Paving the Way for Your Outdoor Space
Learn which type of pavers fits your budget, and view popular patterns to complement your home.
By Kimberlee Courtney
Hardscaping is an important part of any residential landscape to create visual balance and functional surfaces. Because of their durability, easy maintenance, and cost efficiency, pavers have become the popular choice for achieving a stunning outdoor surface. Pavers come in a variety of material options, including concrete, natural stone, and brick, and each is available in different colors, shapes, and patterns. Whether you are looking to create a walkway, patio, or pool deck, see which type of paver fits your budget and best complements the style of your home.
Concrete Pavers
Common in residential and commercial applications, concrete pavers are made with a strong mix of cement and aggregate and often used for driveways, walkways, patios, and pool decks. Also referred to as paver stones (not to be confused with natural stone pavers),concrete pavers are manufactured according to firm dimensional standards and offer endless design possibilities. They are available in an unlimited selection of styles, colors, and textures, and can even be made to look like natural stone or clay brick.
Concrete pavers can be installed with or without mortar. Pavers installed without mortar—called interlocking or permeable pavers—are placed in sand; then the joints between each paver are filled with sand, locking them in place. These pavers are unaffected by shifts in the ground because the sand allows for movement without cracking. This technique creates a permeable surface for rainwater to drain; however, these pavers can get clogged with sediment over time and require regular sweeping and vacuuming to ensure proper drainage performance.
Non-permeable concrete pavers are installed in mortar and need only occasional sweeping and rinsing with a hose.
Concrete pavers range from $5 – $15 per square foot for do-it-yourselfers, and $15 – $25 per square foot if you hire a pro. Price ranges for interlocking concrete pavers are usually higher, costing $20 – $35 per square foot when installed professionally.
Brick Pavers
Brick pavers convey a statement of timeless elegance and Old-World charm to any home. Their hard surface and durability make them suitable for heavily used areas such as driveways, patios, and pathways. They’re also a great choice around pools because their porous texture provides a non-slip surface. Additionally, bricks will not fade or erode if exposed to large amounts of water or chlorine.
As with concrete pavers, brick pavers can be installed with mortar or sand. Brick pavers that are uniform and set in mortar provide a formal look, while pavers that are tumbled after manufacturing and set in sand create a more rustic, casual appearance.
Since brick pavers are natural products made from clay, water, and fire, their colors tend to be in the earth tone range, consisting mostly of red, brown, greenish gray, tan, and beige. A major advantage of brick pavers is that they have countless design options. Patterns can be created using bricks of various sizes, shapes, textures, and colors. Iron specks can also be added to the bricks to create a metallic effect.
Maintaining brick pavers is relatively simple, as clay ages well and looks better over time. Because pigments are not added, bricks are not affected by ultraviolet light and will preserve their color. Though not required, sealing the pavers will protect their texture and surface, as well as prevent staining and scratching. In addition, dirt can be easily washed away with mild detergent and water.
Brick pavers run about $5 – $15 per square foot. For professional installation, estimates are typically $15 – $20 per square foot.
Natural Stone Pavers
If you’re looking for a truly authentic hardscaping material, consider natural stone. Natural stone pavers are cut from many different types of stones, including sandstone, limestone, granite, bluestone, marble, slate, and travertine. These stones are hard-wearing, long-lasting, and weather resistant, which makes them perfect for any outdoor application. In particular, granite, travertine, and bluestone pavers are known to have a non-slip surface, which is ideal for around pools. Additionally, travertine and flagstone have very low heat absorption, so the surface stays cool on your feet. For heavy traffic areas such as driveways, granite and slate work best.
Natural stone pavers are extracted from a quarry and cut into paver shape for easy installation. Like brick pavers, stone pavers may be set in a sand bed or in mortar. They can also be set on top of a soil surface with little preparation.
One of the main highlights of natural stone pavers is their wide variations in color, texture, shape, and size. Stone pavers range in shades of blue, red, brown, and gray. They also can be finished to have a smooth matte, high gloss, or ultra rough texture to match the style of your home.
While stone pavers will not fade, initial sealing is advised to enhance colors and preserve luster. Stone pavers are easy to maintain: a simple rinse with a high-powered hose will remove any dirt or stains.
Stone pavers have a higher purchase price than concrete and brick pavers because they must be mined from a quarry. Their prices range from $15 – $30 per square foot, depending on the type of stone. Professional installation is usually priced around $30 – $35 per square foot. b
Photo courtesy of Red River Hardscapes
Picking a Pattern
When adding pavers to your driveway, pool deck, or patio, it’s important to select a paver pattern that will properly accent your home and landscape. Some of the most common paver configurations are described below.
Herringbone: This pattern arranges a sequence of pavers at a 45- or 90-degree angle. The diagonal herringbone pattern works well with standout borders and edging, while the straight pattern provides a natural flow to other areas of the home. Herringbone is ideal for driveways because the degree of interlocking between the pavers creates a solid base, which promotes even load bearing. It also reduces potential movement of the pavers.
Basketweave: With this pattern, rows are created by alternating between vertically-placed and horizontally-placed pairs of pavers. This style works well with brick pavers for traditional and formal designs. It can also be used for various applications, including driveways, pathways, and pool decks.
Running/Stretcher Bond: The simplest of all pattern designs, the running bond pattern consists of pavers placed side by side. There are three variations to this pattern: stacked running bond, one-third running bond, and half running bond. The stacked bond places each paver exactly on top of the other creating “stacked” lines, both vertically and horizontally. The one-third and half running bonds create a staggered look by having each row of pavers overlap the width of the last row by one-third or half its length. The running bond pattern is ideal for patios and walkways, but not driveways. The simplicity of the stacked bond makes it the best pattern for areas with gentle curves.
Random/Ashlar: A random pattern involves arranging pavers of different heights and widths, which creates a unique and decorative look. The design can be used with cobbled pavers to create an Old-World English design, or used with polished stone pavers for more modern homes.
Tips
• Simple patterns like running bond work best in small areas and can make paths look longer or wider. For larger spaces, multiple patterns can be incorporated to add variety and interest.
• Laying pavers at a 45-degree angle to the lines of your home draws attention to the area.
• Curves add a unique, decorative value, but involve lots of cutting; this means extra labor and wasted materials and could increase your overall cost.