If you are looking for a way that you can enhance the look of your landscape, one of the best ways that you can do that is through using pavers. Pavers are made to be robust and durable and they’re made to be used outside. Below are the different types of pavers, their advantages and disadvantages and how they can be used for different construction projects.
Where can pavers be used?
One thing that you want to understand before you look at the different types of pavers is what they’re used for. Pavers are pieces of flat stone that usually get grouped together. They’re used for creating a path or to make a patio.
Different Varieties of Pavers
Brick Pavers
Brick pavers are pavers made of clay which are then cured by baking inside a kiln.
Advantages
- Extremely durable and tough
- Great when you want a generic look that is very tough
- Will work well with just about any project.
Disadvantages
- Limited in available patterns and colors
- Tend to be expensive
Concrete Pavers
Concrete pavers are the ones that are used most commonly. They’re made of aggregates and cement. They’re compressed and then air cured so that their strength is increased. These kinds of pavers are great for driveways. If you have a smaller budget and you need a lot of pavers to do the job, concrete pavers are a good option to consider.
Advantages
- Less costly than brick
- Gives you more options when it comes to size and color
- Easy to install
Disadvantages
- Colors tend to fade when the sun hits them
- The pavers erode as time passes. Their smooth finish wears away and the composite beneath it is exposed.
- They don’t last as long because of erosion problems. Concrete pavers need to be sealed to last longer.
Stone Pavers
Stone pavers come in two kinds of pavers – manufactured paving stones and natural stones. Natural stone like granite is very durable and is perfect to use in courtyards and patios. Bluestone is also popular for things such as driveways and patios. Sandstone is used for courtyards and patios, along with things inside as well as outside.
Advantages
- Easy to install
- Available in different sizes and shapes
- Gives you a look that is more natural
Disadvantages
- Will absorb more moisture when compared with brick and concrete
- May break during the winter when the moisture freezes
- Not a lot of flexibility when it comes to design and color range.
Travertine/Rhyolite Stone Pavers
Rhyolite and travertine pavers are made of travertine and rhyolite stones. They’re a great choice for outdoor areas such as patios.
Advantages
- Easy to install
- Available in different sizes and shapes
- Gives you a look that’s more natural
Disadvantages
- Will absorb more moisture than brick and concrete
- May break during the cold when the moisture freezes
- Doesn’t give you a lot of flexibility when it comes to color range and design flexibility.
Terrazzo Pavers
These pavers are the ones that are most sophisticated. These pavers are made of natural stone, marble chips, sand and Portland cement. These pavers are expensive, but they can give you an elegant, superior design for your swimming pool, patio and other types of outdoor projects. These pavers are really durable and they’re able to handle all types of weather conditions.
Advantages
- Offer you a unique look.
- Shapes and colors offer your projects a lot more flexibility when it comes to design.
- Very durable pavers and they can handle all kinds of outdoor and weather conditions.
- Easy to clean
- Gives you an upscale look. These pavers are used by many high-end establishments to give a luxurious look.
Disadvantages
- Quite costly when you first put them down. However, they also can save you money because these pavers are very durable and don’t require much maintenance at all.
- Difficult to install and you will need to hire a professional to install them for you.
If you are looking for pavers for your home or your business, you want to consider these three things.
- Budget
- What they’ll be used for
- How much maintenance you want to do
Even though the first types of pavers are less expensive than terrazzo pavers, some of them also require a lot of maintenance to keep them looking new. Even though you’re going to pay more up front for the terrazzo pavers and you’ll have to pay someone to install them, you are going to save money and time in the long run since you don’t have the maintenance to worry about.
About Naples Pressure Washing & Sealing
Doron Nudel is the owner of Naples Pressure Washing, LLC. He’s worked as an exterior cleaning specialist in Naples, FL since 2008. Servicing many areas of Southwest Florida including Naples, Bonita Springs, Estero, and Marco Island.
