Using Stone Pavers

Using stone pavers and brick pavers will add beauty to your patios and walkways. But are they always to best stone to use? Let's review a few more considerations which affect these areas that connect your home to the outside world.

The stone you select should blend well with the surroundings. The stone used on a patio should compliment the surface of the home. The two surfaces should compliment each other. It would be a mistake to use the same brick on both. It would be too much of one thing.

Natural stone pavers have a timeless appeal. They add a touch of quiet elegance to any home, regardless of style. Yet, they are warm and inviting. At the same time, these materials are surprisingly strong.

Pavers are extremely dense, and can therefore withstand tremendous weight. This also makes them impervious to most stains. The high temperature at which brick pavers and stone pavers are fired allows their color to remain over time without fading, even in direct sunlight.

Another advantage is the huge number of design options and patterns which can be created using various sizes, shapes, colors and textures. Within the broad category of clay pavers, there is a diversity of products ranging from hand-made (old fashined) pavers to machine-made, or modern (more precise).

The intricacy of design, the type of stone, and whether you use mortar or not, should all be considered when determining what will look best. Another surface which works well with stone pavers is bluestone. The blueish-gray color goes nicely with natural earth tones.

My favorite landscape designer - Susan Schlenger of www.landscape-design-advice.com - says she loves travertine pavers. However, she cautions that you have to choose a stone that compliments your landscape. She would not use the travertine with a log cabin. They have an elegance that belongs in an appropriate setting.

Another beautiful stone is Quartz. But like the travertine, it is pretty "glitzy" and would not look good in a rustic setting. An irregular bluestone or paver would probably look better. Most stone retailers will have showrooms. So go there with a picture of the exterior of your house and look at the various combination and possibilities.

Stone pavers and brick pavers keep looking better over time. They convey a sense of comfort and durability that makes you like the idea that "this is home." You'll have years of enjoyment with the maintenance headaches of other materials.

Any questions or comments about this page, contact me about stone pavers here. OR Feel free to ask about any remodeling issue that might be troubling you.

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