Homeowners have a number of options to pick from when it comes to choosing a type of paver to use for water and fire features in their backyard landscaping design. Outdoor features can serve as the focal point and help create a desired ambiance, so homeowners will want to pick the right hardscape products to complement their feature and outdoor design. Concrete, natural stone, brick, and porcelain pavers are all durable, water and heat resistant, low maintenance options for your outdoor feature installation.
Concrete Pavers
Concrete pavers are durable, easy to install, can withstand heavy use and weather conditions, and have a textured surface for traction, making them ideal for outdoor water and fire features that are exposed to the elements. They are easy to clean and maintain, making them a practical choice for water features that may accumulate dirt and debris over time. They are heat resistant, making them suitable for use around fire features without being damaged or discolored. Make a beautiful outdoor fire pit the focal point of your space with our Old Dominion Circle Kits as the base with one of our DIY Fire Pit kits in the center. If you prefer a natural look but want the durability of concrete, Slaton Paving Slabs are both beautiful and resemble natural stone with ridges for slip resistant traction.
Natural Stone Pavers
Natural stone is a popular paver choice for pedestrian surfaces due to its durability, easy of maintenance, and natural, timeless elegance and beauty. Flagstone will not warp in the elements, is termite-proof, provides traction due to natural ridges, and limits water pooling on the surface making it a perfect complement for outdoor installations. Flagstone is great for those looking to create a random natural looking space.
Architectural Slabs and Patio Stone
Architectural Slabs offer all of the same benefits as concrete pavers; durability, slip and stain resistance, no water absorption, and ease of cleaning make them safe to use around water features. Since Architectural Slabs are much larger than a standard concrete paver, less pieces are needed to cover the same square footage and they provide a more contemporary look. They are often made from concrete, stone, or porcelain, all of which are both heat-resistant and non-porous, making them ideal around water features, fire pits, and fireplaces as well. Porcelain Slabs are higher strength but lighter weight, scratch resistant, impervious with a low water absorption rate, and highly resistant to stains, salts, acids, bases, molds, and moss growth. They are low maintenance and can be cleaned using common detergent and water. For those wanting a more refined yet still natural look, Bluestone Select within our porcelain paver line is a popular choice.
If you’re trying to achieve a more natural stone look at a lower cost than natural stone, then Columbia Patio Slabs, Dominion Slate Pavers, or Glacier Slate Architectural Slabs are the best choice. Our Columbia Slate Patio Slabs have a rippled surface mimicking the unevenness found in natural stone while Dominion Slate Pavers have a unique slate texture with slight rippling to provide a surface with soft ridges. Glacier Slate provides a contemporary feel with its large slate pavers that give any project a natural look.
Architectural Slabs & Patio Stones
Brick Pavers
Clay Brick Pavers are a great choice for any outdoor fireplace or fire pit base since they are resistant to high temperatures and moisture. Available in a variety of colors, textures, and installation patterns, clay brick pavers allow you to be creative with a practical material. They are durable and long lasting, with a timeless look that goes with most landscape and design styles. Add a more custom look to your design with a unique pattern or multiple complementing patterns separated by a vertical or horizontal brick border.
Whether you are creating a walkway or an entire paver patio for your outdoor feature, Mutual Materials can help you select the type of paver that is right for your needs and design style in your outdoor living space. Why stop at just pavers? Our retaining wall blocks and natural stone can be used to create the fire and water features themselves.
External Resources:
- KG Landscape – Designing with Pavers: A Selection Guide for Choosing the Right Type, Style, and Pattern
- Eagle Pavers – Are Pavers Fireproof? Find Out All the Safety Measures!
Internal Resources:
- Mutual Materials – The Transformative Power of Pavers
- Mutual Materials – How to Complement Your Water Feature
- Mutual Materials – Get Inspired: Products for Landscaping Design
Citations
- Mutual Materials – Dominion Slate Pavers
- Mutual Materials – Clay Pavers
- Mutual Materials – Fire Pit Kits