Choosing Materials For Your Patio
Now it’s time to pick out pavers! A quick look at a manufacturer’s website or flip through a catalog might make your head spin because of the available options. Let’s narrow it down to keep the process fun and eliminate overwhelm.
Basic Paver shapes
From what I have seen, there are three main categories that we can use to describe available pavers styles:
Rectangular – Starting with the most basic Holland style 4″x 8″ paver up to elongated plank styles, this will give you a uniform look for the patio
3 Piece Set – This is usually a combination of a small rectangle, a large rectangle and a square. This will give you a more random look for the pavers.
Unique Offerings – Occasionally you’ll find shapes like hexagons, diamonds and triangles if you are looking for something a little out of the ordinary.
Paver styles
Maybe you’re not looking for a certain shape of paver, but you have a certain style in mind. There are plenty of options for the following aesthetics:
Weathered/Old World Look – Some pavers are tumbled to have that aged appearance while others have been cast from molds to replicate older materials.
Standard/Traditional – Usually these have a mild surface texture and a blend of colors on the surface. These are generally the most common and universal fit.
Modern – These offer crisp lines, usually smooth textures and flat or single color surfaces. Some pavers even offer unique brushed or more raw-looking surfaces (think industrial).
How Does Paver Style Affect Price?
Compared to the size and shape of a patio, paver style has less affect on price. There is a wide range of price points depending on the style, however it’s important to know that the pavers themselves are only 20% of the cost of a project. The excavation and base preparation accounts for 80% of the project cost. The process for installation remains the same across different paver styles. Generally speaking, the standard/traditional styles of pavers are the most economical while the more modern and weathered/old world styles of pavers are mid to higher range in price.