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Anyone Installed Barn Plank or Timberstone Pavers Yet?

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JimLewis

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
These are all the rage along the entire west coast. In every one one of the home and garden shows this year in the Portland area, one of these pavers has been used in the majority off the landscape/hardscape displays. I'm reading that it's also the main feature in San Diego, Seattle and all over.

I posted some teaser photos last fall on our Facebook page and got quite a lot of positive interest from our followers. There were lots of likes and lots of comments of people saying how they loved it. Which surprised me, because I'm not a fan. But whatever, seems to be all the rage. I'll install what they want. I don't dislike it. I just would rather install something that looks like stone than something that looks like wood. Nicer, classier look, IMO.

All of our local hardscape suppliers are starting to carry one of these products and it seems to be getting really popular. Just wondering if any of you guys have installed any patios using this or any similar product. If so, can you post some photos of how it turned out?

Below are some photos of the Barn Plank from Silver Creek. In my next reply to this thread, I'll post some photos from the other main brand we have around here.

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#3 ·
I have personally installed maybe 20 pallets of the Silver Creek Barn Plank. Where to start!!! The first time we installed it was in a display at our office. It was a hit! It had a nice dark charcoal color. 6 months later....chalky white color. Not efflorescence either. They had a problem with the dye fading. It was a known problem. So when you look at there product in a brochure it looks like it has a nice dark color...now instead of it coming charcoal they took that dye out and now it just always looks white and chalky. There are major height and dimension issues as well. I will post a few pictures I have taken of some of the issues. Notice the chalky color.

Notice how un square this piece is!!

Perfect if you like birdbaths

Noticeable height differences.

I think it's perfect for small areas.


All these issues have been brought up to our rep and they say by gapping everything a 1/4" it will take care of itself. I do think it has it's place in a hardscape. But I feel it's better in smaller amounts as an accent piece.
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#5 ·
Looks nice.

First thoughts that went through my mind was fading and how hideous it's gonna look when it fades. Anything in sunlight is going to fade.
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#10 ·
alldayrj said:
Techo makes a similar product named borealis. Havent got to install it yet but in any wet cast paver youre going to find big irregularities. They have tolerances way bigger than normal pavers
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I was talking to a designer at the home show last week, they had Borealis in their booth. He said they were originally going to do a really cool symmetrical herringbone pattern but they had to scrap that idea because the pavers were so far off from one another (>1/4") they couldn't make it work
 
#11 ·
I haven't installed any. Used some in a booth actually at a homeshow we did. Just wanted something a little different.

First of all these things are heavy, over 50lbs per brick for the larger stones. We actually broke 2 of the larger stones while setting them because they are so long and heavy. We weren't dropping them but just setting them in place and they split. Could have just been a bad batch or from the cold weather, i dont know. We didn't have a huge problem getting them to line up, but it was also just a booth so we weren't going for "perfect." I heard about the color fade, but according to my rep this has been addressed.

As far as the response, mine was very similar to yours Jim. A lot of people liked it, didn't believe it was concrete etc. I, like you am not a big fan of them. The only picture I thought that you posted that looks remotely decent is the second picture of the timberstone. I don't think it should be used as a stand alone paver, but instead more as an accent as e-mans used in a few photos. They look good in those pictures.

The one that did catch my eye a little more is the barn plank step that came out. I thought that was pretty cool, and could have some good applications, but again thats more of an accent feature.
 
#12 ·
The concept is really rad.

But......how often do we see hardwood flooring outdoors? If you want the wood look, then why not simply build a wooden deck!
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#14 ·
alldayrj said:
Maybe because wood decks rot? And wood decks that are flush in the ground rot even faster? And wood needs to be maintained?
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Nope. You re not thinking.

What are luxury yaughts made of?
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Discussion starter · #15 ·
DVS Hardscaper said:
The concept is really rad.

But......how often do we see hardwood flooring outdoors? If you want the wood look, then why not simply build a wooden deck!
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I agree. That's why I'm not a fan. Because, if you want wood or the look of wood, just go with the real thing - or a synthetic like TimberTech or Trex. We've installed plenty of those and the synthetics these days (esp. Timbertech) last and look great!

The other reason I'm not a fan is when you're using real wood, the sections of wood aren't just 3' long or less. They're usually 8', 10', 12' or even longer. So to me, this doesn't look realistic from the standpoint that each "board" is too short. Nevertheless, some clients seem to really like the concept. So whatever.

I just made my new portfolio book for this year. I was planning to add these pavers in that book, not as a representation of our work but as something that was available to install. But I've decided against it, given the problems cited. I think we'll stick with pavers that are already tried and tested, unless I get someone who's just really interested in going this way.
 
#16 ·
Unilock had the same issue with one of their wetcast stones, there was approx. 1cm difference in height and when the project was completed it looked nothing short of amateurish. If the stone isn't flush I won't be bothered to install it.
 
#18 ·
DVS Hardscaper said:
Nope. You re not thinking.

What are luxury yaughts made of?
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Perhaps you mean a yacht? Theyre made of many things. Are you suggesting teak? I've ripped out mahogany, cedar, ipe and trex etc decks. Theyre all built on garbage pressure treat. This product isn't going to replace a elevated wood deck. I'm not defending it as an industry staple but you have to respect it as a design statement. Once they refine it a little i have a feeling it will be here to stay. The business changes. Sell it to your client or don't. But i don't think you're installing 4x8 holland stone pavers any more but 20 years ago thats all there was.
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#19 ·
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