CURB INSTALLATION PROCESS

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Ground Preparation

First, the area where the concrete curbing will be installed has to be prepared. Ground preparation is very important in achieving a professional-looking curb. Our team starts by creating a sand base for the curbing to be installed on. They do this by laying out sand where the curb will be installed and tamping the sand until it’s tightly compacted. While we do everything we can to prepare the ground, not all ground is level which may affect the layout of the curb. We cannot guarantee a perfectly level or straight curb.

 

Mixing

Second, concrete is prepared in a mortar mixer with sand, cement, fiber, and water as the basic ingredients. The consistency of the mixture is very important. A variety of color additives can be added to the concrete mixture to customize your project.  

 

Extruding

After the mixture is ready, the concrete mix is shoveled into our curb machine and extruded into a continuous landscape border. All of our curbing is reinforced with a steel cable which is run through the middle of the curb to add strength and durability. 

 

Troweling

When the concrete curbing is extruded from the curb machine, the surface of the curb will have some imperfections. Using a specially formed hand trowel, the concrete curbing is quickly smoothed into a decorative masterpiece.

 

Stamping and Textures

After the decorative concrete curbing is laid down and smoothed it can be stamped to create patterns using various stamping tools. There are many coloring and stamping techniques that can be done at this time.

 

Preservation

To prevent cracking, control joints are then added every three to four feet while the surface is still wet. These control joints can be hidden in the stamped curb pattern or tooled for a finished look. A clear sealer is applied to curbing to protect it from the sun and to preserve the color.

*Concrete can and will crack which is why we add control joints to help control where it will crack, however, there is no guarantee that it will not crack in other places.

 

Clean up

Since there is no form work, no landscape damage and no elaborate set-up, clean-up is minimal. We take the time to clean any "slag" which may fall from the edges of the curb machine. This ensures grass or plants will be able to grow directly next to your new curb.

 

Aftercare

Your curb will take about a month to fully cure. During this time, extra care must be taken to not damage the curb. Please make sure pets and children are kept away from the area during this period to avoid possible damage. We recommend not doing any lawn care around the curb for at least 1 week after installation. After the first week, light lawn care may be done. Once the curb has fully cured, it’s strong enough to withstand weed whacking; you can even place your mower wheel on it to cut the lawn.

We recommend sealing the curb one more time the first season it’s installed, again the second season and after that, every 2-3 years. This will preserve the color and pattern and keep your curb looking fresh for years to come!

* You can seal on your own using an acrylic sealer, or let us do it for you! We offer reseals at the end of each season.