Pavers: Elegant and Functional Part of Your Landscaping
Pavers are a value-packed and popular hardscape option in Austin yards. They provide a stable surface for parking, furniture, decorating, gardening, and entertainment to expand your outdoor living space.
Pavers also create gathering spaces. For instance, installing a patio beneath a pergola creates a shaded seating area. Use pavers to build a fire pit, BBQ island, or outdoor kitchen or as decking for lounging around the pool.
Common Uses of Pavers
- Driveways
- Patios
- Pool Decks
- Sidewalks
- Pathways
- Landscape Edging and Borders
- Planters and Garden Walls
- Fire Pits and Outdoor Fireplaces
- BBQ Islands and Outdoor Kitchens
- Permanent Bench Seating
- Retaining Walls
Options in Paver Material
Consider how you will use the pavers before deciding on the type and style to install. Ask about our landscape design consultation if you need help.
Austin yards boast brick, concrete, travertine, marble, porcelain, or natural stone.
1. Concrete
Concrete pavers got a 21st century makeover when used for landscape design. You can still purchase the gray cement blocks of yesteryear. But concrete comes in a wide range of colors, sizes, textures, and even thickness to mimic more expensive stone and brick materials. Customize it to suit your needs.
Pros: Concrete pavers are easy to install, low cost, and more durable than poured concrete.
Cons: The color fades over time, it will crack with extreme temperature changes, has a shorter life span as compared to other materials, and will need sealing to extend its life.
2. Brick
Choose brick pavers to match or contrast with the exterior of your home. Install brick to create a seamless transition from inside the house to the front or backyard. We love brick as borders along grass or fence lines, and for fire pits and BBQ islands.
Pros: Brick pavers come in a vast range of colors, and can be installed in endless patterns, such as herringbone, pinwheel, basket-weave, or grid. Bricks are a natural material, so they are eco-friendly for reuse and repurpose.
Cons: Clay is a somewhat fragile material that may chip or crack. Brick driveways require frequent maintenance.
3. Travertine
Travertine pavers are 100% natural stone from the limestone family. They absorb water and stay cool to the touch, even during Austin’s hottest summer days, making Travertine safer for bare feet and swimming pool patios. We also suggest Travertine for outdoor kitchen countertops and indoor flooring.
Pros: You can get Travertine in custom shapes and sizes, and no two pavers look the same. Travertine is 100% natural, environmentally-friendly, never loses its color, is much cheaper than marble, and adds value to your home because of its durability (it can last centuries without cracking or fading).
Cons: Travertine is heavy and more costly to install. Vinegar and other acidic liquids will leave a stain.
4. Other Natural Stone Pavers
Natural stone, combined with gravel, can serve two critical functions in your yard. First, the stone provides a natural-looking surface. Second, the gravel helps with water conservation. Gravel retains moisture, allowing your plants to absorb more water, which is helpful when Austin is subject to water restrictions.
Flagstone pavers are thin and won’t bear the weight needed for driveways. But a non-slip texture makes them ideal for patios. Unique shapes fit together in a creative, one-of-a-kind pattern. Most flagstone come in hues of gray or red. They are durable and last longer than concrete, but at a higher cost.
Cobblestone pavers are usually made of granite and offer long-lasting durability with an attractive aesthetic. Choose from a wide variety of colors and styles and enjoy for decades when installed correctly. As a low-maintenance, gorgeous, and lasting option, cobblestone is expensive and time-consuming to install.
Sandstone pavers (such as the popular Bluestone) create elegant driveways, patios, and walkways that add character to any outdoor space. We can install them as massive slabs, cut into tiles, or crushed into gravel. Each individual piece of sandstone has a unique pattern, offering a wealth of design possibilities.
By the way, Sandstone is recyclable and biodegradable. But it is porous, has a high absorption rate, and could experience water damage in extreme cases. It’s also a soft stone and more prone to scratches and dents. However, with proper maintenance, these issues are rare.
Landscaping D-I-WHY? Let YardDoc Help.
Choosing the right pavers for your landscaping project can be overwhelming. It’s a choice you must live with for years, so you’ll want to get it right the first time. Our landscape manager and his team have decades of experience.
In addition to paver, pathway, and border installation, YardDoc offers experienced lawn care and landscaping services to include:
- Artificial Grass
- Landscape Lighting Installation
- Outdoor Kitchens and BBQ Islands
- Pergolas
- Pool Landscaping
- Water Features
- Xeriscape
- Frost Protection
Contact us to schedule a free quote and consultation for your paver landscaping design today.
Browse All Galleries
All Landscaping Pictures
3D Landscape Design Pictures
Landscape Paths, Pavers, and Hardscapes Pictures
Front and Backyard Landscaping Pictures
Xeriscape Landscaping Pictures
Get a Free Quote