The Best Pavers Available in 2024

According to this report by IBIS World, industry revenue for landscaping services (including soft landscaping with gardens and hard landscaping like retaining walls) is expected to increase to $7.8 billion, including non-residential buildings and home renovations.

This article will dive into types of paver options for your outdoor project, living spaces, stylish designs, the variety of colour options, and what is best for your improvement project.

The Best Types of Pavers

What types of pavers can you choose for your home or commercial property? There are many options, so let's look at some of the best!

Granite Pavers

Granite is an igneous rock with coarse grains such as micas, quartz, feldspar, amphiboles, and other trace materials. For thousands of years, it has been used in the construction sector for building supplies, architectural stone, dimension stone, and product manufacturing.

One of the toughest and hardest-wearing natural stones, granite is unlikely to wear down, chip, or scratch because it is textured, stain-resistant, heat-resistant, slip-resistant, and low-maintenance.

 Natural granite pavers come in a range of colours, including pink, yellow, black, and grey. Enrich residential and commercial products with Impala Black Granite, Exotic Grey, Fantasy Grey, Sahara Granite, Portsea Blue Flamed Granite, Pink Rose Granite Exfoliated, or Midnight Granite pavers.

Travertine Pavers

A type of limestone that forms in natural springs due to mineral deposits, Travertine is created by the fast precipitation of calcite. The trademark swirls found in Travertine are produced when mixed with other materials, and as they are naturally occurring stones, every paver has a unique design.

Travertine finishes have a distinctive appearance, so your inner interior designer can creatively design interior and exterior surfaces.

Polished or smoothed Travertine makes for a glossy, reflective surface for flooring. Matte finishes (or textured) are without sheen, with the top surface ground polished for a rustic character.

Tumbled tiles have rounded corners (often with acid-wash finishes, worn edgework, or a classic look) and work as pool exteriors. Brushed travertine is highly textured and brushed with a metal wire for a cosy, upscale appearance. Experiment with a French design, brick bond design, herringbone design, or a standard pattern for a simplistic, symmetrical square fit. Check out Travertine options such as Mocha Travertine Pavers, Silver Premium, Cashmere, Silver, and Tuscan.

Limestone Pavers

Looking for a one-and-done installation? Limestone is a natural sedimentary stone (formed mainly by calcium carbonate) retrieved from the ocean that includes coral, fossils, shells, and algae. It has gained popularity as a practical building material.

The location of limestone determines its tint of colour. Grey, cream, white, pink, brown, and coral are common colours, offering versatile design options, stain-resistant, low maintenance, and an accessible, eco-friendly choice for your backyard.

With a weather-friendly construction, heat-reflective properties with natural cooling properties (great if you're walking barefoot), the ability to handle weathering or erosion, and slip resistance, Limestone is sustainable and beautiful for family homes. Check out Tundra Ocean Sandblasted, Crema Novelda Brushed, Black Limestone, Sinai Pearl Brushed, or the London Grey.

Bluestone Pavers

Known as basalt or olivine basalt substance, bluestone pavers are resistant to wear and tear, durable, and have a high compressive strength, making them very reliable for structural work.

Basalt volcanic stones are textured and formed over millions of years and are a rich, dark blue-grey. Bluestone's mineral makeup contains quartz, mica, feldspar, and amphiboles, producing various hues and patterns. Being extremely dense, they strengthen architectural structures and pathways across Australia.

Bluestone gives a sense of timeless beauty and tranquillity, making it a prized choice for many design applications. With a non-slip surface, Bluestone is available in many sizes and thicknesses to suit any design preference.

It is used to refine driveways, pool surrounds (Bluestone isn't affected by chlorine), and winding pathways, and it adds texture and depth to feature walls and cladding. Look at the Flinders Bluestone French Pattern, Bluestone Tumbled, Dark Bluestone, or Stepping Stones.

Sandstone Pavers

Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed of sand-sized grains of mineral, rock, or organic materials from Earth. It contains a cementing material that binds these sand grains together.

As one of the most common types of sedimentary rock, Sandstone can be made into crushed stone for construction projects with its quartz content. With a natural Earthy palette from white to ash grey, tan and sandy brown, Sandstone offers minimalist or rustic design ideas and inspiration.

Resistant to harsh weather, moisture, and heat, Sandstone is practical and durable for patios, driveways, courtyards, and garden walkways and supports endless design possibilities. Choose floor patterns such as the Classic Grid Pattern for a clean look, the French Pattern, which interlocks, or the Crazy Paving pattern, which is eye-catching, bold, and stunning. Check out Drift Sandstone, Royal Beige Honed, Rainbow Honed, Teakwood Sandstone, Suede Sandstone, or Desert Sandstone.

Are you looking for natural stone pavers for sale? Paver Shop supplies pavers to Northcote, Bundoora, Taylors Lakes, Pascoe Vale, Greenvale, and surrounding areas across Melbourne.

Factors to Consider When Choosing Pavers

Deciding on the best paver for your property can be difficult, with thousands of variations. To make it easier and less time-consuming, what are some things to consider? You can’t just pick a paver that looks pretty. Is it best for your pool or patio? Pavers have different strengths, so let’s explore what you should consider.

What Style Do You Like?

The number of shapes, sizes, and colours on the market makes paver patterns unlimited, but that is exactly what pavers are designed for. Patterns will vary depending on how steep, sloping, or flat your driveway is. Alfresco patterns are less busy with straighter lines, and garden path patterns are often curved!

You may prefer a brick-shaped paving pattern, square-shaped paving pattern, contrasting colours, diamond, circle, or something truly unique to you that complements your area. 

Choosing the best material depends on your budget limit and whether you plan to DIY your paver project or hire a professional installer. 

Does your home experience a lot of rain and cold temperatures, or is it frequently exposed to sunshine throughout the year? Brick and travertine pavers can handle sunlight, whereas concrete and limestone work well under an awning or similar covering. If you're worried your paver won't hold up, consider using a sealer to protect it.

What Suits Your Property?

What is the size and application? Where you decide to pave will impact the material you choose! If you're paving your pool, choose a slip-resistant paver strong enough to handle sunlight, rainfall, and chemicals like chlorine. Bigger patios look better with larger pavers, and smaller spaces can be made into intricate designs.

This will define the look and feel of your property, from smooth to honed, milled, flamed, tumbled, and shot blast textures and finishes. Wide pavers in a tight space make a patio look tiny. Mix rectangle and square pavers for an Ashlar pattern under your seating area or a circular paver pattern around your firepit.

Complement the exterior of your home for cohesion: a rustic clay paver, for example, suits a farmhouse-style home, whereas a natural black granite paver looks excellent for a modern home.

Think about the cost and longevity

Improving your outdoor area with pavers sounds like a simple upgrade, however it can be a significant investment. What can impact the overall cost?

The depth of base materials and type of material can affect the cost, labour costs such as preparation for sloping and levelling, and the complexity of your project size. For an accurate cost, speak to a paving professional.

Consider the colours

When selecting pavers, take inspiration from the colour of your home (such as your roof or trim).

The paver colour can be a bit lighter than your house's, and you can try mixing the pavers' colours. Keep the borders consistent, and don't choose colours that clash. For example, muted colours work well for spaces where sunlight is an issue.

Natural Stone Pavers in Melbourne: Choose The Paver Shop

Are you looking for a one-stop shop for all things pavers? Paver Shop is owned and operated by a trade professional with over 20 years of experience in the paving and landscaping industry. We consistently supply the best pavers on the market.

As specialists who supply and install quality natural stone products, we cover a range of finishes and styles, from Bluestone to Sandstone, Granite to Travertine. With a trustworthy trade background, we can quote your property, recommend reliable installers near you, and save you time and money.

Contact us today for a “we come to you” service, request a “quote me”, or visit our store in Thomastown!