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Your Patio Paving Choices

Today’s patio paving choices are numerous.  Stone, tile and concrete materials are available in a variety of colors and styles.  The information below should help you decide which material is right for your outdoor living space.

Ceramic Tile

Ceramic tile with a rating of 3 or higher can be used on patios and walkways.  The material is not suitable for driveways.  The tiles tend to be less durable and can be slippery when wet.  Textured tiles are safer, but still less durable than other materials.

Brick

Brick is one of the traditional choices for patios, walkways, flowerbeds, barbecue pits and retaining walls.  It can be used on driveways, but does not age particularly well under heavy traffic.

Bricks can be made from clay, shale, soft slate or concrete.  Natural stones can be cut and shaped into the form of bricks.  Clay bricks are the most common and also the least expensive.        

Stone

Natural stone is another traditional choice for walkway, driveway and patio paving.  Types include slate, limestone, granite and marble.  They may be cut into thin tiles or shaped like bricks.  

Color variations are to be expected with any natural stone.  Some manufacturers add color to the stone.  Added colors will fade over time because the pigments cannot penetrate the surface.

Stones can be set in sand or mortar.  They can be placed over an existing concrete slab if mortar is used.  The process is essentially the same as bricklaying.  Like brick, stones can be used on vertical surfaces.  Garden walls and archways can be constructed of either material.  

Natural stone is usually more expensive than concrete.  Installation may cost less, because it usually takes less time.

Concrete

Concrete can be stenciled, stamped or engraved to create different designs or the look of individual tiles.  When you think of concrete, you might think of a simple unattractive slab.  Today’s concrete patio paving designs are quite attractive.

Concrete is very durable.  Depending on how it is laid, cracking can occur in areas where there are temperature extremes or seismic activity (earthquakes).  

Interlocking or segmental concrete pavers are a good option for areas where freezing temperatures are common in the winter and summers are hot.  They are also a good option for earthquake prone areas.

The interlocking pavers are flexible.  Only the surrounding borders are immovable.  The flexibility allows the pavers to move instead of cracking when the ground swells due to water or ice.  

Once you have chosen a material, the next part of your patio paving plan is to come up with a design.  An experienced company such as Paving Designs UK can help with that.