Paving in landscape design & construction

Thought it may be worthwhile doing a writeup of the main questions I get asked about paving.

Paving v decking

Which one should you go for?  Basically it boils down to a couple of considerations ranging from your personal preference to use of space and cost drivers.  If this was a consultation during the design phase I would ask you some questions which could be:

• Which is your preference if this is your dream garden?
• How would you use the space?
• What look or feel do you like?
• Are you worried about costs?
• Do you have young children?
• Do you have pets?
• Are you concerned about maintenance?
• Are you wanting an environmentally sustainable choice?

The answers to the above questions and to others I will ask that are specific to you and your circumstances, will drive the material choice.  For example, as a general rule, I’d recommend decking over paving if you have young children only because some pavers get really hot in summer and if your little ones run around barefoot, their feet will get burnt! However, decking is generally more expensive than paving!  So … there’s a lot of factors like mentioned above that need to be weighed up.

Paver types

If your hardscaping choice ends up being paving, it’s worth to explore the many types of pavers generally available in Melbourne, such as:

• Bluestone
• Granite
• Slate
• Travertine
• Limestone
• Sandstone
• Concrete

Paver finishes

All paver types have different finishes.  It’s worth noting these as you need to be aware of the resulting aesthetics when wet and dry and the what I call the ‘slip factor’.  E.g. you don’t want a slippery finish around your pool!

• Flamed
• Honed
• Blasted
• “Designer finishes”

Paver size and depth

This is important to note also as some pavers have been known to warp in the past so best to discuss with the supplier whether that will happen and how it should be laid.  Yes I know that it’s the landscape contractor’s job to lay the paver but as the client, it’s good to understand the cost drivers behind the paving.  For example, thicker pavers may mean less bedding material but it may increase the labour costs due to cutting and other requirements. So it’s definitely worth doing your research on the material you like the look of!

Pavers are generally available in standard sizes.  Custom sizes are available too but may be slightly more dear.

Types of ‘defects’

When dealing with natural stone, it’s normal to have the following appearances for example:

• lines (unless its a structural defect)
• holes
• cats paws or similar
• efflorescence

Some of my clients worry about these.  If you are, please speak to a stone supplier and research the material a little more to understand its natural characteristic.  In my opinion, these are not flaws but the beauty of the product.   Efflorescence which occurs naturally due to the minerals in the stone and surrounding material, does mar the look of the product over time.  However, with careful planning, this can be treated and the product effectively maintained to manage its occurrence.

Sealing stone

Is it worth sealing natural stone?  Depends on your preference again.  Aside from the cost considerations, what do you like the look off?  There is a difference between the appearance of sealed and unsealed stone (in general).

If you do seal the stone, different seal grades and finishes are available ranging from matt to gloss (again consider the slip factor).  Whatever the finish you go for is worthwhile considering the above and the fact that you need to maintain the seal (and cleanliness of the seal) over the long term (and especially if there’s a guarantee involved) so its not a matter of seal and forget!

Maintenance

Some stones are sensitive to acids, meaning special care should be taken to keep its surface clean of even mild corrosive and staining substances.

Implications for landscape design

As landscape designers, although we need to be aware of these sorts of issues and have discussions with our clients, our drawings are specifically labelled ‘not fit for construction’ in accordance with industry practice as the responsibility for the installation falls onto the landscape contractor to install the material properly.

If you need further suggestions on all or any of the above, contact us for an onsite 90 minute consultation.  We charge $220.00 for the visit and can subsequently quote on implementing the entire transformation for you within your budget.

Refer to our portfolio for examples of how we’ve used paving and natural material in our designs.

Our passion, your garden!