[Marbles]

I am in the process of learning all I can about pavers before jumping in and I have found this wonderful resource. I know this is a very open ended question, but what manufacturer do you think provides the best pavers, best customer service and best training? I want to work with one manufacturer/distriubutor that will treat me good and help me learn the business. I want to be a success and I am hope the manufacturer would want that as well, as the more I sell the more I will buy. I have heard some good things about Unilock. All info welcomed.

[HardDaysKnight]

I want to work with one manufacturer/distributor that will treat me good and help me learn the business.

Welcome Marbles. I would suggest you go to all the distributors
in your area and introduce yourself. Ask them for a price list,
delivery fees and schedules, and look over the stock. You will
go home at the end of the day with the info, brochures, hats,
key-chains etc.. You will find yourself using more than one distributor and manufacturer. I don't know how much help learning the business you will get but many are helpful with
product choice and square footage. Good luck to you, Johnny

[scl]

You need to find what pevers are available in your area and go from there. It would help to know where you are. In my area we use a lot of Unilock, Paveloc, and some Oaks. No belgard or some of the others, as I don't have local access. Even some of Unilocks products ae not available in all areas. Unilocks advert. and sales are very good, and their quality is pretty good, but like anything I have had issues from time to time. Reps have been good. Others have good quality, and better prices, though not the marketing hootspa. Hope that helps. Good luck!
Scott

[Pelican]

I use Unilock myself, they have a plant close by. They offer in house training to contractors and the reps will do field visits if questions come up. I've got issues with their quality control and problem resolutions though. I don't know if other manufacturers offer the training Unilock does.

[Stonehenge]

Like others have said, it'll all depend on what you can get locally. For us, I like to have the widest possible palette of colors and textures available to me, so I'll use whatever I think will look and work best for a situation.

Waited 18 months for some Cushwa hand-mades once...

You'll just have to get a feel for each brand of paver and what each does well, and doesn't do well. There are a couple I'll never use, and a few I have total confidence in - but it's all based on what I can lay my hands on in my area.

SCL - I think I still have an old Oaks baseball cap from the 80's - it's the kind of hat with the mesh on the sides and back. I underdstand this kind of hat is extremely hip right now - maybe I oughta start wearing it again.

[Pelican]

I'll add this to my comments: I had a customer request that I install pavers that he had already purchased at Home Depot that resembled Unidecor from Unilock and it was obvious that these were of lesser quality than Unilock. My saw ripped through them like warm butter and when I did the final tamping 15 of the bricks were pulverized! I've never had this happen with Unilock. I don't know what brand Home Depot sells, but it would be one to stay away from.

[Bill Schwab]

Home Depot contracts with local brick manufacturers to make their products. For example, RCP Block and Brick, the manufacturer for just about every brick product we use, manufactures for HD.

I wish Unilock was west of the Mississippi, not that RCP makes a bad product by any means, just that Unilock offers alot more variety.

[Dragonfly]

Bill, check out Olsen pavers in San Juan Capistrano.

[Belgard Greg]

Originally posted by Pelican
I'll add this to my comments: I had a customer request that I install pavers that he had already purchased at Home Depot that resembled Unidecor from Unilock and it was obvious that these were of lesser quality than Unilock. My saw ripped through them like warm butter and when I did the final tamping 15 of the bricks were pulverized! I've never had this happen with Unilock. I don't know what brand Home Depot sells, but it would be one to stay away from.

Until recently Home Depot was selling EP henry and Grinnel in the Northeast. They just switched to Pavestone company wide (at least here in the NE)

[uncle]

We use a lot of unilock here in PA

[sleepy]

Originally posted by Bill Schwab
Home Depot contracts with local brick manufacturers to make their products. For example, RCP Block and Brick, the manufacturer for just about every brick product we use, manufactures for HD.

I wish Unilock was west of the Mississippi, not that RCP makes a bad product by any means, just that Unilock offers alot more variety.

Its basalite on the north coast!
We need a local reference to bias against.
Its a really great product. (Im still broken)
Happy independence day folks!