What Classifications of Pavers Are There?

Materials

• Pavers are classified by the different materials used to make them. The three primary materials for pavers, concrete, brick and stone, each have their own advantages and disadvantages. Stone pavers give you the the most natural look, but also cost the most. Brick pavers have an attractive appearance and good durability, but might develop a white stain called efflorescence. Fortunately, you can wash the stain away. Concrete pavers possess good durability, though some homeowners might not find them as natural looking or attractive as other materials.

Interlocking and Mortar

• Some pavers need mortar between the individual members to hold them in place, but interlocking pavers don't need any mortar or grout. These pavers, typically made from concrete, come from the manufacturer perfectly fitted to lock into place when set in the ground. Pavers made with this feature make it much simpler for the do-it-yourself homeowner to create his own driveway or walkway, since all he has to do is prepare the ground and set the pavers in place.

Patterns

• A host of patterns exist to give visual flair to any landscaping element created by using pavers. Patterns enhancing an installation of brick pavers include the running bond, where each brick has two adjoining bricks directly above it and the herringbone, with bricks at right angles to each other. Flagstone pavers look good when placed in a cobble-lock pattern, where large and small stones intersect. The basket weave pattern, a grid-type arrangement, gives good results when used with concrete pavers.

Faux Pavers

• One of the fascinating aspects of concrete is that manufacturers can make it resemble other types of pavers and different types of paved surfaces from the past, such as cobblestones. You can purchase a "fieldstone" product made from concrete. Some faux concrete pavers have the appearance of old, weathered brick, while others fabricate the look of ancient stones. A faux flagstone set of pavers comes with the stones in irregular shapes, but which neatly fit together when arranged in the ground.