Concrete Paver Patio

Patio Surface Materials

Concrete pavers are made from dense, cast concrete that is put into molds at high pressure, resulting in an exceptionally tough paving material that resists breaking, staining, and the effects of weather. The pavers are about 1 1/2 - 2 1/2 inches thick—thinner than regular bricks—and come in many shapes and textures to match any design scheme.

You'll find them as squares, rectangles, circles, diamonds, hexagons, octagons, and crescents. Many of the shapes are designed to be used in combinations to create patterns. Some squares and rectangles have slightly beveled sides made for circular patterns. Others are interlocking; they fit together like pieces of a puzzle, creating an extremely stable surface. Concrete pavers usually cost less than brick or stone.

Paver colors tend to be muted, earth-tone shades of gray, tan, red, and green. Specify one color or vary your patterns even more by using several colors of the same style of paver. When shopping, examine the surfaces closely. The pigment layer in some pavers is very thin. When scratched or chipped, the gray concrete beneath shows through; you might decide to reject these pavers. Surface textures vary: some are smooth, while others have rough aggregate surfaces or are made to look like brick, stone, adobe, or cobblestone.

Many pavers have beveled edges that create patterns of light and shadow. When designing your patio, remember that small pavers can create very busy patterns when used in large areas.

Concrete pavers are made to withstand heavy loads. Some pavers are designated as "road weight;" they can endure the weight of vehicles without cracking and can be used for driveways. If you like the pattern and color of a road-weight paver and are willing to pay the slightly higher price, it makes an excellent patio surface.