Three Main Types Of Pavers

Pavers are a common landscaping material that is used to make walkways and patios in your yard. There are three main types of pavers, each of which is fairly similar in function but offers a different aesthetic and a unique set of advantages and disadvantages to your yard. Understanding what these three types of pavers are and what they have to offer can help you choose the one that is the best one for your yard.  

Natural Stone Pavers

Natural stone pavers provide a natural, luxurious aesthetic to your home. As they are made out of real stones, natural stone pavers come in a wide variety of different colors and shades, allowing you to create a hardscape which is completely unique. Furthermore, natural stone pavers can come in both natural and linear shapes, allowing for a greater amount of design options to be considered. Natural stone pavers also don't need to be sealed to maintain their appearance, reducing the amount of preventative maintenance that you'll have to do.

However, natural stone pavers are not as strong as their counterparts are, which means that they may not be ideal for extremely high traffic areas, and fulfill a more decorative role. Furthermore, natural stone pavers tend to be more expensive than brick or concrete pavers, though this will depend on the type of stone chosen.

Brick Pavers

Brick pavers are exactly what their name suggests: bricks that are made for use as a hard walking surface. They can be dyed a multitude of different colors, and are fairly strong. This makes them ideal for use in walkways or driveways, as they are able to stand up to abuse and stains very easily without becoming disfigured.

However, brick pavers require a significant amount of maintenance. They have to be sealed regularly as if left unsealed water can seep into them. Absorbed water can lead to cracks developing and promote mold and plant growth, which can disfigure the appearance of the pavers themselves.

Concrete Pavers

Concrete pavers are stronger than brick pavers are, and will not absorb water as brick pavers will do, even if their sealant is washed away. This makes them ideal for uncovered hardscapes, and for use as driveways. They provide a wider degree of colors to choose from than brick pavers are, as they can be stained with acid to alter their appearance.

However, concrete pavers still need to be sealed fairly regularly to maintain their color, even if water will not be absorbed by the pavers themselves. This can increase your long run costs just like brick pavers can.