Q: Is the contractor certified by the Interlocking Concrete Paver Institute (ICPI)?

A: ICPI sets industry standards that contractors should follow for the installation of hardscape materials. Greenview Designs is ICPI certified and we work at or above industry standards. Ask to see the certifications.

Q: Is the contractor certified by National Concrete Masonry Association (NCMA)?

A: NCMA sets industry standards for the installation of landscape and retaining walls and masonry applications. Greenview Designs is certified by NCMA.

Q: Installing EP Henry, if so, is the contractor an EP authorized hardscape installer?

A: These are extensive manufacturer screenings of contractors which provides offers and guidelines that include a 3 year written guarantee on all work performed, inspections of jobs being built by the manufacturers, re-inspections 3 years from completion date, several customer referrals and interviews are required, industry certifications (mentioned above) and insurance certificates to name a few. Greenview Designs is an EP Henry authorized hardscape installer.

****Ask all contractors to see the current certifications mentioned above.**** You can see ours on our website or we can provide hard copies when we meet.

Q: What type of base is your contractor going to install and at what depth?

A: Your 1” aggregate blend base is one of the most important aspects of your hardscape project. ICPI recommends a minimum 6” aggregate base. Greenview Designs overbuilds and installs a minimum base of 8” on all of our projects to ensure your patio will not fail in the future. We also use top of the line and state of the art heavy compaction equipment to ensure proper compaction.

Note 1: Following the excavation for your walkway, pool deck, or patio, it is very important to compact the subsoil which many contractors overlook. Applying a geo-fabric between the subsoil and aggregate base is the next and very important step in building your base. It creates a barrier between your subsoil and your aggregate base and distributes weight load evenly. Compaction of base materials should occur every 2” to ensure proper compaction if using a 4,440lb compactor, however in most cases unlike our competition we use state of the art 12,000 to 15,000lb reversible compactors allowing us to compact 6”-8” lifts of stone and achieve better compaction. In several installs, we use heavier-rated compaction equipment which increases the depth of the aggregate base we can install prior to compaction.

Note 2: Our aggregate blend base extends at least 12” beyond the outer edges of patio installs as well as a minimum of 12” beyond the base for landscape and retaining walls. This prevents any “sagging” or failures along the edges that occur when a base is at the edge of patios and walls.

Q: What type of setting bed will the contractor apply for pavers or slabs?

A: ICPI as well as all paver manufacturers recommend a plus/minus 1” concrete sand bed. Stone dust should not be used as a setting bed as it does not drain, instead, it retains moisture and breaks down over time. If a contractor tells you they are using stone dust in a paver application you are sure to have failures within two years and your patio might need to be picked up and laid again on proper sand materials. In addition, you will void the manufacturer’s warranty if you install products on quarry dust.

Q: What type of paver joint sealer will your contractor use?

A: Use of sand and quarry dust will not hold up over time and it allows water through the paver joints and under your patio. When freeze and thaw occurs and water exists under your pavers it will cause heaving and your pavers will need to be picked up and laid again. Greenview Designs uses polymeric sand (manufactured by Alliance & Techniseal) which is a very fine polymeric sand that we wet and it becomes hard almost like concrete, it withstands 95% of water. Further, most of those unsightly weeds between your paver joints won’t exist as it will with sand and quarry dust.

Q: Will your contractor install a plastic paver edge restraint with spikes for all outer edges?

A: This is important to hold your walkway or patio in place or in some cases we use a concrete bead along the edge which we find holds up longer than plastic paver edge restraints. Soil conditions will determine what we install.

Q: Is your contractor fully insured?

A: Greenview Designs carries 3 million in general liability coverage.

Q: Does your contractor have their home improvement certification from the division of consumer affairs?

A: It’s the law and a contractor without this certification cannot complete your job by law or obtain any permits. Greenview Designs NJ home improvement contractor’s license # 13VH04470000. PA contractor license number is PA081503.

Q: Will the contractor obtain all permits?

A: Greenview Designs will.

Q: Will they call for all utilities mark-outs on behalf of the homeowner and confirm all underground utilities prior to starting your job?

A: Greenview Designs will.

Q: What type of warranty are you being offered?

A: Greenview Designs passes along all manufacturers warranties for the products itself and we back our workmanship for three years!! If a contractor cannot back his work for three years and put it in the contract you should ask yourself what type of quality you’re getting.

Q: Are you installing a pool?

A: Greenview Designs has extensive knowledge of working around pools as we work very closely with the nation’s largest and number one-rated pool builder, Blue Haven Pools & Spas by Calvitti. Working with the owners of the two companies directly as well as our staff of architects and engineers makes for a headache-free and seamless project. Working around pools involves a lot more knowledge than the typical walkway or patio install.

Q: Does your contractor only use and specify one manufacturer?

A: Greenview Designs will install a wide range of manufacturers’ products from EP Henry, CST, and natural stone to name a few. Your taste and budget will decide the product we use. Ask about our extensive knowledge of natural stone installs as well.

Q: What range of services can your contractor offer? Do they install low-voltage landscape lighting, outdoor cooking stations, outdoor fireplaces and burn pits, outdoor audio and video, masonry services, stone veneers?

A: Greenview Designs offers all of these services in-house which allows you to work with one contractor to complete your project in a headache-free manner and meet your deadlines.

Q: Does your contractor offer financing?

A: We offer in-house applications & approvals and up to $50,000 unsecured and secured loans over $50,000.00 for under 3% or basically free money.