7 CHOICES FOR OUTDOOR PAVING
Great paving brings elegance and practical appeal to your outdoor spaces. Outdoor pavers come in a range of versatile and attractive options to suit any backyard or driveway.
1. Sandstone
Use sandstone to introduce the colours of the seaside, rivers and earth to your home. The natural colours of sandstone pavers harmonise with water features such as pools and fountains while setting off greenery. There is wide variation in sandstone quality and this is usually reflected in the cost. Some sandstones are affected by salt from salt water pools so ask your supplier for test results for resistance to salt attack before contemplating its use for pool paving. Sandstone is unlikely to be affected if used around traditionally chlorinated pools.
Sandstone is a naturally forming sedimentary rock with a rich and earthy, yet elegant feel that blends into any landscape.
Sandstone is highly durable and versatile. Little maintenance is required. It’s also worth noting that sandstone ages very slowly and will tend to maintain its appearance many decades later. Sandstone is popular for anything from paving, tiling or cladding. Sandstone used outdoors can It can be cleaned easily with a high pressure water jet.
2. Quartzite
Quartzite is an incredibly durable material used for building as well as landscaping. With the same natural beauty as sandstone, quartzite is very dense and has very low water absorption properties and a high resistance to salt water. This low-maintenance material is frequently used for indoor surface areas, pedestrian walkways, and for building. Its high stain resistance means it requires little treatment or maintenance. Quartzite is also one of the most environmentally friendly materials. Its colours range from white to grey, with reds, yellows and oranges – colours familiar to lovers of Australian bushland.
3. Travertine
Travertine has a long history of use in holy and monumental buildings. Travertine was used by the Romans to build the Colosseum. Its earthy appearance and unique textural features make it suitable for indoor or outdoor paving. It is especially popular for outdoor applications in tumbled form whereas a honed surface treatment is preferred for indoors. Travertine comes in a range of natural shades ranging from light beige to chocolate browns.
4. Bluestone
Bluestone is a remarkably durable and dense material that is frequently used indoors and for outdoor paving and building. Flamed bluestone is a wonderful material for pool areas as its density makes it highly resistant to salt water. The flaming process creates a surface with good traction with a low risk of slipping when wet. A wide variety of finishings are available for bluestone pavers and tiles. Polished, flamed, or natural, bluestone combines elegance with visual appeal. The honed product is absolutely stunning – interior designers love this product.
5. Granite
Made from molten rock, granite is one of the toughest paving and flooring choices. Quartzite and granite are the toughest of all the natural stone types. Granite’s resistance to stains makes it extremely easy to clean – this is why it is used so frequently in shopping malls and airport terminals. Granite is a great material for indoor and outdoor use. As granite processing before use is minimal, it’s very environmentally friendly. Cool elegant shades mean granite will bring a touch of class to any space.
6. Limestone
Limestone is one of the most elegant of all paving materials, widely used in official buildings, airports, and other public structures. Limestone has wonderful insulation properties. Limestone’s durability can be seen in one of the oldest built structures in the world, the Great Pyramid of Giza. In modern use, limestone comes with a clean and fresh look, and it can be used on walls, pavements, as well as indoor tiling. Age resistant limestone will keep indoor and outdoor spaces looking as fresh as new.
7. Cobblestone
Used in paving streets in Europe as early as the 15th Century, cobblestone can bring a quaint or modern look to driveways, depending on how it’s shaped and paved. The remarkable durability and dark colouring of bluestone is less susceptible to tyre markings, making it suitable for cobblestone paving on driveways or anywhere with heavy traffic.