We were recently asked the question “how can I pick the right paving stone”?
This is a difficult question to answer and there are certainly a multitude of variables that need to be considered when determining the “right” paving stone for your project. Pavestones are offered in many shapes, textures, colors and sizes, and depending on where you live, there are typically several manufacturers to choose from. For instance, in southern California we choose from six primary suppliers -RCP, Ackerstone, Orco, Angelus, Belgard and Olsen.
Paving stone manufacturers go through numerous testing phases to make sure their products are compliant with ASTM, ICPI and ISO standards. 60mm pavers, used in residential applications are rated at 8,000psi. almost 4 times as strong as poured in place concrete. While the stone strength is impressive, there are still situations that would require the use of a thicker, stronger stone. Depending on your native soil conditions, any paved area that is expecting vehicular traffic in excess of 7,000lbs should require additional base material underneath the pavers, and could possibly require the use of an 80mm paver. These are usually found in commercial applications, however, many homeowners who have a large motor home, septic, trash or moving service driving over their pavers should seriously consider using the thicker stone option.
Antique Cobble pavers give a smooth surfaced look and are typically installed in a 2-stone pattern such as an I-pattern or running bond pattern. They are also the lowest priced stone. Many home owners want something other than concrete that is appealing, durable and will give them a smooth surface for their entertaining areas. This stone meets their criteria.
My favorite paving stone is the tumbled paver. The tumbling effect comes from either putting an un-tumbled stone into a tumbler, which rolls the pavers around like they’re in a dryer, or, using a distressing machine to hammer the stones surface to give it a weather look. These stones are an outstanding option for the Tuscan style homes that have been popping up all over southern California. The tumbled appearance gives the stone a weathered look that can highly compliment surrounding landscapes and other areas around the house.
Moving up the price latter are designer pavers. These usually include 4 or 5 stone sizes with a tumbled texture. You generally see these installed in estate homes or commercial properties.
Color is the next decision to make. Manufacturers are offering more and more blended color options. Blended colors have a minimum of 2 colors and will have an un-uniformed blended between the two colors (i.e. in a terra cotta / brown you will see stones that are all terra cotta or all brown, and some that have a little or a lot of either color). Solid colors are also available.
The final component of finding the right paving stone is to find a good design consultant and a good paving stone installation company. A good design consultant should be able to use the different colors, textures and sizes to compliment the surrounding environments and really use the pavers not as the focal point of the house, but as the frame of the picture. Using different patterns in different areas to exaggerate the functionality of those areas can make an impressive impact and really give your project that final touch. Again, it is imperative that you find a quality installation service provider who will do the job right. It won’t matter if you picked out the nicest stone with the most complimentary colors and textures. If the installation is done poorly, it will show and it will not be pretty.