Pavers: Types & Materials

Patio Pavers

Patio pavers are durable, require low maintenance, and withstand harsh weather without damaging your landscape design. These are a versatile choice for outdoor space, with a 25–30-year lifespan, depending on your chosen material. Patio pavers enhance the value of your property by 20% and provide an ROI of 30-60%. They are made up of concrete or natural stone material, with an installation cost ranging from $8 to $25 per square foot. You can get a more acceptable and natural look by adding eco-friendly patio pavers, which offer long-term durability and enhance your outdoor space’s aesthetic and financial aspects.

Driveway Pavers

Driveway pavers are a customizable solution that helps to enhance your property value and design to handle heavy loads. These pavers help enhance your property’s functionality and aesthetic, with a lifespan ranging from 20 to 50 years. The materials used in making driveway pavers include concrete, cobblestone, brick, and natural stone, which offer strength and appeal. Driveway pavers reduce water run-off with permeable designs, with an installation cost ranging from $4 to $50 per square foot. Driveway paving stones help you to achieve a premium, long-lasting look in your outdoor space and enhance the value of your property 10% more.

Walkway Pavers

Walkway pavers serve as a vital framework for your landscape, guiding movement and leading the eye throughout the space. They are an essential aesthetic component, providing character and definition to your outdoor spaces. Walkway pavers are made from concrete and bricks 36 to 48 inches wide and offer a sound drainage system for your landscape. These are more environmentally friendly and require good maintenance, such as filling joints with polymeric sand and sealing, helping extend walkways’ lifespan, and preventing issues like weed growth or shifting. Walkway pavers boost property value and curb appeal and give a modern look to your landscape.  

Pool Deck Pavers

Pool deck pavers are used for your outdoor swimming area and provide a safe and slip-resistant surface to your landscape. These pavers are highly durable, spanning 50 years if you maintain them properly. They are made of concrete, travertine, limestone, and marble and remain 20-30% cooler. Pool deck pavers allow for easy replacement and reduce repair costs by up to 50%. You can get a more sleek look in your swimming pool area by incorporating pool deck pavers with a combination of safety, durability, and visual appeal. Pool deck pavers are a popular and practical choice for many homeowners.

Retaining Wall Pavers

Retaining wall pavers helps to protect a patio, garden, or other installation in your landscape from a dirty mudslide. These pavers are made from concrete blocks and masonry and are poured concrete with a base width ranging from 0.4 to 0.7 in overall height. They provide excellent durability and strength, with a lifespan of 50+ years if you maintain them properly. They create a multi-functional outdoor space and allow for a better drainage system in your landscape. Retaining wall pavers are lightweight, cost-effective, easy to build, and enhance the aesthetic appeal of your sloped landscape. 

Stepping Stones

Stepping stones create safe paths around your home and provide an anti-skid walking surface. These stones give steady footing and come in bluestone, granite, sandstone, and limestone, which help reduce slipping hazards by delivering a 30% better grip. Adding stepping stones lets you get a visually appealing and functional pathway in your garden. Stepping stone pavers are 12 to 24 inches per stone and improve safety by 30% in slip accidents. These stones require low maintenance, and cleaning occurs every 6 months. Stepping stones are suitable for a wide range of landscaping styles and give an aesthetic look to your outdoor spaces. 

Fire Pit Pavers

Fire pit pavers help to provide the proper functionality of a fire pit by ensuring proper heat insulation in your landscape. The materials used in fire pit pavers include fire bricks, basalt, and concrete pavers, which can tolerate high temperatures without cracking. Fire pit pavers have an inside diameter between 36 and 44 inches and should be placed away from houses or fences to ensure safety in your outside spaces. These durable pavers have heat absorption properties, which help you to maintain a safer environment in your landscape. Fire pit pavers serve as structural and decorative elements in your landscape. 

What Materials Are Pavers Made Of?

Pavers are made of 19 different materials, consisting of various specifications.

1. Concrete Pavers
2. Clay Brick Pavers
3. Natural Stone Pavers
4. Flagstone
5. Granite
6. Travertine
7. Bluestone
8. Limestone
9. Sandstone
10. Slate
11. Porcelain Pavers
12. Rubber Pavers
13. Permeable Pavers
14. Cobblestone Pavers
15. Grass or Turf Pavers
16. Recycled Plastic Pavers
17. Asphalt Pavers
18. Marble Pavers
19. Composite Pavers

Concrete Pavers

Concrete pavers provide durability, strength, and a strong interlocking pattern in your landscape. They comprise Portland cement, sand, gravel or crushed stone, and iron oxides, ranging from $2 to $5 square per foot. Concrete pavers are ideal for enhancing your outdoor space with vibrant colors and offer various design possibilities.

Clay Brick Pavers

Clay brick pavers add timeless appeal to outdoor spaces by retaining their shape and integrity under pressure. They are made of natural clay and sand and absorb 6% to 12% water. You can easily replace or reconfigure them for new designs in your garden area. Clay brick pavers blend well with your landscape design.

Natural Stone Pavers

Natural stone pavers provide a long-lasting and hard-wearing surface for your landscape. These slabs are made of granite, limestone, and sandstone and are 50–100 years of lifespan. They have an absorption rate below 3% and can be customized according to your preferences. These pavers are durable, which helps them support heavy loads in your garden area without cracking or damaging anything.

Natural stones comprise 7 different rocks. Each type of stone offers specific benefits and features.

Flagstone

Flagstone pavers create an inviting atmosphere for outdoor spaces. They are 1 to 3 inches thick and have a 0.5% to 5% water absorption rate. These pavers withstand temperatures from -40 to 49 degrees without damaging your landscape. Flagstone pavers come in gray, tan, brown, red, blue, green, and rust tones, which align with your garden area design. 

Granite

Granite pavers are hardwearing and are best for natural stone flooring for your outdoor space. They are made when molten elements cool and solidify beneath the Earth’s surface. Granite is widely utilized in worktops, stair treads, and indoor floor tiles but is also employed in outdoor projects like pavements. These pavers are 1 to 3 inches thick, with the water absorption rate ranging from 0.2% to 0.5%.  Granite requires minimal maintenance and provides superior durability for high traffic areas in you outdoor space. 

Travertine

Travertine pavers are durable, long-lasting, and provide aesthetic appeal to your landscape. They are 1 to 2 inches thick and can absorb 2% to 7% water. These pavers create a textured finish that is slip-resistant in your outdoor space and have a lifespan of 50 to 70 years. Travertine pavers help you turn ordinary boundaries into stylish landscapes.

Bluestone

Bluestone pavers are highly durable and can be used for patios, decks, walkways, driveways, or entryways in your landscape. They can easily withstand heavy traffic and load with a comprehensive strength of 15,000 to 30,000 PSI. Bluestone pavers are 1 to 2 inches thick and can withstand -40 degrees to 39 degrees heat without any damage to your property. These pavers add a decorative element to your landscape and blend seamlessly with your outdoor area.

Limestone

Limestone is a strong, durable stone with a softly rough surface, making it an ideal option for patios. These pavers are available in ivory, beige, gray, tan, buff, and charcoal, so you can choose what suits best for your landscape. They are 1 to 2 inches thick and made from natural limestone with a lifespan of 50+ years. Limestone pavers create a cohesive look in your landscape and blend seamlessly with gardens, patios, and pathways.

Sandstone 

Sandstone is known for its resistance to weathering and foot traffic, making it ideal for paths, patios, and driveways. These pavers provide an affordable and long-lasting solution for your landscape with a 1% to 6% water absorption rate. They remain cool underfoot and come in tan, beige, brown, gray, gold, green, and pink tones. You can choose your favorite sandstone and protect your pool areas as they are highly slip-resistant. Sandstone pavers help transform mundane spaces into stunning outdoor treats.

Slate

Slates are perfect for creating polished and rural garden patios. These pavers add a natural, timeless charm to your outdoor space and have a good flexural strength of 700 to 1,100 PSI. They come in gray, black, green, purple, and rust tones and create a cohesive upscale look in your outdoor living area. Slate pavers can easily handle freeze-thaw conditions and provide a durable and eco-friendly solution for your landscape. 

Porcelain Pavers

Porcelain pavers are unique paving slabs created from the best quality porcelain. They’re fashioned using kiln-fired clay and recyclable materials, adding a sleek and modern touch to your garden area. These pavers are 1 to 1.5 inches thick and absorb 0.05% to 0.1% water, making them suitable for wet areas in your landscape. Porcelain pavers come in white, gray, beige, black, taupe, and terracotta and have a 50-75-year lifespan. 

Rubber Pavers

Rubber pavers are lightweight, durable, and strong and offer a safer alternative to traditional pavers. They transform outdoor spaces with vibrant colors, including black, gray, red, brown, green, and blue. They are 1 to 2 inches thick and have a flexural strength of 1,000 to 1,500 PSI. Rubber pavers create a sustainable, non-toxic, and safe environment for play areas in your landscape.

Permeable Pavers

Permeable pavers are a sustainable building material mainly used for paving. They are designed to reduce water runoff and improve groundwater recharge. Permeable pavers absorb 25% to 30% water and are 2 to 4 inches thick. They have 1,500 to 3,000 PSI flexural strength and come in gray, beige, brown, red, and tan colors. Permeable pavers offer a cost-effective way to meet your landscaping needs.

Cobblestone Pavers

Cobblestone pavers provide a timeless, historical look to your landscape, making them an excellent option for improving walks, driveways, and patios. They are 3 to 6 inches thick and have a high compressive strength of 5,000 to 7,000 PSI. These pavers are made of granite, basalt, and limestone, which are the best for your landscape design. Cobblestone pavers have a lifespan of 50 to 100 years and promote an elegant look in your landscape. 

Grass or Turf Pavers

Grass pavers, also known as turf pavers, help create a green, natural appearance to your landscape and provide strong support for foot and vehicle traffic. These pavers are 1 to 3 inches thick and cost from $4 to $12 per square foot. The materials used in grass or turf pavers include plastic and concrete, resistant to harsh weather conditions. Grass or turf pavers provide a soft, slip-resistant surface that ensures safety for children in your landscape.

Recycled Plastic Pavers

Recycled plastic pavers are durable and provide an eco-friendly alternative to traditional paving. These pavers are made from 100% recycled material with a 1 to 5 pounds per square foot weight. Adding recycled plastic pavers to your landscape can enhance your property value and overall environment. They come in black, gray, brown, and green colors, lasting 20–50 years. Recycled Plastic pavers deliver long-lasting performances and create visually appealing outdoor spaces for your property.

Asphalt Pavers

Asphalt pavers are used in the road construction of your landscape and improve safety with a skid-resistant and waterproof surface. They are made of asphalt cement, aggregates, and fillers and have a lifespan of 15–25 years. They are 2 to 4 inches thick and come in dark gray or black. Asphalt pavers help enhance the curb appeal of your landscape by creating smooth surfaces for vehicles and pedestrians.

Marble Pavers

Marble pavers are popular for providing a luxurious finish to your landscape’s walkways, patios, and pool decks. They comprise natural metamorphic rock, calcite, or dolomite crystals 1 to 2 inches thick. These pavers come in white, beige, gray, black, and green and, if properly maintained, last 50+ years. Marble pavers offer a timeless charm and elevate the beauty of your landscape.

Composite Pavers

Composite pavers are a sustainable alternative to solid hardwood. They are 1 to 2 inches thick and made of recycled plastics, rubber, and other composite materials. These pavers can be made to resemble natural stone, brick, or wood and can last for 25+ years. Composite pavers help reduce landfill waste in your landscape and provide a cooler surface for patios and pool decks.