Pondering pavers?
A new driveway, maybe, or an impressive new paver patio?
Welcome to the world of paver patterns.
It’s a bigger world than you think.
Start browsing through a paver company brochure or scroll their website and you’ll see what we mean.
How the heck are you supposed to choose?
Check out these tips.
Sometimes, your eye goes straight to a pattern, and you love it.
Like things simple? Stack Bond is a basic grid of squares.
Love the classic look? You might be a good match for Herringbone.
Want to show off your artistic side? Check out Stagger, an intriguing pattern of assorted sizes and shapes.
Hey, this is kind of fun.
See a paver pattern you love, but it seems too big for your small patio? Good news — just about every pattern comes in different sizes, so you can choose that pattern in a smaller size.
A few paver patterns are tried and true. You really can’t go wrong with them.
A running bond pattern uses pavers laid in rows running in the same direction. You can either go with a classic running bond, or you can get creative with color tones, borders, and pattern direction.
A herringbone pattern uses rectangular pavers in a zig-zag design. Want extra zing? Add a contrasting border.
Basket weave patterns use rectangular pavers to create block designs.
Planning a paver patio or driveway is a great opportunity to get creative, have fun, and set your patio or driveway apart from everybody else’s, says Ground Source landscape designer Eric Frisch.
Don’t blow it.
Sure, it’s easy to pick the most standard pattern and color and call it good.
“But that uses no creativity, no design eye,” Frisch says. “Anybody can put in a boring basic driveway. Add some curves. Do some inlays. Pick a different color. Do a double soldier course border.” (More on borders in a minute.)
“Make it your own,” he says. “You can even do a grid pattern of artificial turf in the pavers. Have some fun with it.”
Got your paver pattern picked out? Phew, that’s a relief.
But wait, there’s more. You might want a paver border.
More choices!
The right border on your paver driveway or patio adds a nice finishing touch, a creative punch, or even a whole new dimension to the look.
There are lots of options.
Use the same paver, but at a different angle. Choose a contrasting color, shape, or style.
There are different styles when it comes to laying paver borders.
A couple popular options:
This is probably the most-used paver border pattern. Rectangular pavers are laid in a row, side-by-side.
It’s a Frisch favorite.
“It’s a nice strong border that holds everything together,” he says. “It’s like a nice picture frame.”
Go with a 4x8 inch brick for your border, he says, “and you can do whatever you want, design-wise. It makes nice curves without having to slice too much off.”
Another popular paver border, the sailor course lays rectangular pavers lengthwise in one or more rows. Add extra visual impact by creating a wide sailor course border using more than one type of paver.
“I like a charcoal gray border,” Frisch says. “It really frames a lot of different colors nicely.”
Avoid using a border that’s a lighter color than your pavers, he says. Darker borders tend to look better.
Be aware some paver pattern choices you make increase the cost.
As you consider paver patterns for your driveway, resist the urge to install big, 18-to 24-inch pavers, Frisch says. They’re more prone to buckling and cracking than the smaller pavers.
They’re not meant to hold the repeated weight of a two-ton vehicle, he says.
Keep pavers under 12 inches for driveways and save the big ones for the patio, pool deck, or walkways.
Feeling overwhelmed with all the choices? Don’t worry — Frisch will walk you through it and offer plenty of pro advice.
He knows paver panic sometimes sets in. It can be overwhelming. He makes it easy.
He brings samples you can compare to the color of your house, and catalogs packed with design ideas.
He’ll help you match the style of paver pattern to the style of your house. A vintage English Tudor needs a different patio look than a sleek contemporary ranch.
Luckily, there are paver patterns suited to any style.
We’re paver experts, but our skills don’t stop there. We’re with you every step of the way as you plan your perfect outdoor space.
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