact us or log onto EcoBrick.com




Monday, May 11, 2009

Color/Texture/Pattern with Retaining Wall

The hottest trend in Retaining Wall right now has to be Color/Texture/Pattern. It doesn't matter if you're creating residential patio's for entertainment, Large structural walls for development or small flower box retaining walls. The name of the game is- color, texture, pattern. The days of straight split, boring grey walls are diminishing and are being replaced with blended colors, different face textures and multiple patterns.
Here is an example of the Anchor Highland Stone being used in a structural residential wall project. The contractor used the Highland 6"/3" to create the elevations change to home owners wanted, then used the Highland Free Standing Wall to create intimacy and boundary's.

Again, a structural wall being used to help with elevation issues this homeowner needed, but the multiple sizes and rustic texture of the Highland 6"/3" help make this an inviting landscape feature, not simply a structural necessity.


Homeowners are looking for materials
to help create the outdoor "rooms" they can use for entertainment.

This project used the Anchor Highland 6",
but also capitalized on the blended colors to accent the residence.

Monday, May 4, 2009

How Geo-Grid Works for Retaining Wall

Almost all Structural Retaining Walls over the 3-4 foot high mark, require Geo Grid for long term design. Whether it's Keystone, Versa Lok, Rockwood or Anchor Retaining Wall--they all require geo-synthetic.

While the concept is similar to "dead-men" in tie wall retaining walls, the Geo grid unifies the soil mass behind the retaining wall. The concrete retaining wall then really becomes an erosion control mechanism.
Thank goodness for the elements of mother nature, because without her, no concrete block would be required.



Example: How the Geo grid works with the Segmental Retaining Wall.

The wood form (which concrete retaining wall acts as the from during construction) is our form & We add the soil/ rock back fill, just like in the field.

Then we add a "load", which could be a house, pool, car etc....
.....See how the soil spreads out.

Then we add Geo Grid to the soil mass and apply the same load.

See how the Geo Grid unifies the soil.


For more information, log on to http://www.anchorbp.com/ and contact us!

Anchor Retaining Wall Systems

Note: not all Geo grid perform the same, deviating from a design or buying the cheapest grid could have costly consequences. The cost for fixing, or re-building a structural retaining wall can be 2 to 3X the original cost. Consult your local engineering firm or contact your local manufacturer with specific questions.

Monday, April 27, 2009

Stabilized Aggregate Retaining Wall

I can't tell you how many calls I get saying,
"We just don't have room for grid."
Now there's an answer, Stabilized Aggregate Retaining Wall design.
This design allows you to reduce the embedment depth by nearly half of what you would need with grid. The design and installation are simple! The block acts as your "form" during construction and your increasing the mass behind your wall with open-graded rock (no fines) with a coating of cement that cures and stabilizes the mass.
Here is a cross-section of the Anchor Retaining Wall project http://www.buildingproductscorp.com/ in place, any water that may penetrate the No-Fines zone, would migrate to the perforated pipe at the base of the wall and be removed.

This project does cost more than just typical Retaining Wall installations, but if you don't have any other option with maximizing space without the use of grid--this system is less costly than the alternatives.
(Below is an example of the mix-design any local concrete company could do for you)





If you'd like more information, please contact us at http://www.buildingproductscorp.com/index.php