www.concreteproducts.com June 2017 • 35
INNOVATIONS REPORT
HARDSCAPE
my customers desire using stone, slate, or bricks—including two-story
decks, two- or three-tier decks, and stairs."
Richardson adds that the system can even accommodate the use of
sand, whether as foundation to even out irregular stone or polymeric
grades between pavers, by first installing several layers of non-woven
textile on the fastened Silca Grates.
The system also suits the do-it-yourself market. Sherwood, Ore.,
homeowner Mark Batz was looking to replace a well-worn 25-year-
old cedar deck. Recurring pressure washing and mandatory sealer
treatments every few years were taking their toll on Batz, who was
looking forward to relaxing on his deck rather than maintaining it.
Wood decks can warp, crack, distort, split, fade, and promote mold
and mildew; to maintain them, homeowners must seal the wood on an
annual or semi-annual basis, along with replacing broken screws and
individual boards. When Batz came across a local contractor looking
to discard several truckloads of used pavers and sand from a recent
municipal project, he decided to use the material to install two ground
level patios in his backyard. His next idea was to remodel his elevated
wood deck as well. After conducting some research on "elevated stone
or paver decks," he discovered the Silca System.
Batz purchased the product and then installed the pavers on
the grates with the help of a contractor friend who also assisted in
obtaining the required permits for the project. He then utilized the
remaining pavers and Silca Grates on some stairs and even created a
hardscape pathway to match the deck.
Batz says the grates were easy to work with despite some intricate
deck features. "I had to create very specific shapes to fit several
octagonal breakfast nooks," he explains. "We used a circular saw
with a blade for plastic and the grates cut like butter. They were so
easy to install … I recommend [the Silca System] for anyone that
is trying to build an outdoor surface elevated above ground. Even
the inspector said he had never seen an elevated stone deck before,
and was impressed." — Silica Systems, Alliance, Ohio, 330/821-1585;
www.silcasystem.com