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Posts Tagged ‘patio pavers’

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.

When you are aiming to create your ideal patio retreat, the more care you take in coming up with great patio cover plans, the better off you’ll be.  The reason behind this is like with any construction project – as you go, things change.  If you know why you wanted a particular feature this way or that way, you’ll be in a better position to provide an alternate solution and still maintain the look you desire.  If you run into problems and have no further plans, then you’ll end up with something that might be more of a hurried decision.  The best looking patio designs are the ones that incorporate the homeowner’s personality and style into the plan.

For example, if you are a gardener, make sure that your patio covers incorporate some living greenery into the design or patio space.  Maybe this means having a ‘living roof’ made of plants and climbing vines or some combination of those.  You might also incorporate a patio garden somewhere in the design.

Another area where you can get creative is with your ‘flooring’ for your patio.  It is hard to come up with the words to use to describe this aspect to your patio.   There are several options from which to choose.  It was not that long ago that the most commonly used ‘floor’ was a poured concrete slab.  This is no longer as popular in custom designed patios, but is still the overwhelmingly done process.  One way to give a poured slab some character is to use a stamped concrete method.  This essentially creates a faux stone or flagstone impression to your concrete.

Other choices include the use of patio pavers and other brick materials. You can find these pavers in styles of concrete, different shapes and colors.  When combined, the different shapes and materials can make your patio look even more rustic.  There are tumbled pavers that can give you a really nice cobblestone look.  From the patio roof to the floor, these are all elements of great patio cover plans.

Brought to you by your friends at Patio Covers Place.