This page explains how PaverLab guides are researched, written, checked and kept accurate. It applies to every guide and product recommendation on the site.
Our sources, in order of trust
- Industry standards and specifications. These include the Concrete Masonry & Hardscapes Association (CMHA, formerly ICPI) guide specifications and technical notes, and ASTM material standards such as C33 and C144 for sand.
- Manufacturer installation instructions. Paver and equipment makers publish the conditions their products are designed and warrantied for.
- University extension services and public agencies. These cover soil, drainage, frost and lawn care.
- Building codes. Where a paver project touches a code requirement, such as step riser heights or the landing at a door, we cite the relevant code.
- Experienced installers' published guidance. We use it to explain technique, not as the only support for a number.
Forum posts and social media can point us to a question worth answering. We don't use them as the source for a fact.
How a guide is written
- One page answers one question fully. We check what people searching for a topic need to know. Then we cover it completely, including the parts other guides skip.
- Numbers come with their conditions. For example, a base depth is given for a specific use (foot traffic or vehicles) and soil type, because a single number without context causes failures.
- Sources are linked in the text, so readers can check the claim themselves.
- Diagrams are drawn to match the text. Cross-sections and layouts show the same dimensions the guide gives.
- Photos are illustrative. Images come from licensed stock libraries and are credited. They show the kind of work described, not a PaverLab project.
How product recommendations are made
PaverLab doesn't currently run hands-on product tests. Recommendations are based on:
- manufacturer specifications, such as plate force, engine size and blade type
- how well those specifications match the job described in the guide
- consistent patterns in verified owner feedback
- availability, including whether renting makes more sense than buying
If we ever test a product ourselves, the page will say so clearly. Affiliate commissions play no part in which products we choose. See our Affiliate Disclosure.
Accuracy and corrections
Every guide is checked against its sources before it is published. When a manufacturer changes its instructions or a standard is revised, the guide is updated. If you find an error:
- Email us through the Contact page with the page and the problem.
- We check the claim against the source.
- Confirmed errors are corrected on the page. The page's last-modified date updates when the change goes live.
Independence
No manufacturer, retailer or advertiser reviews or approves our content before it is published. Sponsored content, if we ever publish any, will be labeled as sponsored at the top of the page.
Who is responsible
PaverLab is edited by Umar Farooq, who is responsible for everything published on the site. Read more on our About page.