John Traynor
Owner & Founder of Stone Creations Inc.
John started laying pavers in Arizona in the late 1990s and founded Stone Creations in April 2000. His work stays focused on one trade: pavers, travertine and natural stone hardscape.
Stone Creations has completed well over a thousand projects across the Valley. The company holds Arizona ROC license #154361 and is licensed, bonded and insured.
Recognition and industry leadership
John is an ICPI Arizona Chapter Hardscape Award winner in 2008, 2009 and 2010. See Stone Creations’ awards.
He is also a Director on the board of the Southwest Hardscapes Association.
John’s videos and Learning Hub
John teaches homeowners on the Stone Creations YouTube channel. Every Learning Hub article is adapted from his videos, bringing his methods and opinions to the written articles below.
His pavers-only focus covers driveways, patios, pool decks and walkways in pavers, travertine and natural stone. See finished Stone Creations projects.
John’s Learning Hub articles
- What Should You Look for in a Paver Installation Contractor in Scottsdale?
Hiring a paver installation contractor in Scottsdale? Ask what they use for base. If the answer is quarter minus or DG, walk away. Here's what to look for.
- What Makes a Scottsdale Paver Patio Feel Like a Resort?
Lighting is what made this paver patio feel like a resort. Why step, planter, and perimeter lights belong in every Scottsdale paver patio plan.
- Why Most Paver Driveways Fail Before They Start
A paver is just a piece of concrete until it becomes part of a system. Here is why most paver driveways fail before the first brick is ever laid, and what proper base prep looks like.
- Where Does Water Go Under Your Pavers?
Pavers are designed so water drains through the joints and into the ABC base below. Here is why that base material decides whether your project lasts five years or thirty.
- Do Paver Driveways Really Add Home Value?
A paver driveway does add value, but not the way most people picture it. Here is the honest breakdown of curb appeal, long-term cost versus concrete, and why brick and concrete pavers install for the same price.
- Why the Sand Under Your Pavers Matters
Most homeowners focus on the pavers, but the one inch of concrete sand underneath is what locks the whole surface together. Here is why angular sand matters and why mortar sand is the wrong choice.
- The Foundation Every Strong Driveway Needs
ABC stands for aggregate base course, and it is the hidden layer that decides whether a driveway lasts thirty years or starts sinking in year three. Here is how it is built and why the compactor matters.
- Are Pavers Really Only for Expensive Homes?
A lot of homeowners think pavers are only for big custom estates. That is not the case. Here is the honest breakdown of how small paver projects actually work.
- Why Most Paver Driveways Fail Over Time
The number one reason paver driveways fail has nothing to do with the pavers. It is what is underneath them. Here is the base system we use so your driveway does not rut, dip, or sink.
- Why This Homeowner Chose Clay Brick Over Concrete
A Phoenix homeowner saw clay brick at a neighbor's place, loved the colors, and asked us to track it down. Here's why clay is worth the extra cost and the extra effort.
- Hidden Features That Make Outdoor Spaces Safer & Smarter
Small hidden details like umbrella sleeves and hide lids clean up the look of your patio and pool deck, and quietly make the space safer for kids at the same time.
- Clay Brick vs Concrete Pavers: What's the Difference?
Clay brick and concrete pavers look similar once they're down, but they're built differently, age differently, and fit different homes. Here's what to know before you pick one.
- The Mistake People Make with Natural Stone Pavers
Big natural stone slabs look great on a patio, but put them under a car and they crack. Here is why size matters with natural stone, and what we actually use on driveways.
- The Smarter Way to Finish Step Corners
Bullnose pavers look great on a straight edge, but they fall apart on a corner. Here is how we cut and miter them so the steps actually look right.
- Why We Leave Gaps in Paver Installations (On Purpose)
Those little gaps between sections of pavers? They aren't a mistake. Here's why we leave 3/8 inch drainage channels in our installations on purpose, and why it matters even in Arizona.
- Natural Stone Done Right: Travertine Pool Deck in Glendale
A Glendale travertine paver pool deck overlay, bullnose coping, contrasting borders, and mixing a French pattern with 12x24 large-format stone for design impact.
- Where Should Water Drain on a Paver Driveway?
How a paver driveway should be sloped to keep water flowing from the back of the property to the street, plus how to handle elevation changes, gutters, and tie-ins to walkways and patios.
- How Long a Paver Driveway Project Really Takes
A real breakdown of how long a paver driveway project takes, from demo through install, and why elevation changes, walkways, and patio tie-ins add days to the timeline.
- Why Some Paver Driveways Last 30+ Years
We've done driveways years ago that still look great today. The difference isn't the pavers, it's what's underneath and how it's built. Here's what actually makes a driveway last 30+ years.
- Consistent Steps, Elevations, and How Water Decides Where Stairs Go
Steps look simple. They're not. Here's how we shoot elevations, keep risers consistent, tie walls into steps, and add an extra step when water tells us to.
- String Lines, Grading, and Why Your Paver Job Starts Before the First Paver
Before a single paver gets laid, we're running string lines and rebuilding grade. Here's why that matters, and why it's the difference between a driveway that lasts and one that doesn't.
- Paver Driveways in Arizona: Everything You Need to Know
A complete walkthrough of paver driveways in Arizona, cost, design tiers, install process, timeline, warranty, and the maintenance you actually need to do.