Pavers are bricks made from concrete, clay, or other materials that are pre-cut and ready to install in your yard. As patios, driveways, walking paths, or other purposes, they are used as a substitute for pouring concrete slabs that are cumbersome and expensive, and for asphalt that is hot, ugly, and can stain the paint job on the undercarriage of your automobiles. Pavers are durable, lasting thirty years or more with a limited amount of maintenance, easy to install, less expensive than other forms of landscaping or construction, and extremely versatile in its uses. Best of all… pavers are the perfect expression of your creative talent.

Landscaping as a Form of Expression

Many people try to express themselves through the construction of their landscaped yards. From Koi and Goldfish ponds to beautiful flower beds and foliage, there is only so much you can do to let your style come through. Even building your own patio is limiting in the type of materials that can be used. Wood and paint is about the most expressive you can be unless you are using brick pavers. Here’s why…

Pavers are…

• Colorful: Coming in just about any color you can think of, including your favorites, there is no better way to show the world a part of what makes you who you are.
• Sizes: The type of patterns and designs that you can create is largely dependent upon the square footage area you have to work with. Pavers come in several shapes and sizes so that you may use more designs in a limited space.
• Pre-designed Patterns: There are many patterns that are already available to you and these can be found and discussed with your local Pavers trained landscapers or online at various companies.
• Freedom of Creation: One of the greatest things about installing patios, driveways, garden paths, and other projects using pavers is the ability to create any design. Personalizing your project is not only possible… it is encouraged by landscaping companies that love to install pavers. It creates a challenge for them and allows them to improve and grow as a pavers installing company.

Personalization Ideas are infinite

There are so many way in which we can personalize our pavers project that they could never be listed in a post or article simply because they are limitless. However, we can provide a few ideas, and present personalization projects that others have implemented.

• If you have never heard of the Steeler Nation, you have been in hiding for a long time. Pittsburgh Steeler fans love the Steeler emblem and they, along with many other teams’ fans have incorporated their favorite logo into their patio and driveway pavers project for the world to see. They use their team colors and decorate their patios with team furniture and memorabilia as well.
• Star crossed lovers have a habit of letting the whole world know of their intense feeling for one another. The perfect place to do this is in your pavers design. Many people spell out their initials or even inscribe their messages of love using colorful pavers.
• In England, a replica of a person’s favorite Album cover adorns one man’s driveway. While another used a Beetle’s album cover as the inspiration for the design on his pavers retaining wall.  While you probably could not duplicate all of the thousands of details in some album covers, like Elton John’s Captain Fantastic album, you can capture the spirit of it and it would be readily recognized as such.
• Expensive tastes run towards marble or marbleized pavers that are polished to a high, mirror-like finish and create Romanesque theme using pillars and fountains on their patios while others duplicate scale model scenes from their favorite movies such as the patio scene from the mansion on “Scarface” starring Al Pacino.
• Intricate patterns can be made using different sizes and colors. You can create zigzags, stars, or staggered shapes. It all depends upon your imagination and sense of style.
• It’s back to the future as many people prefer styles that reflect years past and styles that “look” old. This antiquated look can be achieved using different types of pavers such as flagstone, sandstone, or even clay. Cobblestone driveways are making a particularly big comeback thanks to this antiquated look that is a throwback to early colonial times when horse drawn wagons were the transportation mode of the day and Olde England, where London was not yet paved but cobblestoned.

The Paver is in Your Court

Now that you have an idea of the enormity of the potential pavers present, what type of pattern or design will you implement on your new pavers project. Is your driveway crumbling and falling apart? Is that wood based patio in need of yet another paint job and replacement wood? Is that drab, railroad tie retaining wall starting to sag or get old to look at? Are you tired of sloshing through the mud or trying to find stepping stones in the gloom of the evening while working in or walking through your garden or flower beds? Your next pavers project could remedy all of these problems for a long, long time to come. Personalize it and make it your own.