Patio Pavers

Patio pavers are stones that provide an exquisite way to landscape your backyard or deck area. You can take the stones or bricks and arrange them in any pattern you'd like for either a particular design or a random pattern. Perfect for placing all your grill and outdoor cooking gear on, patio pavers will outlast a solid concrete slab. Concrete is susceptible to cracking either from settling over time or freezing and thawing from water that gets into the pores. As pavers are small and thick, they are less likely to experience this form of wear. They have wiggle room so to speak in how they are laid. While it isn't the most inexpensive patio cover material it does offer something unmatched by any other style of patio cover.

If you want to install a paver patio you'll need some basic paver patio designs handy. For one you'll need to know the measurements of where you want it, what shape you want it in, and if it will require leveling a landscape or if you will have a tiered look. You'll have some restrictions to its size relative to the size of your backyard and the landscaper performing the work may need to excavate some of the land which may alarm you at first. Don't be surprised by the amount of dirt that needs to be carried away. Dirt adds up fast and it is heavy, so you may be charged a hauling fee for this. Be sure to get a full understanding of what charges you will be responsible for before the work begins. There is nothing worse than surprises when you consider the amount of work and money that already goes into paver patios.

Most brick patio pavers require a four inch base of sand beneath them to provide some cushion between the hard ground and the bricks. This prevents the final product from being out of level. The actual depth of the ground to be excavated depends on the thickness of the brick and how far above ground level you want it. Installing patio pavers usually means digging another seven or eight inches below that initial four to accommodate the thickness of the brick paver. To get an idea of how much sand you need average about five pounds of sand per square foot, so a 200 square foot brick paver patio would require about a thousand pounds of sand. Materials run around 35 pounds per square foot so the same 200 square foot patio would require about seven thousands pounds of brick pavers.

Once you have your design down you will need to decide on materials. There are a few solutions you could go with. The best looking, of course, would be pavers made of stone or brick; but you could opt for concrete pavers. For tighter budgets a simple top coat of crushed stone or pea gravel provides a nice touch. Although if you plan to host any kind of event on your patio you will not want to use those two options. Something that is more stable and fixed is better for entertaining. Let's look at some different types of stone and patio paver prices from the cheapest to the most expensive.

Concrete patio pavers, as I said, are the cheapest pavers as they can be poured for a consistent size which makes installation quick and painless. You can find them with a faux stone look, but in all honesty there hasn't been one made yet that passes a quick evaluation. However, they will get the job done if you're on a budget. What makes them quick to install is that most of them are interlocking. These work and look best as driveway pavers, but I do not recommend you build your patio with them. You can find them on average for about $2 to $5 per square foot.

In my town granite cobblestones line the alleyways, not patios. But that is not to say they don't make exceptional pavers. There are many different hues with which to work which can be used for a contemporary look or something classical. Many producers make consistently sized bricks that last forever. It's a charming style that looks great as patio material, in courtyards, driveways and walkways, steps and walls. These can run you from $3 to $5 per square foot.

Clay bricks are your first choice in cheap pavers. It is also the most used material for backyard patios. For one the warm color of brick flows with the natural theme of the outdoors. While the bricks may not be consistent in size and may add some time to the installation, they will still provide a flat surface sturdy enough for hosting any outdoor events. These are not your masonry bricks by the way. Masonry bricks are too brittle for pavers. They crack easily underfoot and will flake and chip. Brick is a little more expensive at $5 to $15 per square foot.

Flagstone is a beautiful stone that comes in large flat pieces about three inches thick. They vary in shades but run in reds, blues, browns and grays depending on the quarry they came from. It will always come in irregular shapes but its style can't be matched by the aforementioned pavers. Because of their irregular shapes flagstones are usually mortared into place. This creates a level surface, but for the price you risk the mortar cracking like a concrete slab would in certain conditions. Expect to pay between $11 to $15 per square foot.

This is by far one of the most exquisite patio pavers you will find. You will pay a hefty price for this stone by the finished product will bring tears to your eyes. The stones are more consistent than flagstone as they are usually cut from larger blocks and sold in squares, but the thickness may differ by an inch or two. That won't matter though because they will be set accordingly. This is a great paver for formal settings. The cost on these stones will run anywhere from $30 to $50 per square foot.

If you want to install patio pavers yourself then here's a great how-to video from Lowe's.