Like many building goods, pavers are anything but standard. There is a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and core materials. Mason Mark McCullough took the time to show host Kevin O’Connor the different types of pavers and even explained what he likes about each and how to order the right quantity for a project.
Traditional Brick and Patterns
Traditional brick looks a lot like the brick used to build structures. There are a few types, including molded bricks (often called “city hall bricks”) and a more standard, uniform paver that looks similar to a traditional brick but is larger and usually more refined.
You can lay these bricks in several patterns, including:
- Running bond: One of the more traditional designs, running bonds feature rows of brick with their smaller joints offset by half the width of the brick. These can be run side by side, lengthwise, or diagonally.
- Herringbone: Made up of bricks set at 90-degree angles to one another, it creates a design similar to the woven fabric it takes its name from.
- Basketweave: A simple design that mimics the look of a basket, made up of four pairs of bricks set perpendicular to each other.
Concrete Pavers
As the name suggests, these pavers are made by pouring concrete into a form and sold individually. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes, some of which even mimic traditional brick. Each paver typically has a small nub or ridge that helps space it from the neighboring pavers, leaving the perfect space for polymeric sand.
Concrete pavers come in several colors. Concrete is often mixed with a dye to achieve a specific shade, but it’s important to know that the color will fade over time. And, driveway salt can do a number on these pavers, pitting away at their surface.
Natural Pavers
For something a bit more luxurious, consider natural pavers. These pavers are made from naturally occurring rocks such as bluestone and granite, milled to consistent shapes and thicknesses. These stones last a very long time and are extremely durable, but they tend to be much more expensive than concrete.
How to Order Pavers
Ordering pavers can be tricky, especially when choosing natural stones with irregular shapes. A good rule of thumb is to find your area (length multiplied by width) and add 2% to 10% for waste. Even if the stone is irregular, the supplier will figure out exactly how much you need.
Resources
Mark showed the following materials; all are available at your local stone yard.
- Concrete Pavers
- Brick Pavers
- Bluestone Pavers
