How to Choose the Right Paving Material for Your Outdoor Living Space
Introduction
Selecting the right paving material is crucial for creating a beautiful, durable, and functional outdoor living space. Whether you’re building a patio, pathway, or pool deck, the material you choose will impact your project’s overall look, feel, and longevity. This guide will help you navigate the various paving options available, providing insights into their pros and cons, relative costs, ideal applications, and tips for choosing the best material for your needs.
Realize this isn’t an exhaustive list, and we are painting with broad strokes as an overview. There will always be overlaps in the cost of maintenance and installation between your options. Plus, new products are always being developed. We don’t cover niche patio cases like ceramic pavers and cobblestones- products that already overlap between categories. Arm yourself with some knowledge. Then go out and decide what you want. Don’t easily get swooned by a special deal on material costs if it doesn’t fit your plan or need. Get what will make your patio the way you want at a price you can justify. I laid red concrete pavers at my house (against my own better judgment) because I bought them at a fraction of the price. They aren’t terrible; they don’t ruin my patio, but they aren’t red. Now, I wish I had paid the extra and bought what I really wanted. No visitor will ever know or notice. I get compliments on my outdoor living areas all the time, but I know. So, don’t get put off your game plan unless it is totally out of your budget. You aren’t going to get polished Carrera marble slabs for a buck a square foot…
Natural Stone Pavers
Flagstone
Flagstone
Description: Flagstone is made up of flat, irregularly shaped stones that create a natural, rustic appearance. It’s easy to fall in love with natural stones on the pallet. And many looks can only be achieved with a natural stone. But while some stones may be beautiful to behold, they do not easily create a beautiful paving surface. While walls and features can be made of rough and irregular stones, paved areas should not.
Pros:
Variety of colors and shapes
Highly durable and weather-resistant to porous, sandy, slick, and prone to delamination- durability varies wildly.
Natural, unique looks can be unobtainable by man-made materials
Cons:
Expensive and labor-intensive to install.
Requires skilled installation
Irregular shapes can make fitting and leveling challenging. Can commonly have up to 40% waste.
High maintenance due to weed growth in joints.
Relative Cost: $$$$
When to Use: Flagstone is ideal for rustic or naturalistic designs. It’s perfect for areas where you want a natural, unrefined look. Sometimes, nothing else will do.
Considerations:
Flagstone patios can be uneven, making them less suitable for areas where a smooth surface is needed.
Requires regular maintenance to prevent weed growth or manage ground cover like thyme.
For a more stable installation, consider setting flagstones in concrete and mortar, which increases the cost.
Laying Flagstone takes lots of hard, skilled labor to be done correctly
Additional Considerations for Flagstone
When choosing flagstone for your paving material, there are several additional considerations to ensure a successful and aesthetically pleasing installation:
Invest in Vertical Pallets and Even Thickness Flagstones:
Time is money, especially when it comes to installation. Whether doing it yourself or hiring a professional, sorting through pallets to find the right piece of flagstone can be incredibly time-consuming. Paying more for vertical stack pallets with evenly thick stones will save you significant time and effort.
Uneven flagstones require a lot of work to level, making installation difficult and potentially leading to an uneven surface. Opting for flagstones that are close in relative thickness will create a more uniform and functional patio.
Functional vs. Aesthetic Considerations:
While the look of the stones on the pallet may appeal to you, it’s essential to consider how they will look once installed. A functional, low-maintenance patio will bring long-term satisfaction, even if it means choosing stones that are more practical than visually appealing in their raw state.
Remember, a beautiful natural stone patio is not just about the individual stones but about how they work together to create a cohesive and durable surface.
Durability of Stones:
Some stones are not as durable as others and can flake or spall over time. For example, while popular, bluestone has been known to flake under certain conditions. This brings us to cut stones like bluestone, which provide a different set of advantages and considerations.
Unworked flagstone laid with a large mortar joint
Red flagstone and a red paver patio. Both fit their surroundings.
Flagstone seems perfect for this rustic setting
Cut Stone (e.g., Bluestone)
Cut Stone
Description: Cut stones are shaped into uniform sizes and offer a more polished appearance.
Pros:
Uniform thickness and size for easier installation
Elegant, high-end look
Durable and long-lasting to porous, sandy, slick, and prone to delamination- durability varies wildly.
Cons:
More expensive than irregular flagstone
Limited to certain types of stone- colors can change due to oxidation or rust.
Often requires a concrete foundation and mortar joints, adding to the cost
Relative Cost: $$$$$
When to Use: Cut stones are great for formal and elegant outdoor spaces. They work well in patios and pathways where a refined, consistent look is desired.
Considerations:
Cut stones like bluestone can provide a structured look similar to man-made pavers but with the natural appeal of stone.
They require precise installation, typically on a concrete foundation with mortar joints, which can significantly increase the cost.
For a cleaner and more durable finish, consider using thermal stone. The thermal process reduces spalling and creates a more even appearance, albeit at a higher upfront cost.
Cut Stones are a formal way to use natural stones for paving.
Additional Considerations for Cut Stone
Invest in Quality Materials:
Opt for vertical pallets and evenly thick stones to reduce installation time and ensure a more uniform surface.
Thermal stone, though more expensive initially, offers a cleaner look and lower maintenance over time by pre-emptively addressing spalling issues. Many traditional paving stones also delaminate. Their natural tendency to pull apart in thin layers is why they have been historically chosen for paving stones. Natural stones aren’t necessarily more durable than made made alternatives.
Installation Requirements:
Installing cut stone typically requires a concrete foundation and mortar joints, which adds to the overall cost but ensures a stable and long-lasting surface.
The precision needed for installing cut stone means it’s often best left to professionals to achieve the best results.
Aesthetic vs. Practical Considerations:
While cut stone mimic the structured appearance of man-made pavers, it retains the natural beauty and variation of stone. Natural textures, veining, and movement in stone cannot be replicated by man-made processes.
This makes it a versatile choice for those looking to combine natural aesthetics with a more formal design. If the stone is durable, it will often wear to a more beautiful polished version of itself but can become slippery over time.
Cut stones, such as bluestone, bridge the gap between the natural appeal of stones like flagstone and the structured look of man-made pavers. While they offer high-end aesthetics and durability, their installation and maintenance considerations often lead homeowners to consider pavers as an alternative. Man-made pavers are a great alternative to cut stone as they give you the look with less material AND installation costs. Many times, man-made pavers can be more durable than natural cut stones.
Man-Made Pavers
Man-made pavers are engineered to provide a variety of looks and finishes, often at a more affordable price point. While some pavers are designed to mimic natural stones, others offer unique shapes and colors not found in nature. While any stone or brick paver can be mortared during installation, most paving stones are flexible paving systems. Pavers are usually laid on a compact layer of crushed limestone gravel- like concrete and flagstone. This flexible system is durable and easy to repair or add drainage, electrical, or plumbing below. Remove a section of pavers. Make the change or repair, then relay the pavers. Because an expansion joint surrounds each paver or slab, cracking is not a major concern. Cracked pavers can be replaced during or after installation, and the crack won’t spread to other pavers. As you can probably tell, interlocking concrete paving systems are my favorite sweet spot at the intersection of durability, maintenance, style, and cost.
Clay Pavers
Red clay pavers will stay red unlike red concrete pavers
Clay pavers can maintain a clean architectural look.
Fired clay pavers have a classic and timeless appeal
Clay Pavers
Description: Made from natural clay, these pavers offer a traditional brick-like appearance.
Pros:
Durable and strong
Color does not fade over time
Classic, timeless look
Cons:
More expensive than concrete pavers
Limited color options
Relative Cost: $$$
When to Use: Clay pavers are best for projects requiring a traditional red brick look. They’re ideal for historical homes or areas with a desired classic aesthetic. Choose clay pavers if you want red or rich brown pavers. Clay pavers are also great for a clean architectural look.
Considerations:
Clay pavers retain their color because it is baked in during the manufacturing process. This makes them a long-lasting option for those who want a red paver.
Be cautious with reclaimed clay bricks, as not all are suitable for paving. Ensure you are using fully fired, durable pavers meant for outdoor use.
Concrete Pavers
Concrete Pavers
Description: Made from molded concrete, these pavers come in a wide range of shapes, sizes, and colors.
Pros:
Affordable and versatile
Easy to install
Available in various designs and finishes
Cons:
Can fade over time
May require sealing to maintain appearance
Relative Cost: $$
When to Use: Concrete pavers are suitable for projects where a variety of colors and shapes are desired. They’re ideal for creating stone-like looks without the cost of natural stone. Choose concrete if you want large format or stone-look pavers.
Considerations:
Concrete pavers can mimic the appearance of natural stone and are available in various colors, including those that are difficult to achieve with clay.
Opt for tumbled concrete pavers for a more natural, weathered appearance. These pavers age better and maintain their aesthetic appeal over time.
Avoid red concrete pavers if color longevity is a concern, as red dyes tend to fade faster than other colors.
It can be hard to tell cut stone from quality concrete pavers.
Concrete pavers allow the most determinable design choices
Concrete pavers can come in almost any shape, size, or texture- for better or worse.
I can’t fully recommend concrete pavers in red.
Concrete pavers do better at mimicing cut stones than red bricks.
Classic concrete pavers have an established aesthetic of their own.
Additional Tips for Choosing Pavers
Consider Maintenance:
Clay pavers require less maintenance. They retain their color unlike concrete pavers, which may need periodic sealing.
Tumbled concrete pavers are recommended for a longer-lasting aesthetic as they do not show wear as quickly as sharp-edged pavers.
Concrete Slabs
Standard Concrete Slabs
Standard Concrete Slab
Description: A flat, smooth surface of poured concrete commonly used for patios and driveways. Low cost, low maintenance, and durability make concrete slabs a solid choice that is hard to ignore. Apart from ease of repairability and a lack of “wow factor,” there is a strong case to be made for a monolithic concrete pour for a patio. Finishes and manipulations are available which will be touched on below.
Pros:
Very cost-effective and durable
Versatile and suitable for many applications and sizes
Easy to find installers
Cons:
Can crack even when properly installed- istallers will tell you concrete paving is guaranteed to crack.
May require regular maintenance and sealing. Stains are noticeable on a large expanse of clean concrete.
Relative Cost: $
When to Use: Ideal for large, flat areas where you need a simple, cost-effective paving solution.
Stamped concrete can mimic man made materials pretty well.
Stamped, stained, and patterned concrete can become the masonry equivalent of shag carpet- just a bit too much.
Cracked concrete is not really repairable- just patched.
Stamped and Stained Concrete
Stamped and Stained Concrete
Description: Concrete that has been stamped and/or stained to mimic the appearance of other materials like stone or tile.
Pros:
Aesthetic versatility can achieve high-end looks at a lower cost
Durable and long-lasting
Customizable with various patterns and colors
Cons:
More expensive than standard concrete- guaranteed to crack.
Requires sealing and maintenance to preserve appearance- can look disturbingly fake.
Relative Cost: $$-$$$
When to Use: Great for large, monolithic pours where a high-end look is desired without the high-end cost.
Considerations:
Stamped and stained concrete can mimic many materials but may not achieve the exact look of natural stone or pavers. However, you can often get the materials stamped and stained concrete tried to mimic at the same cost in concrete pavers or slabs. I have personally witnessed this many times.
Be cautious with intricate designs, as overly complex patterns can sometimes look artificial. Simple, well-executed designs tend to age better. If you must stamp, stain, and cut your concrete (and possibly use many patterns) to achieve your desired look, look into other man-made alternatives.
Conclusion
Choosing the right paving material for your outdoor living project involves balancing aesthetics, cost, durability, and maintenance. By understanding the pros and cons of each material, you can make an informed decision that meets your needs and enhances your outdoor space. Whether you opt for the natural beauty of flagstone, the structured elegance of cut stone, or the versatility of man-made pavers, the right choice will ensure a beautiful and functional outdoor area for years to come.
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