Paving comes in a range of shapes and sizes. Whether you’re looking to kit out a garden pathway, a patio or a driveway, it’s worth taking a moment before the installation to consider the materials available.
Each type of paving comes with advantages and disadvantages. Let’s take a look at some of the more common choices, and see if we can assess them.
Concrete Paving
Few surfaces are stronger or more durable than a solid concrete slab. To be sure, concrete doesn’t offer quite the same level of visual appeal as some of the other materials we’re going to be running through here – but it nevertheless remains a compelling option for some homeowners.
Clay and Brick
Bricks offers a familiar look that matches nicely with surrounding buildings. Bricks can be arranged in a whole host of ways to suit the contours of the surface. They’re resilient enough to withstand heavy traffic, making them great for driveways, and they’re able to get by with little to no maintenance.
Granite
Granite is a natural stone that comes with a considerable advantage for outdoor settings: it’s naturally rough and slip-resistant. It’s also naturally resistant to wet weather; it’s been able to resist the elements for millions of years, and so it’ll probably fare quite capably in your garden.
Slate
Few materials are so instantly recognisable as slate. It naturally comes in layered sheets, as it’s a perfect choice for separating out into thin tiles. Though the material is naturally quite fragile, the slate tiles you find on a patio are thick enough to withstand considerable footfall.
Limestone
Here we have another natural rock that’s similar in many respects to Granite. Limestone comes in a whole slew of different colours, so you’ll be to choose something that matches your existing garden setup, and your personal taste.
Aggregate
Aggregate provides an inexpensive alternative to solid-stone paving. It’s durable and inherently-non slip, and can be deployed just about everywhere in the home and garden. You’ll find it available in just about every shape and thickness.
Marble
Marble is something that’s more often found in the interiors of Mediterranean villas, and on kitchen worktops, as it’s vulnerable to staining and scratches, and needs to be cleaned carefully. With that said, you can still find it used outdoors in some locations, provided that it’s adequately sealed, and that it doesn’t receive too much in the way of traffic.
