If you feel stuck about choosing the right type of paver for your patio, here’s a brief guide on what to look for in patio pavers for Sterling Heights, MI, outdoor living spaces. Beyond choosing colors and materials, you have some important considerations ahead for giving your patio the look and the practicality you want from your backyard retreat.
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Safety
Slip-resistant pavers can be essential in frequently wet areas like poolscapes, but they are equally important on patios and walkways. Your choices for non-slip pavers are not limited to heavily textured or rough surfaces. Even smooth pavers can have a non-slip finish. If you want to create a unified look between your patio and pool deck, choose patio pavers recommended for use around pool decks.
Ease of Maintenance
To minimize maintenance, choose pavers that have been sealed with a durable surface sealant that will protect the pavers from absorbing spills including food, beverages, condiments, household chemicals, pool chemicals, and deicing salt. You’ll generally want to choose a durable, sealed paver for high-demand areas like an outdoor kitchen. Less-textured pavers can be easier to sweep or mop, a particular concern if your patio is situated in an area where you will need to clean up fallen leaves or grass clippings.
Durability
Manufactured stone (concrete) pavers are durable and long-lasting. In the unlikely event a paver becomes damaged, the paver can be replaced individually. Pavers often come with a durable finish that is resistant to scratches from dragged furniture or foot traffic; you can also have pavers resealed every 3-5 years if you would like. Pavers are also resistant to the freeze-thaw cycle thanks to low permeability. Quality, cared-for pavers may even outlast some types of natural stone. Flagstone, for example, will eventually flake and chip due to its structure, but concrete pavers won’t. This means many more years of enjoyment.
Aesthetics
The details and varieties of today’s pavers present the main challenge of choosing patio pavers. They are available in a huge variety of colors, finishes, shapes, sizes, styles, and textures. Whether you love the look of tumbled stone, wood planks (without the maintenance headaches), brick, bluestone, granite, marble, or cobblestone, and whether you like the intricacy of a classic herringbone pattern, the antiqued weathered look of tumbled pavers or the smooth, sleek look of large format square pavers, you can find a paver product that delivers on the look and feel you want when you step outdoors.
To finalize your decision, you could start with focusing on the aesthetics of your home to help narrow your choice of pavers to those that complement your home’s style. For example, a brick facade pairs well with simple, large format pavers that bring attention to the home’s texture while maintaining the unique character of the patio.
For a casual patio, look for pavers with a more pronounced flagstone texture (this looks amazing at sunset), and to bring more elegance and sophistication to the space, choose smoother pavers in neutral colors.
To increase the feeling of spaciousness, choose large-format pavers or pavers sold in bundles of various sizes laid in a random pattern. To make a patio feel more intimate, opt for smaller, more textured pavers in warm colors.
Related: Which Patio Pavers Are Suited to Poolside Applications in Rochester Hills, MI?
