Home Improvement Advice for Paving

Do it Yourself Tips for Paving

The paving you have done in your garden will almost certainly be the most expensive part of your landscaping project and should be carried out by a professional so that it lasts for years and looks as good in ten years´ time as it does the day it is laid. Therefore a little care and time spent before starting will be repaid many times over.

What sort of paving?

Choose the type of paving and its shade. Take factors into account, such as whether you need a light-coloured stone for a dark area, or if it tends to be damp, so needing a textured surface for a good grip - this is particularly important for front paths - do you want a formal look or for the paving to follow on from an interior floor to create the feeling of an outdoor room? A local garden centre, builders merchant or stone merchant is the best place to go to look at samples and ideas; some centres have display areas or stone/brick libraries. The following is only a short selection of the many types available:-

a) Natural Stone e.g. New and Old York Stone, Slate, Indian stones, Purbeck, or other local stones, available either rectangular or as crazy paving, shades vary, always see a sample first. This is in most instances the best choice for good looks, but always the most expensive.

b) Terra cotta, but beware, many are not frost-proof.

c) Man-made reproduction stones with riven surfaces to copy the look of natural stone; shades from buff/yellow, through brown to slate grey. some makers manufacture ´weathered´ stones with a varying degree of success.

d) Man-made stones with smooth surfaces, available in several shades, e.g. red, grey, yellow, slate, buff.

e) Man-made stones with a variety of textured finishes, also available in several shades as above. Some of these have excellent non-slip properties for use round swimming pools.

f) Man-made reproduction terra-cotta - many are very good and all are frost-proof - for that Mediterranean look!

g) Bricks - make sure that the brick is suitable; porous ones tend to crumble in frosty conditions; shades to match your own house are usually available.

h) Clay pavers, frost-proof, brick size, many different textures and shades. Some of these have very good rustic finishes. The very best are hand-made, but more difficult to find.