Photo: Anita Calero
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Like a granite countertop, a granite pathway—or one made of bluestone, marble, or weathered brick—lends a house, new or old, a distinct air of sophistication. Even concrete, that most utilitarian of materials, takes on a look of Old World elegance when formed into rustic interlocking paving stones.
Sure, individual pavers are more expensive than asphalt or poured concrete, but for as little as $3 a square foot, they're an affordable way to boost curb appeal. Use a lot to blanket a driveway or patio, or smaller quantities as accent strips or borders. Properly installed in a bed of compacted sand, pavers make a long-lasting, low—maintenance surface that no amount of traffic can budge.
More options:
BRUSHED CONCRETE
Has the look of wire–cut clay brick. 6 by 6 by 2¾ in.; $4 per sq. ft.; unilock.com
GOLDEN GRANITE
Hand–split edges lend a rustic appearance. 8 by 4 by 4 in.; $15 per sq. ft.; rhodes.org
BULLNOSE EDGE
For stair treads, pool coping, and capstones. 12 by 6 by 2 3/8 in.; $2.49 each; willowcreekpavingstones.com
TUMBLED CONCRETE
Meant to evoke old European cobblestones. 6 by 6 by 3 in.; $3.15 per sq. ft.; harwoodlandscaping.com
ECO–STONE
Spaces between pavers allow for maximum drainage. 9 by 4¼ by 3 1/8 in.; $2.50 per sq. ft.; unilock.com
WEATHERED CONCRETE
Large pavers are better suited for patios and walks than for driveways, where they can crack more easily than smaller stones. 12 by 9 by 2 3/8 in.; $3.95 per sq. ft.; willowcreekpavingstones.com
BENGAL BLACK GRANITE
Granite is tough, about three times the strength of concrete. 12 by 12 by 2 in.; $20 per sq. ft.; rhodes.org
TUMBLED BLUESTONE
Pennsylvania stone, tumbled for a soft look. 11 by 5 by 5 in.; $6 each; harwoodlandscaping.com
BELGIAN BLOCK
Despite the name, these hunks of granite are quarried in India. 9 by 5 by 5 in.; $3.50 each; harwoodlandscaping.com
RECLAIMED BRICK
Unlike much salvaged wall brick, this one is hard–fired and strong enough for a driveway. 7 by 3½ by 2¼ in.; 30 cents each; reaveswrecking.com
WASHED–FINISH CONCRETE
The look of granite, at roughly half the cost. 12 by 6 by 2¾ in.; $5 per sq. ft.; unilock.com
PERUVIAN MARBLE
Good for patios, walkways, and outdoor kitchens. 4 by 4 by 1 in.; $8 per sq. ft.; harwoodlandscaping.com
DISTRESSED CONCRETE COBBLESTONE
The surface has been chipped and nicked for that weathered–in–place look. 6 by 6 by 2 3/8 in.; $3.95 per sq. ft; willowcreekpavingstones.com
ANTIQUE CHESTNUT GRANITE
Reclaimed from China's Qingdao region. $24 per sq. ft.; rhodes.org
Concrete and Brick Paving Stones
HIGH–STRENGTH CONCRETE
Rated for about 15,000 pounds per square inch, almost double that of standard concrete. 7 7/8 by 2½ by 2 3/8 in.; $6.50 per sq. ft.; unilock.com
ANTIQUE BRICK
Not strong enough to drive on, but ideal for decorative landscape use. 8 by 3 5/8 by 2¼ in.; 38 cents each; morrisbrick.com
BEVEL–EDGE BRICK
Five–piece unit fits together for a diamond pattern. 17 by 17 by 2 in.; $7 per unit; handmadebrick.com
HANDMADE BRICK
New paver brick molded and fired by hand, the old–fashioned way. 8 by 4 by 2¼ in.; $1.50 each; handmadebrick.com
Sure, individual pavers are more expensive than asphalt or poured concrete, but for as little as $3 a square foot, they're an affordable way to boost curb appeal. Use a lot to blanket a driveway or patio, or smaller quantities as accent strips or borders. Properly installed in a bed of compacted sand, pavers make a long-lasting, low—maintenance surface that no amount of traffic can budge.
More options:
BRUSHED CONCRETE
Has the look of wire–cut clay brick. 6 by 6 by 2¾ in.; $4 per sq. ft.; unilock.com
GOLDEN GRANITE
Hand–split edges lend a rustic appearance. 8 by 4 by 4 in.; $15 per sq. ft.; rhodes.org
BULLNOSE EDGE
For stair treads, pool coping, and capstones. 12 by 6 by 2 3/8 in.; $2.49 each; willowcreekpavingstones.com
TUMBLED CONCRETE
Meant to evoke old European cobblestones. 6 by 6 by 3 in.; $3.15 per sq. ft.; harwoodlandscaping.com
ECO–STONE
Spaces between pavers allow for maximum drainage. 9 by 4¼ by 3 1/8 in.; $2.50 per sq. ft.; unilock.com
WEATHERED CONCRETE
Large pavers are better suited for patios and walks than for driveways, where they can crack more easily than smaller stones. 12 by 9 by 2 3/8 in.; $3.95 per sq. ft.; willowcreekpavingstones.com
BENGAL BLACK GRANITE
Granite is tough, about three times the strength of concrete. 12 by 12 by 2 in.; $20 per sq. ft.; rhodes.org
TUMBLED BLUESTONE
Pennsylvania stone, tumbled for a soft look. 11 by 5 by 5 in.; $6 each; harwoodlandscaping.com
BELGIAN BLOCK
Despite the name, these hunks of granite are quarried in India. 9 by 5 by 5 in.; $3.50 each; harwoodlandscaping.com
RECLAIMED BRICK
Unlike much salvaged wall brick, this one is hard–fired and strong enough for a driveway. 7 by 3½ by 2¼ in.; 30 cents each; reaveswrecking.com
WASHED–FINISH CONCRETE
The look of granite, at roughly half the cost. 12 by 6 by 2¾ in.; $5 per sq. ft.; unilock.com
PERUVIAN MARBLE
Good for patios, walkways, and outdoor kitchens. 4 by 4 by 1 in.; $8 per sq. ft.; harwoodlandscaping.com
DISTRESSED CONCRETE COBBLESTONE
The surface has been chipped and nicked for that weathered–in–place look. 6 by 6 by 2 3/8 in.; $3.95 per sq. ft; willowcreekpavingstones.com
ANTIQUE CHESTNUT GRANITE
Reclaimed from China's Qingdao region. $24 per sq. ft.; rhodes.org
Concrete and Brick Paving Stones
HIGH–STRENGTH CONCRETE
Rated for about 15,000 pounds per square inch, almost double that of standard concrete. 7 7/8 by 2½ by 2 3/8 in.; $6.50 per sq. ft.; unilock.com
ANTIQUE BRICK
Not strong enough to drive on, but ideal for decorative landscape use. 8 by 3 5/8 by 2¼ in.; 38 cents each; morrisbrick.com
BEVEL–EDGE BRICK
Five–piece unit fits together for a diamond pattern. 17 by 17 by 2 in.; $7 per unit; handmadebrick.com
HANDMADE BRICK
New paver brick molded and fired by hand, the old–fashioned way. 8 by 4 by 2¼ in.; $1.50 each; handmadebrick.com
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