Don’t underestimate the importance of choosing the right paving materials for your garden. After all, flowers and plants bloom, change and become dormant, but paving remains the same throughout the year. Furthermore, paving adds colour, texture and style to a garden. Broadly speaking, there are two main types of paving materials; quarried stone and composite. Quarried stone is dug up, broken up and shaped by splitting and cutting. This includes such things as sandstone, granite or slate. Composite materials are man-made processed products such as brick and concrete pavers. So, there’s a lot to pick from, and choosing can be a little overwhelming. We’ll explore the options below to help you choose the best paving materials for your next project.
The Beauty of Stone Paving Materials
Most folks would agree that real stone is the king of the paving materials. There’s nothing quite so nuanced and intrinsically appealing as stone. It’s also incredibly durable, versatile and offers a vast array of choice. All of this does come at a price, but we think the lasting appeal is worth it. When choosing which stone to use, there are a few things to bear in mind. First, make sure the paver is over 50mm thick for heavy traffic areas. Second, avoid stones if the surface is slick or polished. These may be too slippery in the wet. Lastly, investigate how your chosen stone may change over time and in the wet. For instance, that pretty honey-tan granite you like so much could turn a lurid golden orange in the rain.
Cost-Effective Composite Materials for Pavers
Moulded concrete pavers have come a long way over the last decade. These days, concrete pavers do an excellent job masquerading as stone or brick. Also, they offer a wide choice of colours, textures and styles. A good tip is to buy (or borrow) just one or two pavers to see how well they fit into your landscape before jumping in with a big order. Next, brick, whether reclaimed or composite, is the good old boy of landscaping. Equally at home in a cottage garden or grand estate, brick offers both durability and style.
