Different Styles of Brick Pavers
- Clay and concrete brick pavers come in a variety of different styles, colors and configurations for creating patios and walkways. Clay pavers are hard-wearing and feature colors that are natural and do not fade. Concrete pavers are available in more shapes and sizes and textured bricks are also available. Brick pavers can be purchased in different sizes, shapes and colors to create what is a virtually endless possibility of configurations.
- Rectangular pavers can be arranged in a range of different patterns by varying the dimensions of the bricks. Rectangular pavers can be found in length to width ratios of 2:1, 3:1 and 3:2 depending on the desired look. Most commercially available rectangular pavers feature chamfered vertexes, meaning that the bricks are not perfect rectangles but rather feature slightly curved edges. This curvature prevents the pavers from sustaining damage at their most vulnerable point, the 90 degree vertex.
- These pavers are tumbled to provide an old world or character appearance for gardens and other projects that do not lend themselves to modern paver styles. These pavers will generally be more costly as they require additional processing time in comparison to standard rectangular pavers. These bricks go through a tumbling process once they have cured to a sufficient strength, giving them an aged appearance.
- Decorative pavers can take on a number of different shapes, sizes and styles depending on their intended purpose and finished appearance. This category of paver styles includes non-standard shapes and intricate shapes, pavers that mimic other materials and pavers with textured patterns. S blocks and W blocks are common decorative pavers that feature shapes that are non-standard and yet still capable of interlocking perfectly. There are a number of other geometric shapes that naturally lend themselves to paving, though rectangular pavers are the simplest to manufacture.
- Some pavers are created for special applications, such as bricks with colored tops, pavers intended to bear heavy-duty loads and sealed systems for use with chemical and industrial applications. Pavers can also be manufactured in large configurations that can be laid by machine, or treated to be compatible with indoor flooring.
