Creating beautiful hardscaping is a great way to elevate the look of your home. Your landscaping provides some beautiful accents, but your hardscaping creates a foundation for your home’s exterior design that sets the tone and shapes the overall look. While you have many options for your hardscaping, pavers are a popular choice thanks to their design versatility, their ease of maintenance, and their affordable cost. The hardscaping experts at Triad Associates are ready to help you explore “what are pavers” and how they can transform the look of your outdoor space.
What Are Pavers?
Pavers are thin pieces of concrete or stone that are used to create hardscaped surfaces such as patios, walkways, and driveways. Pavers are similar to bricks, but they are usually thinner and wider. In addition, pavers come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and styles, taking on a variety of looks. You can get pavers that look like natural stone, or you can find highly stylized options that fit different aesthetics.
Types of Pavers Based on Material
Now that we have a basic understanding of what are pavers, we can move toward their types. You can achieve different looks by choosing different types of pavers. The materials you choose will not only influence the final look you can achieve but also the type of maintenance that will be required for your hardscaping and the total investment that will be required to create it. The designers at Triad Associates can help you explore these options to better understand which might be best for your project.
Concrete Pavers
Concrete pavers are a popular option for many homeowners. These pavers can take on a variety of shapes and sizes, giving them many different looks. At the same time, they are very affordable and durable. They can be used in all applications, but their non-slip surface makes them an especially good choice for walkways and stairs.
Brick Pavers
Brick pavers have a classic look, and they are popular for walkways and patios. Brick pavers are durable and low-maintenance, but they have a fixed look that may or may not work for your desired design. You can access some versatility by choosing different shades for these pavers.
Flagstone Pavers
Flagstone pavers have a natural beauty that many people love. These pavers are hard and dense, helping them to stand up to the elements over a long period of time. They also have a naturally non-slip surface that enhances their safety. These pavers are often used for walkways and patios.
Bluestone Slabs
Bluestone slabs have a similar look to flagstone pavers, though they have a richer color. They are an elegant option for your hardscaping that can make a beautiful patio. Bluestone slabs have all the same benefits of flagstone pavers, but likewise, they also have an increased price tag.
Travertine Pavers
Travertine pavers have a rustic look that creates a unique design. These beautiful pavers work in a variety of designs, and they don’t lose their appeal. They are resistant to fading and other damage from the elements, and they are naturally slip-resistant. They have a luxurious look and come with a higher price tag, but they are more affordable than other luxury options like granite or marble.
Cobblestone Pavers
Cobblestone has long been used to create a classic look for driveways and pathways. Cobblestone pavers are durable, weather-resistant, and low-maintenance. However, they do come with a higher price tag.
Top Alternatives to Traditional Pavers
While pavers offer many benefits, they don’t work for all budgets or for all hardscape designs. Fortunately, there are many excellent alternatives. The designers at Triad Associates can create beautiful hardscaping for you using gravel (available in a variety of sizes and colors), poured concrete, stamped concrete, and stained concrete (which can take on the look of traditional pavers). Which you may choose should depend on your goals for the project, including its use, your budget, and your desired aesthetic.
Benefits of Using Pavers in Hardscaping
Though you have many options for your hardscaping, there are many reasons to choose pavers. This popular hardscaping material comes with many benefits that make the investment well worth it. Here are just some of the benefits of using pavers to consider when designing your hardscaping:
Durability
Pavers are incredibly durable. Pavers can stand up to rain, snow, harsh sunlight, and extreme temperature shifts without suffering cracks, fading, and other damage. When you install pavers, you can be sure that they will last you for a very long time.
Versatility
Because pavers come in such a wide variety of sizes, shapes, and colors, they offer incredible versatility in design options. Whatever look you are trying to create, you can achieve it with the right pavers.
Low-Maintenance
Pavers are low-maintenance. You don’t need to seal them, and you don’t need to do anything special to keep them looking good. If a paver ever is chipped or damaged, you can remove and replace it easily.
Environmental Benefits
Many hardscaped surfaces are not good for the environment because they create an impermeable surface that causes runoff and other issues. Pavers are an environmentally friendly choice because they allow for the free flow of water, eliminating runoff and the spread of pollutants.
Good for Aesthetics
Thanks to their gorgeous design, pavers enhance the aesthetics of any hardscaping project. Whatever style you choose, you can’t go wrong when you choose pavers.
Paver Applications: Where To Use Them
Thanks to their design flexibility and their durability, pavers can be used in a number of hardscaping applications. This is why it helps to learn what are pavers as well as some of their popular uses:
Driveways
Using pavers for your driveway can dramatically increase your home’s curb appeal. You can also experiment with unique designs by combining different types of pavers for borders, accents, or other shapes.
Patios and Walkways
Pavers are a popular choice for patios and walkways, where you can really show off your style with your design choices. The smaller area of these projects also makes it easier for many homeowners to choose pavers for them as it helps to bring down the cost.
Pool Decks
Slab Pavers
You aren’t limited to poured concrete for your pool deck. Pavers can elevate your look of your pool and create a unique design.
How to Choose the Right Paver for Your Project
With so many options for pavers, you may not know how to choose the right one for your project. The design experts at Triad Associates can guide you through the selection process, ensuring that you get the materials you need to meet your design goals. Here are some tips they will share with you about choosing the right paver for your project.
Key Factors to Consider
You will need to be clear about your design goals for your project in order to choose the right paver. What look are you trying to achieve? What special needs do you have, such as enhanced safety around an area that gets a lot of water? What is your budget? The answer to these and other questions will help you narrow your paver selection.
Mixing Different Paver Options for Customized Looks
You don’t necessarily have to choose just one paver. In fact, you may benefit from choosing two or more for your project. You can mix and match pavers to create a custom design. For example, you can choose one paver type for the body of your driveway, and then use another for a border or to divide sections. You can use yet another paver type to create accents or to set apart the driveway apron, among other options.
How to Install and Maintain Pavers
You should always hire an experienced and reputable contractor like the ones at Triad Associates to install your pavers to ensure safety and longevity. Then work to maintain your pavers to keep them looking great for decades.
Installation Process
The contractors at Triad Associates begin the paver installation process by prepping the site. That means properly grading the area and creating the right foundation of gravel and sand to allow for drainage for paver stability. A border is also created to ensure that the pavers do not shift over time. Then the pavers are placed one-by-one in the desired design, and they are secured and leveled. The project is finished by adding sand or another material to fill the gap between the pavers.
Maintenance Tips
Pavers need very little maintenance. You just need to keep them clean by sweeping them regularly or blowing off dust and debris. You may need to periodically treat weeds or reapply the sand between the gaps. No additional maintenance is necessary unless the pavers become dislodged or damaged.
Choose Triad Associates for All Your Paver Needs
Whether you want to learn more about what are pavers, begin a new hardscaping project, or revamp your existing hardscaping, Triad Associates, the paver experts, are ready to assist. Our paver experts have been designing and installing paver projects throughout the Haverhill, MA, area for decades, and they have earned a reputation for their exceptional workmanship and their superior service. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and start the design process. Let us help you transform your space!
