Whether they’re the standard-issue variety from a home improvement store or an architect’s custom creation, concrete pavers offer instant gratification. A patio? A path? An outdoor entertaining space? Concrete pavers make it (almost) instantly possible.
Above: Photograph by Joe Fletcher courtesy of Fougeron Architecture. For more of this garden, see Architect Visit: The Medieval Mist and Mystery of Big Sur.
Pavers are created from molded concrete formed into tiles to either resemble stone or brick, or proudly look like what they are: concrete. Concrete pavers generally fall into two types. The first is the thick durable interlocking paver. Resembling bricks in density, interlocking pavers are often used for driveways as they can handle the weight of a vehicle. The other variety is the thinner, and more visually pleasing, architectural paver. Architectural pavers are commonly used for paths or patios where aesthetics are more important.
Above: Photograph by Niya Bascom Photography.
In a Brooklyn backyard, concrete pavers are set in sand and bordered by a wide strip of white stones. For more of this garden, see Before & After: A Modern Backyard on a Budget by Ishka Designs.
Pavers trump poured concrete in a number of ways. Specifically they:
Above: Concrete pavers for a path designed by Remodelista Architect/Designer Directory member Bruce Bolander; for more, see Architect Visit: At Home with Bruce Bolander in a Malibu Canyon.
Concrete pavers can be used anywhere that demands outdoor flooring. Patios, garden paths, driveways, stepping stones, and even rooftop flooring. Heat absorbing dark pavers are not recommended in hot climates where they may come into contact with bare feet.
Above: Photograph by Marla Aufmuth for Gardenista.
Hand cast concrete pavers of varied sizes are set in gravel to create a loose naturalistic look. For more, see Subdividing a Small City Backyard to Make it Bigger.
Above: Photograph by Jennifer Roper.
LA-based landscape designer Naomi Sanders replaced flagstone pavers with concrete to match an existing concrete stoop. For more, see Before & After: A Grande Dame in LA’s Hancock Park.
Above: Concrete pavers lead to the island deck of this urban garden set in the heart of San Francisco’s Mission District. Created by Remodelista Architect/Designer Directory member Arterra Landscape Architects, this project includes underground rainwater collecting cisterns that supply the water for the fountain. Photograph by Thomas J. Story via Sunset Publishing.
The blessing and curse of concrete pavers is the range of options. While color variations stick to natural earth tones, the shapes and textures are virtually unlimited. Pre-cast pavers available through home improvement stores range from simple modern square tiles to stones that look like they have been plucked from a Roman street to travertine look-alikes. Custom made tiles can be colored to complement your home siding or another garden feature. The options are practically limitless, if not overwhelming.
Above: Remodelista Architect/Design Directory member Andrea Cochran sets concrete pavers in gravel to create a path in a Geyserville, California landscape.
Above, L: The Cobblestone Tumbled Concrete Paver in charcoal measures 7 by 9 inches; $1.31. Above, R: A modern Pewter Concrete Step Stone measures 16 inches square and has a beveled edge; $4.62. Both at Home Depot.
Above: Wet cast concrete Barn Plank Pavers by Silver Creek Stoneworks are molded to look like, you guessed it, barn planks.
Installation is somewhat dependent on the use. A driveway differs from a simple garden path. Accordingly, we recommend consulting with a professional, especially for installations with structural imperatives, such as holding a vehicle upright or flanking a swimming pool. In general, installations of pavers require a sub-base which can range from concrete to crushed stone. There are requirements that most installations have in common. The ground beneath pavers needs to be compacted as much as possible. Then a base layer, usually of crushed rock, is covered with a top layer of sand onto which the pavers are placed. Gaps are left between pavers, the size of which depends on aesthetics, structure, and what is being placed in the joints. Is it grass? Plantings? Gravel?
Above: Large, cast-in-place concrete pavers set in the lawn make a graphic composition and lead to a built-in bench that faces a favorite view in a project by Elysian Landscapes.
Concrete pavers vary in price depending on whether they are off-the-shelf or custom-made architects’ designs. A good rule of thumb is from $5 to $10 per square foot. One thing is certain: concrete pavers are a much more affordable option than stone.
Above: Photograph by Mimi Giboin for Gardenista
Above: Concrete pavers lead to the entry of a Hollywood bungalow by Los Angeles-based design firm and Remodelista Architect/Designer Directory member Walker Workshop. Photograph by Nicholas Alan Cope.
We could be accused of being concrete obsessed. Michelle rounded up Indestructible Concrete Furniture; Dalilah made $30 Mini Concrete Planters; and, I fantasize about a polished Concrete Garage Floor.
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