Link: http://www.pacificpavingstone.com

We've closed out 2008, and the crisp, cool breezes of 2009 are upon us. Pacific Pavingstone and California Waterscapes weathered the storms of last year thanks to our constant dedication to always delivering a better customer experience and a better product than expected. Those of you who were customers this year were delighted, and you talked to friends and family about how happy you were with our service; so, Thank You from all of us at Pacific Outdoor Living.

We are looking forward to servicing you, your friends and your neighbors in the coming year, and continuing to bring the outdoor lifestyle to more and more families in the New Year.

2009 will see more concentration on green technologies across the whole spectrum of US industry, and Pacific Outdoor Living has a whole range of products to help reduce water consumption and help recycle rainwater run-off from roofs, decks and other structures. We will be putting more information on our website as the weeks go by, but you can find out about backyard pond systems to capture and reuse rainwater, or how permeable pavers help rain percolate back into the groundwater instead of the nearest storm drain, by calling (818) 244-4000 for an estimate on a backyard pond or waterfall or a new pool deck or paving stone patio or driveway.

From all of us a Pacific Outdoor Living, have a great New Year!

Link: http://www.pacificpavingstone.com

Continuing our theme of special shapes for paving stones, there is another style from Angelus Block and Olsen Pavingstone that Angelus calls "Keylock" and Olsen calls "Keystone." Manufacturers in other parts of the country make essentially the same shape, and call it by various names.

This is a shape that is inherently interlocking, almost like a jigsaw. Whether laid in a running bond pattern or herringbone, straight or at a 45-degree angle, keystone/keylock paving stones form an interlocking grid that fools the eye into seeing small squares and larger octagonal stones in a continuous pattern.

The overall effect is very attractive, and works well on its own or in combination with other shapes in an overall design.

Here, courtesy of Olsen Pavingstone, you see a dual pattern design for a driveway and walkway. It might not be instantly recognizable that these paving stones are laid in a herringbone pattern. Look closely!

Link: http://www.pacificpavingstone.com

Serpentine? What have snakes got to do with this? Well, it's just another variation in the shapes available for interlocking paving stones, one that creates immensely strong driveways or courtyard areas—even parking lots.

The shape is available from different manufacturers across the country, with minor variations from company to company. Here it is laid in a herringbone pattern, but others such as running bond, angled running bond and basket weave are all easily created from the same shape.

In Southern California, serpentine pavers are manufactured by Angelus Block, one of Pacific Pavigstone's favored suppliers of interlocking pavers. Their version of serpentine looks like this when laid in a herringbone pattern, using Angelus' red/charcoal mix, but many other colors are available:

At the top right of the photograph you can see the "soldier course" or edging of this driveway design, using rectangular pavers in a matching color.