Top Questions

Before we start your project we have listed frequent questions and all the answers you need before our crew arrives. Including what materials we use, detailed illustrations, and photos.

a pile of gravel is sitting on the ground .

Top Retaining Wall Questions

  • What is Geogrid?

This is a product that is placed behind the wall to stabilize the hillside 


  • What is 4" Perforated drain tile?

This is a piece of drain tile with a "sock" that is placed behind the wall to collect water from the back of the wall and exits out the front of the wall.


  •  What is 3/4" Limestone? 

This is a drainage material which is clean rock with a jagged edge that binds together. 6"-12" of this material will give water a place to drain into the drain tile system. This material is also used for the wall base and compacted to make a sturdy foundation for the wall. 

  • What is a 6" cover?

This is a cover that has exit points to keep rodent from crawling into the drainage system.


  • How tall can we go?

Walls over 4' tall would need to have an engineered plan, and a fence installed above. We recommend a 4' wall or double tiered wall if required to go above 4'.


  • What kind of glue and what gets glued?

Natureview uses SRW Solvent Based Adhesive. All retaining wall capstones and textured half stones are glued.  


  • What are 4" Tees?

The tees are used to create an exit point through the new wall to release water pressure behind the wall. The spacing is usually 25-30 feet apart.



Top Paver Questions

  • What is paver underlayment?

This is a product that separates the sub soil from the base material.


  • What is an open grade base?

This process uses 3/4" limestone for a base material and 1/4" granite chips as a screed layer, which drains better compared the the  compacted class #5 and sand process.


  • What is polymetric joint sand?

This is a fine sand/polymeric that fills the joints between the pavers. When water is applied to the dry sand the polymer hardens and keeps ants and weeds out of the paver joints.


  • What is 3/4" limestone?

This is a base material which is a clean rock with jagged edges that binds together.


  • What are granite chips?

1/4" Granite chips are the new alternative to sand. A jagged rock that binds together, and does not wash away such as sand. Granite chips make the install process faster because it is able to be walked on after screeding. 


  • What is Edgecrete? 

Edgecrete is a new style of paver restraint for open grade base patios. Edgecrete is a bagged concrete mixture which includes tough fibers to allow movement and reduce cracks.


  • Can I see the block or pavers before installation day?

Yes! All materials are ordered through Gertens in Inver Grove Heights. The brickyard staff are always happy to show samples of your selected material and color options before we order and install. 


  • What is the difference between a Soldier Course and a Sailor Course?

A soldier course is when the pavers are laid standing on the end with the narrow edge facing out. A sailor course is similar to a soldier course but with the wide edge facing out.


  • What is underlayment?

This is a woven fabric that is installed before we put down 3/4" clear limestone base material. The fabric makes sure the base rock will not sink into the subsoil after compaction. 

What does it look like when our crew arrives?

List of Services

    1. Walkthrough and Planning

    Our foreman will meet with you, walk through the job and what is planned. Asking for any additional information before work begins. The foreman will use construction marking paint and layout the job for you to visualize.

    2. Excavation

     Its about to get messy! Every hardscape project begins with breaking ground. Patios require digging down 9" from top of paver height to allow space for appropriate base material. Retaining walls require digging 9" deep and 18" wide trenches for the future wall. Depths of base material depend on soil condition and differentiate, but these numbers are standard.

    3. Base Material

     Base material is the most important factor in any hardscape. For patios, the previous 9 inches needs to be filled. We start with a woven fabric to keep the base material from sinking into the dirt. Next, 6 inches of 3/4" limestone rock, the backbone of the base material. Then we put down a 1 inch layer of granite chips for leveling the pavers, followed by your 2" paver. Retaining wall trenches are filled with 6" of clear limestone, leaving 3 more inches for burying the base block below grade.

    4. Building

    Time to build! For patios, the foreman will layout a small demonstration of your chosen paver pattern, when approved we begin laying pavers. When pavers are laid we will apply sandlock, compact, and wet the patio to set the sandlock and show the beautiful paver colors. Walls begin with leveling every bottom block, then we begin stacking, adding drainage outlets along the way. Back filling the wall with drainage rock and topping off with topsoil. The crew will glue down all capstones and split half blocks. 
    Time to reset your yard. After the building process, we will grade the construction area, dirt and seed any disturbed grass areas on us. Clean your driveway or roadway one final time. 

    6. Sign-off 

    Before our crew leaves, we want to make sure everything is completed to your standards. The foreman will have a sign sheet to make sure you are happy with all the work completed, and with your approval, we are finished up!