Paving remains one of the most popular ways to create a driveway and paths around your garden. One reason for this is that there is a lot of different styles of paving so you are sure to find a style to suit you. Another benefit of paving is that is much more adaptable to awkwardly shaped spaces where larger slabs are harder to work with. So what paving options are available to you?
How Will It Be Used?
Before you look at options it helps to think about what your paved area will be used for. For example, a garden path with little amounts of traffic can use a much thinner type of paving than a driveway where a car will be parked and regularly used. Paving comes in a variety of thicknesses and sizes to ensure you can meet your needs.
Generally, if you are looking for paving for a smaller area, then smaller slabs work well while larger ones are ideal for bigger spaces. You can also co-ordinate paving with other areas such as concrete paths or steps to create a harmonious look.
Block paving is one of most popular paving options and is particularly popular for driveways due to its thickness and ability to withstand heavy use. It can also be paired with block kerbs to finish the look of the property. You can buy in paving packs and can also buy single slabs if later you need to repair or replace one. It also ties in well with other surfaces like grass and decking and other styles of paving as well.
Colours & Types Of Paving
If you want to match your paving with other types of stone around the property or you’re looking for a specific look then there are lots of varieties of paving available. For traditional gardens and those with lots of other features, simple limestone paving can be popular. Indian sandstone is also popular, especially for those ornate circle layouts that can be used to create a feature area.
While including lots of colours of paving stones can be tempting, it’s worth remembering that if you have too many colours it can create a chaotic look. If you are unsure about what colour to go with, opt for either a neutral or natural shade.
Both slate and granite can be used as paving materials. Slate comes in shades such as blue/greys, reds and lavenders but does need to be guarded against the frost so isn’t ideal in exposed areas. Granite is the ultimate in durable material and offers the widest range of colours of any type of natural paving but is more expensive than most of the other options.
Consider Gravel Areas
Some gardens will have corners and shapes that stones just won’t compatible with. The solution may be to use gravel alongside your paving slabs to deal with those odd shapes and to add some texture. Just make sure there are boundaries to stop the gravel washing away with heavy rain.
About the Author
Declan Small is the Digital Marketing Executive at Haldane Fisher, builders merchants with branches throughout the UK.
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