Opting to Use Pavers
Pavers are a great choice for a homeowner who is looking to add a little extra flair to an outdoor area. Unlike wooden patios, pavers are incredibly durable. They have the strength of concrete but are much nicer looking as segmented bricks.
If you’ve decided that pavers are right for you, it’s time to make an even more difficult decision: which pavers are the best? The answer may be right ahead.
Paver Shapes and Textures
Pavers can be bought in a wide variety of different shapes. Popular choices include rectangles, squares, and triangles. How thick your pavers should be depend on where you’re using them (thicker for areas which will experience more pressure, like driveways).
In terms of texture, a traditional paver finish will resemble concrete. Tumbled pavers are made with frayed edges that create a classical, pastoral look. Last but not least, slate pavers emulate the condition of natural stone.
Another thing to keep in mind is whether or not interlocking pavers are the right choice for you. Similar to cobblestone, interlocking pavers fit snugly together and do not need to be mortared to the ground with concrete. Since they are not cemented, you can easily pick out and replace an interlocking paver if it is ever stained or damaged. However, because they are still separate, interlocking pavers are vulnerable to weeds growing between them.
Paver Colors
According to experts, paver colors should usually complement the existing colors of your home and environment. However, you might want to take care to not make them exactly the same color as your home or the ground. Instead, choose hues that are complementary to the color of your roof. That way, the shades won’t all blur together to create a messy, blurred look.
The color of your pavers should also reflect the mood that you want to project on an area. Muted and soft colors such as grey and brown could help create an easygoing aura. Or maybe you want to throw in some vibrant pink and yellow to foster a more energetic atmosphere.
Not all pavers are uniformly colored. If you are interested in a more varied look, maybe go for multiplied pavers. This choice could be beneficial for places like driveways, where stains are likely to occur. By having a variety of colors, stains and tarnishes will be less noticeable than if they happened on a monotone set of pavers.
Be sure to keep in mind that the amount of sunlight an area gets will affect how the color shows. In more shaded places, consider using pavers with light colors.
