LOS ANGELES, CA – November 17, 2008: Pacific Pavingstone Inc, one of the largest paving stone driveway, patio, pool deck and walkway installation companies in Southern California has long been a champion of quality and value. Those virtues were highlighted just this last week with the largest earthquake drill in history. On Thursday the 13th, at 10:00 am, an estimated five million Southern Californians took part in the drill to prepare for “The Big One.” Many dropped to the ground and took shelter under tables while first responders practiced emergency procedures. It is estimated that a 7.8 magnitude quake is long overdue and will cause an estimated 200 billion dollars in damage. Many experts say it is not a matter of “if” but “when.” Doom and gloom aside, there is at least one positive side to the story: homeowners who have had their driveways, patios, pool decks and walkways laid with paving stones will most likely suffer little to no damage to those installations. But for those who still have concrete or asphalt patios and driveways, the outlook appears to be grim. Widespread cracking will occur – especially in a powerful 7.8 magnitude quake – which will render most driveways, walkways and patios useless.
Pacific Pavingstone is quick to point out that a concrete driveway will begin to crack just a few days after being poured! They are equally quick to point out that with a paving stone driveway or patio, even if a few pavers do eventually crack, they can easily be replaced. The whole of a paving stone driveway or pool deck is flexible, whereas concrete and asphalt are understandably rigid and will spit under minor pressure and ground shifts. More to the point, paving stone installations are laid in a layer of flexible sand; the spaces between each paving stone are also filled with sand. When the ground shifts, say during an earthquake or an aftershock, a paving stone patio, pool deck or driveway will absorb the changes in the ground accordingly. Short of a deep fissure or severe quake, it is likely that very little damage will be sustained. Likewise, with a sizeable load of down pressure – say from a truck or a heavily loaded SUV – a quality installed driveway will absorb the weight in its stride, giving homeowners yet another reason to switch to pavers. All in all, paving stone driveways, pool decks are patios are a wise choice when it comes to paving a home. In the long term, they are also the most cost-effective choice because the price of maintenance, repair and replacement works out to be much less, so much so, in fact, that Pacific Pavingstone offers a lifetime warranty on all its paving stone installations. In a phrase: they’re built to last.
Terry Morrill, founder and CEO of Pacific Pavingstone, adds, “We hope that everyone is taking the necessary precautions with regard to life and limb and safety for their families. Earthquake preparedness is a crucial issue in Southern California and we know the first priority is to ensure the safety of your loved ones, friends and associates. Next, comes the importance of ensuring that your most valuable investment – your home – sustains as little damage as possible. That’s why we at Pacific Pavingstone promote the used of paving stones in any driveway, patio or walkway installation.” Terry Morrill also owns California Waterscapes, which designs and installs ponds, streams and waterfalls around the Los Angeles area. Pacific Pavingstone has twice been included on the Inc 500 list of fastest growing companies, and this year was included on the Inc 5000 list and recently won The Angie’s List Award for Superior Service.
