Special Slats
Turn plain cement patios and pathways into something more exciting with HandyDeck interlocking deck tiles. Seen here is SwiftDeck Colorado style (with wood slats all aligned in the same direction) and accent tiles used as a border in Sierra style. These tiles are intended as a do-it-yourself type of product and are simply snapped together without nails, screws or adhesives for an instant covering over any hard surface. Designed for most fully exposed exterior situations, the wood tiles, like any wood product in the outdoors, gradually fade to a soft silvery grey color over time. Colors range from lighter to darker wood species.
Cost: Estimated retail, $10.95 per square foot available online from HandyDeck.
For more info: www.handydeck.com
Photo: HandyDeck Systems, Inc.
Interlocking Wood
HandyDeck interlocking pavers simply snap together over any hard surface. Quickly transform bland concrete pathways in just an hour. Exceptionally durable and hard wearing, Ipe wood ensures long life even in high traffic areas. Seen here is SwiftDeck Brazil Walnut made from Ipe wood sourced from South America, which is one of the hardest and most durable wood species commercially available. Suitable for most fully exposed exterior conditions.
Cost: Estimated retail $10.95 per tile (or per square foot since these are 12” x 12” tiles) which includes shipping to any destination within continental U.S.A. Available online from HandyDeck.
For more info: www.handydeck.com
Photo: HandyDeck Systems, Inc.
A Historic Path
These 100+ year-old pavers by Gavin Historical Bricks were reclaimed from streets throughout the Midwest and feature rich colors like maroon and dark purple. The overall appearance is a worn- smooth surface created from a century of wear in the street. Measuring approximately 8.5″ x 3.75″ x 3.5″ and weighing 9 pounds each, these pavers can be used for your patio, driveway and any area walkway. Shown here in Red Maroon from the Purington Brick Co.
Cost: Estimated retail, $7 per square foot uninstalled.
For more info: www.historicalbricks.com
Photo: Gavin Historical Bricks
Simplistic Charm
With the renowned durability of interlocking pave stones, Holland Stone by Pavestone offers the charm of a simpler paver style. Molded from no-slump concrete and offered in a series of color blends or solids, you can create an architectural design by mixing palettes within your pattern. Holland Stone is available in Standard, Parkway™ (non-chamfered edges), Provencial™ (smooth) and Heritage™ (tumbled) finishes. Suitable for driveways, patios, terraces, garden pathways, pool decks and roof gardens.
Cost: Prices vary depending on region
For more info: www.pavestone.com
Photo: Pavestone
Honed and Unified
Pool areas, as well as sidewalks and pathways can get an extra lift by adding some good ol’ Hollywood glam with Marbella Shellstone. Seen here is the design “Honed & Unfilled.” (Honed means that the face of the item is smoothed out. Unfilled means that the stone will have small holes and pores on the surface giving it a more rustic appearance.) As a weatherproof material with one of the lowest heat absorption rates compared to any other natural stone, it is also frost proof which means that it won’t fault due to freezing conditions outside. A natural stone that is quarried from areas once covered by sea life, you’ll find all sorts of shells, coral and fossils embedded into the pavement. Here are 18″x18″ Marbella Shellstone Pavers, Marbella Shellstone Tiles (cut down to make stair treds) and Marbella Shellstone Wall Caps. All pavers have a sandy-beige tone consistency.
Cost: 18″x18″ Marbella Shellstone Pavers $4.80 per square foot, 18″x18″ Marbella Shellstone Tiles at $3.70 per square foot; 12″x12″ Marbella Shellstone 3-Side Bullnose Wall Cap at $20.50/per piece.
For more info: www.ShellstoneImports.com
Photo: Shellstone Imports, Inc.
Reclaimed Cobblestone
Sometimes it’s good to look old. In this case, you can date yourself — and your house — at least 200 years by recreating the look of the nation’s most historic cities. Old European Granite Cobblestones uses beautiful cobbles that were once used as ship ballasts on boats traveling from Europe and repurposed to pave the streets of the new land. They feature worn rounded tops and brilliant color ranges. These aren’t reproductions but the real deal and will most definitely have your neighbors green with envy, The cobblestones are uniform in width and depth and have random lengths providing a stunning Old World look. Colors include grey, purple and salt and pepper.
Cost: Estimated retail, $15 per square foot uninstalled.
For more info: www.historicalbricks.com
Photo: Gavin Historical Bricks
Embossed Appearance
Plaza Stone by Pavestone is a timeless paving stone with an impressionistic embossed surface profile. It creates a gentle and warm effect by combining the soft curved edges of the rectangular and square stones. Available in many colors and in Standard or Heritage™ Series with a worn “tumbled” finish to give an old-world look. In addition, the stone can be arranged in large scale patterns to create interest and drama to any landscaping. It is suitable for driveways, entrance areas, sidewalks and more. Available in eight sizes.
Cost: Prices vary depending on region.
For more info: www.pavestone.com
Photo: Pavestone
Stamped Perfection
Pavers aren’t the only option when it comes to realizing your dream of that perfect backyard oasis. Decorative concrete has a long history of being an attractive, durable and cost-effective alternative to pavers. For the perfect look, this concrete can be colored and either broom finished, textured or stamped in a wide variety of ways.
The concrete patio shown here was poured and stamped using an English Yorkstone pattern and colors from L. M. Scofield Co. The concrete was colored prior to the pour with CHROMIX® Admixtures for Color-Conditioned® Concrete. The color, Summer Beige, is one of many Earth colors available. After the concrete has been poured and troweled, the stamp tools are dusted with LITHOTEX® Antiquing Release (to prevent them from sticking) and then laid on top of the plastic concrete in an interlocking pattern. The antiquing release comes in many colors, in this case Pecan Tan, and adds depth to the low areas of the pattern and reveals the natural nuances of the stamp tool. The end result is a beautiful hardscape that you can enjoy for years to come.
Cost: Ranges from $8 – $12 per square foot installed.
For more info: www.scofield.com
Photo: L.M. Scofield Co.
Snazzy Pool
Decorative Concrete is a favorite choice for pool decks and patio/barbeque areas, providing the homeowner with many interesting variations in color and texture. Concrete doesn’t mind getting wet, and by using lighter colors you can create a cooler surface for bare feet. Additionally, the texture of certain concrete patterns help provide slip resistance around the pool.
Because decorative concrete can be custom created to match any color scheme you’re working with, the contractor for this picture matched the concrete with the home’s stone veneer using LITHOTEX® Pavecrafters Stamping Tools and integrally colored concrete. Then, the stamp tools were dusted with a different color release agent. Even the cantilevered coping around the pool is colored and stamped concrete! For added detail, random stones in the pattern were stained by hand to match the colors in the home’s walls.
Cost: Cost: Ranges from $8-$12 per square foot installed
For more info: www.scofield.com
Photo: L.M. Scofield Co.
Smooth Stone
Hanson Hardscapes’ line of architectural stone tiles strikes a balance between highly detailed natural stone surfaces and the quality and consistency of a manufactured product. Seen here is NaturalCast Valentia, which is manufactured a bit differently than stone, giving it a higher level of detail and more size variations. The product comes in a variety of warm colors and natural textures and can be used to cover large or small surface areas, from driveways to decks and patios to create a unique and luxurious ambiance.
Cost: Product (only) cost ranges from $2.50 – $6 per square foot. Installation ranges from $10 – $14 per square-foot or more residential installations depending on the level of detail, site access and product cost.
For more info: www.hansonhardscapes.com
Photo: Hanson Hardscapes
Rocky Road
Feeling nostalgic? Add wandering walkways to your landscaping with Old World Cobble from Hanson Hardscapes. These pavers look like natural cobblestone, but are really made from plain concrete. The product comes in nine different pre-cut shapes which makes installing easy because there is no cutting.
Bonus: Larger joints means it is also a permeable pavement which allows the water to pass through the pavement surface. In other words, it recharges the ground water as nature intended.
Cost: Product (only) ranges from $2.50 – $6 per square foot. Installation ranges from $10 – $14 per square-foot or more depending on the level of detail, site access and product cost.
For more info: www.hansonhardscapes.com
Photo: Hanson Hardscapes
Special Symmetry
Get the entrance you’ve always wanted with interlocking concrete pavers that look like brick. Made of highly compressed concrete, they are manufactured in a press, making them three to four times stronger than regular concrete. Highly recommended for busy traffic areas like walkways, patios and driveways, this material is appropriate in any climate because it can flex and move with earthquakes and freeze-thaw cycles.
There are nine patterns available ranging from Diamond Run to Venetian Parquet and nine colors ranging from Tuscany to Santa Barbara Sandstone. Shown here is the Symmetry Stone design in the Venetian Parquet Pattern.
Cost: Cost: $15 per square-foot installed
For more info: www.genesisstoneworks.com
Photo: Genesis StoneWorks
Antique Cobblestones Revisited
Walk in style up to your front door with this interlocking line called Antique Cobblestones, manufactured by Angelus Block. Available in six color blends, the pavers can be used on driveways and patios, as well as pathways. Seen here in rich colors of Terracotta brown, and several crème charcoal blends, the look is elegant and inviting. Created from highly compressed concrete they are also available in three patterns: Herringbone, Combination Herringbone, and Random I Pattern, all suitable for the home.
Cost: $15 per square-foot installed
For more info: www.genesisstoneworks.com
Photo: Genesis StoneWorks