Suppliers / 01
Bouwers Design Landscaping installs five manufacturer brands and sources base material from five local North Bay yards. The five brands are Techo Bloc, Permacon, Oaks, Browns, and Bestway Stone. The local suppliers are OCP, Northfield Sand and Gravel, Degagne Aggregates, Northern Brick, and Rock Centre. Every paver job is built on HPB (High Performance Bedding), the aggregate spec Techo Bloc and Permacon require for full manufacturer warranty coverage. Northfield Sand and Gravel is the only North Bay yard currently stocking that spec. Each manufacturer carries its own product warranty, which sits underneath the Bouwers five-year workmanship warranty. The combined coverage means the finished install is protected from the aggregate base up through the paver surface.
Built Elegance
Hardscape is only as good as the materials inside it.
The five paver, slab, wall, and stone manufacturers Bouwers specifies on every hardscape project. Each carries its own warranty, which stacks underneath the Bouwers workmanship warranty.
Techo Bloc is a Canadian paver, slab, and wall manufacturer based in Quebec. The Blu line, Borealis, and Industria are the lines most often specified on North Bay driveways. Techo Bloc issues a lifetime transferable residential warranty against manufacturing defect, plus surface integrity coverage tied to proper installation on the manufacturer-spec base. Bouwers builds every Techo Bloc job on HPB (High Performance Bedding) sourced from Northfield Sand and Gravel, which is the spec that unlocks the full warranty out of the box.
Permacon is a Quebec-based manufacturer of interlock, slabs, and natural-stone-look products. Mondrian, Melville, and Lafitt are the lines most commonly specified for North Bay patios and driveways. Permacon issues a lifetime transferable warranty against manufacturing defect, with surface integrity coverage tied to installation on the manufacturer-spec base. Same as Techo Bloc, the Bouwers base prep is built to that spec on every install.
Oaks Landscape Products is an Ontario-based manufacturer with paver, stone, and wall lines that are widely used on North Bay residential projects. Oaks issues a lifetime transferable residential warranty against structural failure under normal use. The Proma, Lazio, and Brussels Dimensional lines are common picks for driveways and patios in the Nipissing district.
Browns Concrete is an Ontario concrete and masonry manufacturer with a long history in the precast concrete market. Browns issues its standard manufacturer warranty against defect. Bouwers uses Browns products on select retaining wall, step, and architectural concrete applications.
Bestway Stone is a Toronto-area manufacturer of pavers, slabs, wall units, and fire pit kits. Bestway issues its manufacturer warranty against defect and surface failure under normal residential use. Bouwers specifies Bestway lines for select patio, fire pit, and outdoor-living additions.
For more on how these manufacturer warranties stack with the Bouwers five-year workmanship warranty, see the warranty page. To see what these brands look like in finished installs, browse the portfolio.
The five North Bay area yards Bouwers buys base aggregate, sand, gravel, brick, and natural stone from. Local sourcing keeps delivery costs low and supports the local trade economy.
OCP is a North Bay concrete and aggregate supplier. Bouwers uses OCP for ready-mix concrete on footing pours under retaining walls and steps, and as a secondary aggregate source when scheduling overlaps prevent a single-yard delivery. OCP is a long-running North Bay operation with a reputation for honest aggregate grading.
Northfield Sand and Gravel is the default Bouwers aggregate source. Northfield is the only North Bay yard currently stocking HPB (High Performance Bedding), the manufacturer-required base spec for full Techo Bloc and Permacon warranty coverage. Most other North Bay yards still carry stone dust, which is what most other local crews finish on. Bouwers builds to the manufacturer permeable-base standard on every paver install, which is why Northfield is the primary aggregate yard on every project.
Degagne Aggregates is a regional aggregate and stone supplier serving the Nipissing district. Bouwers sources select base aggregate and specialty stone from Degagne on projects where the scope or location calls for it. The Degagne yard carries a wider range of decorative stone than most North Bay area suppliers.
Northern Brick is the regional brick and stone supplier for masonry, veneer, and natural-stone work. Bouwers sources brick and architectural stone from Northern Brick on retaining wall caps, step risers, and feature applications where the design calls for a complement to the paver field.
Rock Centre is a natural stone supplier with flagstone, retaining wall stone, and feature stone selections drawn from Ontario quarries (Wiarton, Owen Sound, Eramosa ledgerock and more). Bouwers sources flagstone and natural-stone wall material from Rock Centre on projects where the design specifies natural stone over manufactured product.
Supplier choice matters most where you cannot see it. The aggregate base under a paver install is what determines whether the project lasts five years or fifteen.
Techo Bloc and Permacon both specify a permeable bedding aggregate (HPB) for paver installs to qualify for their full manufacturer warranty. The spec is published in their installation guides. For years, the HPB aggregate was not stocked by any North Bay yard, which meant most local crews finished pavers on stone dust. Stone dust performs acceptably in mild climates. It does not perform well through Northern Ontario freeze-thaw, where the lack of permeability traps water under the install and accelerates settlement, joint washout, and surface drift.
Northfield Sand and Gravel began stocking HPB (High Performance Bedding) in 2024. Bouwers Design Landscaping switched the default aggregate spec on every paver install to HPB the same season. The change does two things: it unlocks the full manufacturer warranty from Techo Bloc and Permacon, and it extends the structural life of the install through more freeze-thaw cycles. Most other North Bay crews still finish on stone dust because the proper aggregate was not previously available locally. Bouwers builds to the manufacturer standard on every install, regardless of what is convenient.
The takeaway for a homeowner researching a hardscape contractor: ask the contractor what aggregate they use under the pavers. If the answer is stone dust, the install may look identical on day one. The difference shows up in year three. For more on what the warranty covers and how to make a claim, see the warranty page.
The questions homeowners and builders ask about paver brands, aggregate base, and supplier choice.
Bring it to the on-site visit. We will spec the build around your preference and quote the project accordingly. Same-day response during build season.