In Edwardsburg, life revolves around the water and the "Blue Ribbon" community. But building near the lakes often means dealing with high water tables and organic soils that cause standard patios to sink. Salzman Services engineers luxury patios specifically for these conditions. We use deep, open-graded stone bases and commercial stabilization fabrics to bridge soft ground. Whether you are lakeside or in a subdivision, we create a stable, permanent stage for your summer entertaining.
Floating Foundations for Lake Country Soils
In Edwardsburg, particularly near Eagle Lake or Garver Lake, the soil often consists of "Glendora Muck" or high-organic peat layers that are notoriously unstable. A standard patio foundation will eventually sink into this soft subgrade. We counter this by treating your patio like a floating dock on land. We excavate a minimum of 11 inches to remove the most compressible topsoil. We then install a high-tensile 8oz non-woven geotextile fabric across the entire excavation. This fabric acts as a structural hammock, distributing the weight of the patio and preventing your stone base from sinking into the muck below. We backfill with 8 inches of open-graded clean stone (ASTM No. 57), which locks together to form a rigid raft that stays level even when the ground water rises.
Technical Specifications:
Sub-Grade Stabilization: 8oz Non-Woven Geotextile (Bridging soft soils).
Base Aggregate: 8” Open-Graded Clean Stone (No fines to wash away).
Bedding Layer: 1” Clean Chip Stone (3/16” – 1/2”).
Future Proofing: Pre-installed PVC conduit sleeves for utilities.
Perimeter: Reinforced Concrete Bond Beam (Buried wedge).
Execution & Finish
We engineer your space for the active Edwardsburg lifestyle. Before we lay the bedding stone, we install PVC sleeves to allow for future additions like outdoor audio or landscape lighting without disturbing the hardscape. During the final compaction, we use a protective roller mat to vibrate the pavers into the chip stone setting bed, ensuring a smooth, trip-free surface safe for bare feet. We secure the edges with a reinforced concrete bond beam, buried invisibly below the turf. Our "Client for Life" philosophy ensures we are always available to inspect and maintain your patio, keeping it ready for graduation parties and summer barbecues.
Stable Patios for Lake Country Families
Edwardsburg is unique—it’s where the "Blue Ribbon" family lifestyle meets lakefront living. Whether you are on Eagle Lake or in a quiet neighborhood like The Reserve, you need a patio that withstands high traffic and tricky soil. Near the lakes, we often encounter "Glendora Muck" or peat layers that can cause standard patios to sink over time.
We mitigate this risk by installing a non woven geotextile stabilization layer at the very bottom of our excavation. For lakefront properties with high water tables, we often upgrade the base to larger #2 clean stone to bridge the soft subgrade. This engineering ensures that your patio remains perfectly level for family barbecues and graduation parties, regardless of how soft the ground is underneath. We finish with a reinforced concrete bond beam edge (underground) to lock the structure in place permanently.
FAQ
Do you work on lakefront properties?
Yes. We specialize in lakefront hardscaping. We use permeable pavers where required to manage runoff and protect the lake's water quality.
Can I use salt in the winter?
We recommend using magnesium chloride instead of rock salt, as it's gentler on concrete products. However, our high-quality pavers are built to be salt-resistant.
Do you pull permits?
Yes. We handle all the zoning and building permits required by Edwardsburg and the county, ensuring your lake house project is 100% legal.