Different types of paving materials for outdoor surface.

Paving your landscape is an investment. Pavers are available in various types, sizes and materials. When paving a new landscape or repaving, it is essential to pay attention while choosing an ideal paver material that can match your landscape architecture. Here are some of the most common types of paving materials :

1. Brick: Brick is a very popular and eco-friendly material for walkways or fireplaces with low traffic. The brick paver is easy to install and maintain as dirt can be removed easily. It is placed adjacently and has no interlocking design. However, the interlocking between the tiles may weaken overtime during winter.
2. Concrete: Concrete is the most common and cheap paving material when it comes to outdoor space flooring. Concrete pavers are available in a variety of shapes and sizes which are made of molded cement concrete. The concrete flooring is a popular choice for driveway and roadway due to its durability.
3. Flagstone: Flagstone pavers are a naturally occurring sedimentary rock. Flagstone offers outstanding aesthetics and is available in various colors and textures. Since it is used as a thin tile, it is suitable only for gardens, patios and walkways but not for high-traffic areas as it can break under load.
4. Marble: Marble pavers are made by a metamorphic rock occurring from limestone exposing it to a very high temperature and pressure. It offers a luxurious look and is available in white, gray as well as other shades. However, it is not suitable for traffic areas and can get stained.
5. Porcelain: Porcelain is a clay product produced by exposing them to soaring temperatures. Due to this, porcelain pavers are very dense and solid and are ideal for walkways, patios and driveways. These pavers are durable and last for decades.
6. Travertine: Are you looking for a hard paving material? Then travertine material is right for you. Travertine paver has a very natural shape and texture offering a great finishing to the surface. Travertine pavers are an excellent option for pool decks as they can absorb water and can withstand weathering effects without any cleaning.
7. Cobblestone: Cobblestone pavers are made of natural stones, are very strong, durable and require significantly less maintenance. These pavers can be made of sandstone, limestone and other materials and can withstand extreme temperature conditions without facing much damage.
8. Rubber: Rubber pavers are slip-resistant pavers made of eco-friendly and tear-resistant materials. These pavers are less absorbent in comparison to concrete, brick or flagstone. However, when it comes under sunlight, it has a thermal expansion which means it can disturb its current installed arrangement.
9. Plastic: Plastic pavers are made out of recycled plastic which can also be customized. They are available in various shapes, types and different colors can be added to the paver. The surface of these pavers is hard enough that they can resist scratches.

Which one is the best edging for pavers?

Edging is essential to keep the pavers from spreading which can be caused by the force of foot traffic, cars and ground movement. Edging must be installed along the perimeter of paved surfaces unless the edges are in contact with another solid surface like a vertical wall, concrete curb or a driveway edge. Here are some of the best edgings for pavers :

1. Concrete paver edge restraint: Concrete paver edge restraint holds up to vehicular traffic stronger in comparison to plastic edge restraints. Concrete paver edge restraints are cheaper compared to other types of paver edge restraints. However, concrete chipping and cracking may naturally occur over time.
2. Plastic paver edge restraint: Plastic paver edge restraints are flexible which means they can be used on both straight and curved hardscapes. Unlike concrete edge restraint, plastic edge restraint can withstand weather. They are also easy to install as you will only require some spikes and hammers. However, they are more expensive compared to concrete.
3. Steel paver edge restraint: Similar to plastic paver edge restraints, steel edge restraints are also flexible and can withstand extreme weather conditions. Additionally, it can carry more load in comparison to plastic edge restraints and are barely noticeable. The downside of steel edge restraint is that they are the most expensive out of all edge restraints.
4. Timber paver edge restraint: Timber edge restraints are easy to install as the wood is pre-fabricated which means that you won’t have to worry about measuring, cutting and continuous sanding. However, some timber edge restraints have limited lifespan and can easily rot.