1. Product (clay, concrete etc)
You’ve decided to pave your driveway. Now it’s time to decide which product will best suit your needs. Some factors to take into account are:
-
The load-bearing quality of the product – because cars will likely be driving on them.
-
The longevity of the product. – you don’t want to have to re-do the driveway just a few years later!
-
The look and curb appeal – It what you and anyone driving by your house will see everyday so make sure it’s something you love the look of!
Some products are good for a few years like concrete pavers, but over time they tend to lose their colour and deteriorate depending on weather conditions. For the best results, use a quality clay paver. Clay pavers never, ever fade because the colour is the same the entire way through, they also stand up to weather conditions better than just about anything on the marker. (The Colosseum in Rome is nearly 2000 years old and still has the same clay pavers in it!)
All Littlehampton Clay Pavers are suitable for vehicles and rated to last a lifetime. They are hard-fired at high temperatures using natural clay which means the colour never fades and they will last 100-300 years+ (We think they will last longer, but Littlehampton Brick Co has only been making products for 107 years!) They also come in a great range of vibrant colours which look alive and welcoming from day one.
2. Size of the paved area
Now you know what you want, time to work out the size of the area! Most pavers are sold per square metre so knowing your total square metre area needing to be paved is essential. If you are using a professional pavior or bricklayer for the project they will be able to work this out for you. If not, use a measuring tape where possible or a measuring wheel etc. Your local hardware store will have plenty of options!
When ordering your pavers, you may also need to take into account ‘cuts’. Cuts come into account around the edges of the paved areas where the pavers don’t quite fit and need to be cut to size to fit properly. This can vary depending on the paving patter. It’s often not much (~1%) as each paver when cut can often be used twice. Best to check with your paving contractor whether they think any extra product should be ordered.
3. Colour of paver
Time to choose your colour! Choosing a colour for your paver is a fun process, but there are some things to consider, particularly for a driveway:
-
The immediate surroundings. Your pavers will need to suit their immediate surroundings like your home (is it a brick home? rendered?, light? Dark? Red? Grey? Etc) Then there is also the landscaping surrounding the driveway to be considered.
-
The greater surroundings. You should also have a look around your neighbourhood if applicable and see what the colour schemes are locally. You may also see some combinations which work really well and a few which may not. Some neighbourhoods have a heritage look and often use a lot of the same colours to give an overall feel to the area.
-
Contrast or seamless? You may wish to choose your colour of the pavers based on your home colour. For example if your home is a red-brick home you may want to contrast with a dark paver like Littlehampton Mahogany Pavers. Or if your home is a modern grey colour and you would like the driveway to match, then perhaps Littlehampton Ash Pavers would be best suited.
-
Suitability for vehicles. If you’re paving a driveway, chances are that cars will be driving on the pavers regularly. And if you’re using clay pavers then they will be doing so for 100+ years (unless we’re all teleporting around by then!). It’s a good idea to choose a paver colour which will hide scuff marks from car tyres etc. Most clay pavers are great for this, but in a very light colour like Littlehampton Tuscan Paver it may be a factor to consider.
-
You’ve got to love it! Possibly most important is that you love the colour of paver you choose. It’s what you will see everyday when you leave or return home so choose a colour which you love the look of. There are a wide range of colour options to choose from!
4. Pattern of paving
You’ve picked the product and the colour, now it’s time to choose the pattern. This may vary depending on the shape of which product you choose. If you have chosen Clay Pavers the most commonly used patterns are: “Herringbone”, “Stretcher Bond”, “Basket weave” and “Stack Bond” pictured below.
Very often there is also a “header course” or “edging”. This is when around the outside of the main paved area, the pavers are laid in a contrasting, uniform style which creates an ‘edge’ around the paved area. More paving patterns can be seen here.
5. Preparation
Preparation is absolutely essential to the success and longevity of a paving project. There is a saying that “the best houses are built on good foundations” and the same is true for paving. The area underneath the pavers must be prepared to ensure optimal conditions. If you plan to lay the pavers yourself then you can view this helpful guide on how to prepare and lay pavers here. If you are using a professional then it’s best to ask them how they plan to prepare the area and they will most likely be happy to educate you about the process.
6. Choice of professional
If you choose to use a professional for your driveway paving (which we recommend you do) then it pays to do a bit of research before the work is started.
-
How did you find them? Was the pavior referred to you by someone or did you find them another way?
-
Do they have a portfolio of work you can see? Paving contractors often operate in a fairly local area so they should hopefully be able to tell you a few locations you can see their work.
-
References? Ask the contractor if they have a few clients you can call for feedback. You can also check out their reputation online (if they have one)
-
Get multiple quotes. You should always be willing to pay for quality workmanship but it doesn’t hurt to at least get quotes from a few contractors. Then you will see the range of prices and also level of quality you can expect.
We hope you found this information useful. If you have any further questions or would like to know more about our Adelaide pavers you are welcome to contact us on (061) 8 8391 1855 or email sales@littlehamptonbrick.com.au