Lend Me A Hand

It might be said that, pavers for patio use are one of the most innovative landscaping applications of our time. However, part of their charm is a throwback to yesteryear, when streets, sidewalks, and courtyards had a most interesting surface. Cobblestones, the small stones from river beds, that were cobbled together and set with mortar, for paving, can still be seen on roads in quaint European villages and American towns. They are but one material used in pavers today to enliven patio style, and their use is becoming more and more popular amongst homeowners around the world.

Pavers, unlike stones cobbled together, however, are solid blocks used to create surfaces without mortar. They come in a wide range of materials, from popular brick, concrete, and stone, to even somewhat more surprising substances like granite, travertine, and glass. The range of materials, and the resultant look for each, is nearly as wide as the range of use, as pavers are equally at home in residential and commercial settings.

At home, pavers supply more verve and distinction to a patio than the flat look of concrete, by providing high visual interest. The texture and color variations in brick, for instance, are classic examples of enhancing a patio with traditional style. Alternatively, using concrete pavers that have been fashioned to look like antique, natural stone will lend old world charm, while Mexican pavers, made by artisans out of clay, have softness and earthy color tone variations that lend to a Southwestern atmosphere.

Widely offered by home supply stores, pavers may be professionally or self-installed. Either way, a step by step approach should be followed, with adequate preparation and attention to pattern design for paver placement. The reward will be a patio rich in texture, color, and design, fresh and new, yet evoking the hand-laid qualities that still make those cobblestone streets so appealing.