What Is The Best Stone Type For Paving?
Garden paving and walkways can make a huge difference in the aesthetics of your property and can offer you many new dimensions to make home life more enjoyable. With a beautiful paved area, you can enjoy gatherings around an outdoor dining table or sunbathing on laid back lounges.
These ground coverings come in a huge variety of styles and colours to choose from. With various paver type options, you can create a garden environment that suits all home themes or styles from modern to traditional. Here is a quick look at the main stone types from which you can pick and choose when upgrading your yard.
The Main Paving Types
Paving is manufactured in different ways. Here is a quick look at the main types you can get for your home.
Paving slabs
These slabs are the most popular choice for patios and walkways. Paving slabs are available in all sorts of sizes. You can buy single size packs to create a uniform look in your garden or opt for a mixed size pack to create a more unique look. There are also circle and square paving slab packs available and these can have several different designs.
Paving blocks
This type of paving can look a lot like brick because they are shaped like bricks. Block paving is however usually smaller and thicker than slab paving or even average bricks. They are terrific for edgings and you can also choose from various sizes and colours.
Carpet stones
Most of the work in these stones is done at the factory. Stones are fixed to a flexible mat that you can cut to size and lay flat on your ground surface. This can save you a lot of time on installation and can be very handy for creating a uniform look in the garden since each stone is fixed in precise lines to the mat.
Paving Materials
Paving stones can be made from a huge variety of materials. In some regions, a certain stone type is more common. As a result, the paving material type is more affordable and more popular in these specific regions. Here is a quick look at some of the main stone or paving material types you can buy;
Porcelain
These paving stones are manufactured by processing a specific material. The material undergoes various processes including one where the material is warmed to 1400 degrees Celsius to enhance the strength of the paver.
Natural stone
Natural stone pavers are made from 100% stone. These stones do usually vary in colour and pattern since they are harvested from natural sources and are not manufactured. Stone pavers can be more durable than porcelain and other types and are often preferred because of the unique and natural beauty of certain stone types.
Many stone types are used to manufacture pavers such as the following;
- Granite
- Limestone
- Slate rock
- Sandstone
Concrete
Concrete pavers are the easiest to make and many homeowners do attempt to make these types of pavers on their own. A mixture of sand, stone, and fibres are used to create concrete pavers by drying this mixture in moulds. While concrete is quite flexible and gives you the option to create different paver designs and colours, this type of paver is prone to cracking or breaking. On the upside, concrete can be very affordable.
You do have quite a few options to consider when it comes to paving designs, materials, and styles. If you have a tough time choosing the best option for your property then you are always welcome to give Stone Edge Landscapes a call for some advice on this challenging decision.
