How to choose and install pavers for your home

November 25, 2024

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Looking to install pavers for your next outdoor renovation project? You might be wondering what kind of material to use, how to choose a color that won’t clash with your home, and whether this is a DIY job.

Here at PBH Builders in San Diego, we love to see an outdoor renovation project come together with the right paver installation. Here’s our guide to choosing pavers for durability, lifestyle, and your exterior design goals.

First things, first: paver purpose

The biggest consideration in choosing the right pavers is purpose. Are you looking to replace the pathway that leads up to your front door? Then, you’re going to need pavers that can stand a lot of wear-and-tear, such as concrete, brick or natural stone.

Or, if your plan is to install an outdoor kitchen or renovate the area around your pool, then you may want pavers that can tolerate water damage or the occasional spill, such as porcelain.

Here at PBH Builders, we want our work to last for years! So, we always want to install pavers that are most strategic for your use.

Choose your color

One of the things that overwhelms many of our clients is selecting between the range of colors of potential pavers. And there are a few tips that we like to share to make the decision a little easier:

If you want to give off a natural, warm, and rustic feel, stick with light, natural hues such as brick, or sandstone.
If your home’s exterior is more modern and sleek, stick with darker, cool tones, such as slate or black flagstone.
Think about heat retention and radiation. Darker colors will absorb heat, which may make them less-than-ideal for pool areas in very warm climates, but ideal for encouraging snow melt in colder regions
Harmonize with your home. When in doubt, look up! Matching your pavers with the color of your roof tiles or trim will give you a balanced look

Keep an eye on the climate

Your region’s weather patterns can have a big impact on what the best kind of paver will be for your project.

UV exposure, for instance, can make pavers fade over time. So, if you want to install pavers in a very sunny area, you’ll need to invest in sealing to keep them in good condition.

If, on the other hand, you live in a place with harsh winters, porous materials such as brick can absorb water, causing them to expand and crack when the water freezes. You may want to stick with pavers that are more resistant to temperature fluctuations, such as porcelain, concrete, or certain types of natural stone like granite and flagstone.

Choose a pattern

Pattern is a wonderful way to add character and depth to your paver installation. And, when used strategically, it can help guide the eye to areas of your home that you want to highlight, such as your backyard garden or firepit.

Now, there are many different kinds of paver patterns, from herringbone to stack bond to basketweave and more, and each one has its advantages and disadvantages. Running Bond, for instance, can be a long-lasting, beautiful design. But if installed lengthwise on a pathway or driveway, it won’t be as stable as if it’s been installed width-wise.

Our design team at PBH can make some recommendations on pattern selection for your needs and aesthetic!

Keep an eye on the budget

Another big consideration when you install pavers is your project budget. Pavers are a great investment and can serve to increase the property value of your home. But, things can get costly pretty quickly, so you might want to keep the following in mind:

Concrete, brick, and porcelain pavers tend to be the more affordable options. Rubber pavers are another alternative that can help you stay within budget. They’re not as durable as some of the other materials we’ve mentioned in this article, but they are slip-resistant, easy to care for, and shock absorbent.
Natural stone tends to be on the hind end of paver pricing. The final cost can vary widely depending on what kind of natural stone you install, with some of the most luxurious being bluestone, flagstone, and slate.
You may be able to save money with a gravel and paver combo. If you want the look of pavers without the high cost, spacing them out with gravel in between can be a smart money saving technique.
Make sure to factor in the cost of the base and sealant. When putting together your budget, don’t forget that you’ll have to include the price for a base, such as synthetic panels or a sand base, and a finishing sealant. It’s also worth considering how much upkeep a particular paver type will require over time.

Call in the paver pros

Clearly, there’s a lot that goes into paver installation, from choosing the right material to sourcing the pavers at the best price to laying the groundwork and implementing the perfect pattern.

So, you can see why we always recommend calling in a professional team to help with any paver installation project. Here are a few benefits to working with the pros:

We can make recommendations for climate and your home aesthetic. Here at PBH Builders, we’ve worked on many homes in the San Diego area, so we know what pavers work best with our Southern California weather and conditions. We can also help you wade through the many options for materials and color so that your pavers look amazing with your home design.
We can oversee the ordering of materials. Allow us to use our insider experience to source the best quality materials in your budget. We’ll also make sure to arrive on site with all of the other items, from base materials to gravel to excavation equipment, needed for a fast, hassle-free installation.
We’re meticulous with the details. When you call in the pros, you’ll know that everything from the foundation to the pattern design will be high quality and long-lasting. With your artistic vision and our experience, the result will be an outdoor space that you’ll want to spend all your free time enjoying!