When you are ready to improve the curb appeal of your home or upgrade your outdoor living space, pavers are an excellent option. What are pavers used for, you ask? Pavers are hardscaping materials that are used to create a flat surface. They are often used for patios, pool decks, walkways, and driveways. There are so many options available that when it is time to choose what pavers are best for your project, it can be hard to know where to start! This post will explain the basic types of pavers available and the pros and cons of each so that you can make the best decision for your home.
The Basic Types of Patio Pavers
Pavers come in four main types: brick, natural stone, concrete, and porcelain. Each of these different types of pavers has its benefits and drawbacks and different areas where it really shines as the best in class. For example, concrete pavers are durable and fairly inexpensive, which makes them great for driveways, while porcelain pavers are becoming more popular for use on back patios and around the pool.
There are also many different paver shapes and paver sizes. The current trend is moving toward using larger-sized pavers (12×12, 16×16, and even 24×24 inches), which gives your walkway or patio a clean, modern look. Of course, you should always choose what you like, even if it’s not the trendiest option. It is your home, so make it a place you love to be! As you know, I believe in knowing the rules so you can break them with confidence.
Brick Pavers
Made of natural clay or sometimes molded concrete, brick pavers are a timeless classic. They are very strong and resist scratching and staining. This makes them a great choice for driveways and walkways.
Brick pavers can be installed in different types of paver patterns, such as straight lay, herringbone, staggered, or even sunburst patterns. They hold their color for a long time, and they don’t need sealing. Their textured surface makes them a non-slip option, great for walkways and pool decks.
Brick pavers come in a variety of colors, textures, and sizes, with the most common sizes being 3×6 and 12×12. They are a relatively inexpensive paver type.
On the downside, brick pavers are falling out of fashion at the moment. Trends are moving toward bigger pavers and away from mosiac-like brick surfaces. But the trend will likely change at some point, and bricks, which have been a classic feature in homes for years, will come out on top again.
Natural Stone Pavers
Natural stone pavers are incredibly popular. Many types of natural stone are absorbent, which makes them a great choice for around the pool or a front walkway. There are so many types of natural stone pavers available! Some of the most popular kinds are flagstone, limestone, marble, travertine, and granite.
Flagstone
If you are considering natural stone for your patio, I highly recommend looking into flagstone. Flagstone is a sedimentary rock that is quarried and split into thin, flat pavers of various sizes and shapes.
- It comes in a variety of colors, such as brown, gray, blue, and even gold
- Flagstone is durable and has a rough, non-slip surface
- It has a natural look that blends into the landscaping
- Flagstone is a more expensive paver option, but it looks beautiful
- Bluestone, which is similar to flagstone, has a more formal look. It comes in blue and gray shades. While it is durable for walking, it should not be used for driveways. It is also a more expensive option.
Limestone
Limestone is a strong natural stone that is often used for edging a walkway. It can be polished to a smooth, shiny surface or left natural and a little rough.
- Limestone is an affordable natural stone
- It comes in a variety of shapes. This gives it a unique look but also means that it requires skilled installation because the pieces don’t fit together perfectly.
- This type of stone requires sealing every few years, and it can stain
- Limestone comes in many shades of white and gray
By Quorn Stone
Marble
While it’s common to use marble for counters, backsplashes, and even tile floors in bathrooms and kitchens, many people don’t consider marble pavers. But for a beautiful, elegant, sophisticated patio or pool deck, marble can be a great choice.
- Marble pavers come in whites, blues, and grays
- While they are fairly durable, marble pavers do require sealing every 2-4 years
- Marble is slippery when wet, but using a special sealant that includes microbeads, or using sandblasted pavers will give the surface a little more texture
- If you have a lot of trees on your property, keep in mind that if the leaves sit on the marble pavers, they can cause staining
- Marble is luxurious and is both on-trend and timeless
By Travertine
With their gorgeous color (shades of beige, tan, and brown) and their interesting look, travertine pavers are a popular choice. They are durable and are especially great for pool decks.
- Travertine pavers retain their natural color without fading
- They can withstand extreme weather
- Less expensive than marble, travertine pavers still give an elegant look to your space
- They do require sealing every year or two
- Their porous surface makes them great for wet and high-traffic areas, but can also make them harder to keep clean
- Travertine pavers look especially great in the very popular French pattern (a specific placement of square and rectangular pavers)
ByGranite
Another popular natural stone option, granite pavers are especially great for driveways, walkways, and pool decks.
- Granite pavers come in a variety of shapes and colors
- Granite is a dense stone that resists damage from scratching, staining, and harsh weather
- They are easy to keep clean and are not slippery when wet
- These pavers are expensive, but with proper care, they will last for decades
- Most people recommend sealing granite pavers since they do absorb water and can eventually become discolored
By Concrete Pavers
Made of cement mixed with various aggregates, concrete pavers are an excellent and very popular choice for many reasons. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes, from 12×12, 16×16, or 24×24 squares to large rectangles. You can even get hexagon, octagon, or key-shaped pavers that interlock. Since concrete pavers are molded, the shape options are vast.
Concrete pavers are more expensive than poured concrete, but they last a lot longer. They are more durable and less prone to cracking than poured concrete, and more durable than most types of pavers. As pavers go, they’re a very affordable option.
Concrete pavers are an excellent choice for driveways, walkways, patios, and pool decks. They come in a variety of colors and can enhance any aesthetic. While they are durable, they are also porous and require sealing every two to five years in order to retain their color.
The photo below is from our current project, where we installed concrete pavers. We could not be happier with the way it turned out!
Porcelain
While you wouldn’t necessarily think of porcelain pavers as an option for your home, they are becoming more and more popular. Porcelain pavers are an attractive option in part because of the variety of colors available. While other types of pavers come in two or three colors (and various shades within those options), porcelain pavers come in more than fifty colors.
If you want a specific look, or you want your patio to stand out from the rest, porcelain might be for you. Porcelain pavers come with a textured surface, which makes them less slippery when wet.
Porcelain pavers can look like natural stone, but are often a more durable and less expensive option–and they don’t require sealing. They come in all sizes, including 18×26 and 24×24, which are popular sizes and harder to find in natural stone.
The downside of porcelain pavers is that they are harder to install. They require an electric saw and some know-how to make cuts, and if you want to install them around a curved pool or another curved edge, the installation gets even harder.
One option, if you want to use an infinity edge where the pavers go right to the edge of the pool, is to use porcelain pavers everywhere else and a natural stone border right around the pool edge. Even with that limitation, porcelain pavers are a great option and will be around for a while.
By Bonus: Rubber and Gravel Pavers
While not as popular as the above-listed options, there are times when rubber or gravel pavers may be the best choice for you. Rubber pavers, often made out of recycled tires, are slip-resistant and shock-absorbing. They can be great in high-traffic patios and around the pool.
They do not crack and can last for up to twenty years. Rubber pavers do absorb heat, so they are not always great for bare feet, and they are more expensive than, say, concrete pavers. However, the flexibility they offer and the ease of installation might make them a great option for your home.
Gravel, when used as a flat surface cover, can be just what you need to finish your driveway or walkway. It’s inexpensive and easy to install. It allows water to drain down into the ground, meaning it’s good for low-lying areas that are prone to puddles.
Gravel doesn’t require sealing or much maintenance, and it gives a no-slip surface. On the flip side, gravel doesn’t come in many colors (gray, red, and black primarily) and doesn’t offer style options. The surface of a gravel walkway or driveway is uneven, although you can mitigate this by using small gravel pieces.
Styles and Maintenance
It’s helpful to know a few key terms as you consider and shop for pavers for your home.
- Interlocking pavers (often brick or concrete) have grooves so they fit together in various patterns and designs
- Tumbled pavers have been, well, tumbled in a drum to give them a rough, aged look
- Textured pavers have surfaces that are rough and non-slip. They’re often made this way with sandblasting or etching. Textured pavers are ideal for heavy traffic areas, and areas that are often wet.
- Smooth pavers have a non-textured surface. They look sleek and modern, but aren’t good around pools. You can use them along with textured or tumbled pavers to give a contrasting look.
Whatever type of paver you get, a little maintenance will go a long way toward keeping them looking their best. Pressure wash every so often, seal as required by your particular type of paver, and keep them swept clean of leaves and debris.
Summary
There are so many types of pavers available in a multitude of colors, shapes, sizes, and styles. It can be helpful to look at some options on Pinterest or in home decorating magazines to see how different types of pavers are commonly used. You can install pavers yourself or hire someone to do it for you.
Pavers will increase the usability of your home and yard, make it more customized to your likes and particular aesthetic, and increase your enjoyment as you enter and exit your house or spend time outside. They are a great addition to any home.
