Brick Pavers for Outdoor Spaces: Installation Tips, Patterns, and Durability

Brick Pavers for Outdoor Spaces: Installation Tips, Patterns, and Durability

March 15th 2024

Are you looking for a cost-effective way to add natural beauty to your outdoor space? Brick pavers are affordable, practical, and available in a range of unique patterns.

Whether it's a driveway, walkway or garden patio, bricks are a great way to inject style and sophistication into exterior spaces.

In this guide, we'll explore the benefits of brick pavers, reveal some installation tips, and give you design inspiration for all style preferences.

The benefits of brick pavers

Brick pavers are small blocks that come in various colours and patterns. While manufacturers typically use clay, concrete options are also available, but clay pavers are the most popular.

Pavers are suitable for a range of applications, including driveways, garden paths, patios and pool areas, making them an excellent investment for any construction project.

Let's explore why brick pavers are so popular.

Durability

If you're looking for a driveway material, brick pavers are highly durable and can withstand a lot of weight. They can handle the weight of cars and maintain their aesthetic appeal, making them a wise investment. While other materials might chip and degrade, pavers are a long-term solution for all outdoor areas.

Convenience

Brick pavers are easy to maintain and don't require a lot of upkeep. Simply sweeping debris and gently rinsing when needed will be enough to retain its aesthetic appeal. If the pavers do suffer stains and damage, it's easy to repair them. You won't have to replace the entire surface either, making maintenance and repairs a stress-free option.

Sustainability

Brick pavers use natural materials, including clay and concrete. These abundant and renewable materials make them a great alternative to less eco-friendly pavers. Once you're finished with your pavers, it's easy to recycle them, ensuring they don't go to waste. Perhaps the biggest benefit of brick pavers is their ability to reduce stormwater run-off and replenish groundwater.

Versatility

It's hard to put your stamp on traditional gravel or stones, but brick pavers come in numerous shapes, sizes, and colours. Whether you're looking for modern brickwork that combines darker shades or a traditional red clay finish, you'll find endless design options. Most pavers are slip-resistant, so you can use them for pool areas and commercial properties.

Installing brick pavers

Pavers are relatively easy to install, but some prefer a specialist service. The following steps will give you an idea of the installation process:

1 Evaluate where the pavers will go and develop a design to ensure they achieve the right effect.

2 Measure the area to determine the number of pavers you'll need. Using a brick calculation formula ensures you have enough bricks and factors in damages.

3 Excavate the area and lay the base material, usually crushed rock, and gravel.

4 Install edge restraints to keep your pavers together and prevent them from moving apart over time.

5 Apply the sand bedding to set the pavers and protect their joints from wearing down.

6 Lay your pavers in the chosen pattern and ensure you achieve a uniform finish.

7 Sweep over the surface to ensure the sand fills the joints and locks them in place.

8 Use a sand-binding sealing solution to ensure the pavers don't accumulate dust and debris. It also allows for easier cleaning further down the line.

Maintaining your pavers

Luckily, brick pavers are easy to clean, and basic maintenance is all you'll need. It's always a good idea to reapply sealant every few years, which prevents debris from getting into the bricks and shields them from the elements.

Using a brush to sweep debris away from the pavers will keep them looking great, and a pressure wash every few months is usually enough to prevent debris accumulation.

Brick patio design inspiration

We've explored brick pavers in more detail, and now it's time for the most exciting part of your journey: choosing a pattern and colour combination. There are so many ways to put a unique stamp on brick pavers, including:

Basketweave These patterns are eternally popular, combining subtle colours and pairs of bricks to create a staggered look.

Herringbone Getting its name for the resemblance to a herringbone fish, this pattern places bricks at different angles, resulting in a unique zigzag pattern.

Two colours: To create an eye-catching finish, combining two colours into a pattern can add some visual interest.

Modern finishes

There's nothing quite like a modern driveway or patio. It oozes sophistication and aligns perfectly with contemporary properties. With modern designs, it's less about colour and more about subtle finishes.

Using neutral pavers creates a fashionable look, combining slates, greys, blacks, and whites for a streamlined aesthetic. You can choose small or large pavers depending on your preferences but remember to focus more on the finish than creating intricate patterns.

Traditional brick patios

Patios are easier to maintain than lawns and can still create a peaceful entertaining space. Standard clay pavers in deep reds and browns give your exterior area a rustic appeal, but you can also choose a more sophisticated finish.

Laying red pavers in a herringbone pattern gives your space a European feel with endless aesthetic appeal.

Bold combinations

Advances in technology mean pavers now come in an array of colours, including green, blue, and other vibrant shades. Combining colours into a unique theme will grab attention if you want to make a statement.

For example, blue and orange pavers can create a Moroccan look, making them ideal for summertime BBQs. Just remember to align the rest of your garden to the finish.

Final thoughts

As you can see, brick pavers are a wise decision for any outdoor space. Their durability and affordability make them ideal for injecting style into your garden while keeping costs down.

With a bit of care and maintenance, the pavers will last for years to come. If you're looking for cost-effective brick pavers, our website is the place to go. We stock pavers in various sizes, colours, and finishes, giving you unparalleled choice. Please feel free to contact us if you need any support.