How to Choose the Right Pavers

Pavers are a wonderful choice for use in the home and garden: in pathways, around pools, on driveways and in outdoor living areas. One of the many advantages of paving is that there is an enormous range of choice in material, colours, shapes and finishes, guaranteeing there is a paving solution available to meet anyone's needs. This scale of choice, however, can be quite daunting and it can be hard to determine exactly which pavers suit which application, style or requirements. Here is a guide to finding the best stone tiles for your home.

• Concrete Pavers: Concrete comes in large sizes and a variety of different patterns and is useful for paving large surfaces, such as driveways. Because concrete is not natural, it can be dyed to whatever colour you prefer, or even painted bright, unnatural colours. This is useful if you want to match to a particular colour in your home or garden or need to make repairs later. Concrete does, however, stain easily and sealing is needed to reduce porousness.
• Clay Pavers: Clay tiles are generally manufactured in a medium size and in brick toned colours, although some other styles are available. Stylistically, clay pavers can be useful to continue on the look of a traditional brick house, for a warm, inviting aesthetic. Clay retains its colour well and is resistant to stains, making it a durable choice for high traffic areas, such as driveways or porches.
• Slate Pavers: Slate is made from layers of natural composite stones and is easily split. Slate pavers are available in mid grey-blue colours and smooth textures. Because slate tiles are made from natural stone, they give the paver a greater opportunity for creativity with the random sizes and shapes the tiles come in. Slate pavers can also be cut to size for a more regular appearance. Slate pavers are slip safe and can be used safely surrounding outdoor pools and in any outdoor area.

When choosing pavers for your home, it pays to consider practical aspects as well as aesthetic concerns. Some tiles are not strong enough to frequently withstand the weight of a car, making them unsuitable for use in a driveway. The same pavers, however, may be more chemical resistant and perfectly suited to surrounding a pool. Different types of stone requires different levels of maintenance and your commitment to cleaning and applying protective seals needs to be considered when choosing pavers. There are pavers to suit any purpose and style, it is just a matter of finding the right material for you.