Originating from Europe, manufactured paving stones were used after the war when Europeans needed an affordable paver to rebuild streets. This clay-based product is not easily manufactured as the majority of its content are primarily concrete based. The secret behind the beauty of precast paving stones is that they can stand alone on a gravel base. You will not need special equipment to move them due to their small size.
Precast paving stones are used for landscaping purposes due to affordability and versatility. The majority of these fall into the following categories:
Interlocking pavers: These stones come in different shapes and colors. They produce a paving pattern upon installation. The patterns are visually attractive and are preferred over expensive stones and tiles.
Precast unit pavers: They produce a uniformly crisp surface with shaped units such as bricked rectangles in multiple sizes.
Tumbled precast unit pavers: To produce a natural surface, these pavers are tumbled at the factory. They give an ancient appearance and mimics hewn stones. They are safer options for pool decks and sports courts as they offer a softer edge.
Open Cell pavers: These pavers were designed to increase permeability in parking lots as it allows water to drain through the openings in the pavers.
Turf pavers: Turf pavers were designed for emergency equipment to drive over the lawn. They are mostly used for overflow parking.
Choosing the perfect pavers
The addition of pavers can enhance the beauty of your outdoor space, driveways, and walkways. It is no surprise that pavers make a drastic difference in the appearance of almost everything, from pool decks and walkways to barbecue area and porches. Since pavers are versatile and can be used in different shapes and forms, it is necessary to make the right choice. Like plants, paving material adds glamour, texture, color, and pattern to your landscape.
Paving materials come in two kinds: quarried stones and composite materials. You can choose either of them according to your budget. Quarried stone such as granite and slate are mostly dug and shaped accordingly by cutting, splitting or crushing whereas composite materials are more like bricks and concrete pavers which are processed and molded when soft. To choose the perfect paver for your yard, you should consider your budget first as some of them can be really costly. You can talk it out with your contractor before taking any decision.
