What Are The Different Types Of Pavers?

Pavers have become a common choice for homeowners to improve the visual appeal and value of their home and, as a result , the number of paver styles , designs and colors available on the Australian market has exploded. Concrete, Brick and Stone are the three main types of pavers available. Understanding the main differences between the different types of pavers will help you access what paving options are best suited to your next paving project.

 

Brick Pavers or Clay Pavers

Brick pavers are made of clay and shale material, which is why they are often referred to as clay pavers. There are many different methods used in the manufacture of brick pavements, the most economical and hence most common is the soft mud process. Using this process, raw clay is normally mixed with 25-30% sand to minimize shrinkage. The mixture is then pressed into steel molds and then fired at 900-1000 ° C. The natural qualities of the raw materials make a hard-wearing and effective paving product. The Brick paver colors are derived from the clay and shale materials used and therefore have a natural, very long-lasting colour. Though brick pavers do offer a variety of colors ranging from light to darker earthy red tones, they do not offer the selection of colors available with concrete pavers.

 

Concrete Pavers

Concrete Pavers are made from a very dry mixture of aggregates, sand , cement, pigments and dyes. Manufacturing processes may vary slightly, but generally very little water is used and the mixture is encased in a paver mold. The mold is then squeezed and vibrated at the same time, allowing the water to fix the cement and bind the aggregate. Some manufacturers are firing concrete floors in large industrial furnaces. The final product is solid and is typically appropriate for road usage and even road usage. Due to the use of colors and pigments, concrete floors give a wide range of colours, although the color can fade faster than Brick and Stone Pavers. The use of sealants can help to preserve the color of concrete pavements for longer.

 

Stone Pavers

The stone pavements are usually mined or gathered from a quarry or a rock outcrop and often cut and assembled for sale as a paver. There are several different styles of stone pavements available, including Granite , Limestone, Marble, Porphyry, Flagstone, Sandstone, Bluestone and Slate. Each of them has its own unique properties , which make some of them ideal for particular applications and not others. For example granite pavers are very strong and would be ideal for driveways, while marble would not. Due to their origin, they look very natural and beautiful, but due to the mining process they are typically more costly than brick or concrete floors and are more time consuming to build because they can lack uniformity in scale.

 

Travertine Pavers

Travertine pavers, like marbles, are all-natural and eco-friendly pavers that can be used in a number of ways. These are sedimentary rocks formed and grew under pressure and temperature changes. With its natural appeal, travertine flooring was a common choice for outdoor landscaping and flooring. It looks good even on patios, countertops, pool areas and even on indoor floors.

 

Porcelain

Porcelain is a clay-based substance that is treated at extremely high temperatures. This method produces a hard and durable output with a non-porous finish. Porcelain pavers can be used both indoors and outdoors, but because they have a less absorbent surface compared to other permeable materials, they are practically used for wet areas such as pool decks.

 

Cobblestone

Cobblestone pavers are usually made of granite, but often they may be made of basalt, limestone or sandstone. This style of pavers has been used for many decades, doing justice to how robust and durable it is. Cobblestone pavers really have the best of all worlds: long-lasting longevity and appealing aesthetics.

 

Rubber

Today 's creativity has led to the development of realistic and usable materials out of the old ones. Rubber pavers are typically made from recycled materials. It's eco-friendly but sturdy and tear-resistant, plus it's affordable. To make installation easier, avoid having pavers wet else they would grow. Thermal expansion can also be necessary when too much solar heat is consumed before installation.

 

Plastic Pavers

Plastic pavers may either be freshly manufactured or recycled from plastic waste, but it would be more efficient if it is the latter. This revolutionary method is achieved by melting the plastic with water and combining the liquid with the soil. The mixture is then stirred and poured into paved containers until it dries. A group of environmentalists have come up with this concept to help address the issue of the development of so many plastic products across the globe.