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What are the Different Types of Garden Paving Stones?

Autumn Rivers
Autumn Rivers

Pavers can add both style and functionality to a garden, and there are various types to choose from. One of the most popular types of garden paving stones is the natural kind, which is durable but costly. A compromise to this type can be reconstituted stones, which are a mixture of natural stone and manmade concrete. Of course, there are also stones made entirely out of concrete, which resemble natural stones without the high price. All of these come in several shapes, colors, and sizes so that the garden can be customized quite easily.

Many people prefer to keep their garden looking natural, which is why they might add garden paving stones that are actually made of stone. These are known for being durable, low maintenance, and resistant to the absorption of heat. On the other hand, they are usually expensive and cannot safely endure as much weight in comparison to concrete. The main types available include flagstone, which is a thin slab of stone that is often found in landscapes, and bluestone, which is a kind of sandstone that is typically thick and rectangular; of course, there are also a wide variety of more exotic stones available as well, for those willing to spend extra.

Moss growing between cobblestone pavers in a garden.
Moss growing between cobblestone pavers in a garden.

Some people cannot afford natural stone, but want at least some of the benefits of it, so they opt for reconstituted garden paving stones. This material is made of concrete and stone, and often looks much like natural stone once installed, though each slab is not as unique, and the colors do not usually stay vibrant for as long. The benefits of this type of stone include low cost, easy installation, and a consistent texture that makes it unlikely to crack. It can be found in many shapes and sizes, allowing users of garden paving stones like this type to have more variety when adding decorative yet practical features to their landscape.

Garden paving stones made completely of manufactured concrete may appear less natural than stone, but are typically much more affordable. In fact, concrete pavers can be easily dyed different colors, which means that they can be made to blend in with the surrounding area if colored the right shade. For example, dyeing them blue, grey, or brown can make them look similar to bluestone. Concrete garden paving stones are also easy to install, especially since they are usually sold in separate pieces. This kind of material is also known for being strong, low maintenance, and resistant to inclement weather, allowing concrete pavers to last a long time despite their cheaper price.

Discussion Comments

julies

@golf07-- My husband and I made our own concrete pavers and we saved ourselves a lot of money. My husband has poured concrete for a living for years, so he knew what he was doing as far as the concrete goes.

We bought our own molds and decorated them to fit in with the decor of our house. I also made some of my own garden stepping stones to put in my flower garden.

These were also very easy to do, and it was a fun project to work on my with 10 year old niece. As far as low cost and durability, I don't think you can go wrong using concrete to make your own garden pavers.

golf07

When I started looking at the paving stones prices in the hardware store, I immediately started thinking about making some myself.

Has anybody ever made their own pavers? Is it something you recommend to someone who dosen't have a lot of money to spend on traditional pavers?

bagley79

One thing that sold me on spending the money on interlocking paving stones was how long they were supposed to last. We were told they should last for at least 30 years, with very little maintenance.

I figured for something to last that long, it would be worth some investment. Another thing that turned out to be really great for us was we had to disassemble them because of dirt work that needed to be done.

By the time it was all done, you couldn't even tell. They were able to disassemble and put them back together without looking like you had torn up the yard. I definitely think they were worth the money we paid for them.

John57

When we were looking at all the different patio paving stones, I was surprised there were so many choices available. Cost made it pretty easy to narrow down our choices though.

While I love the look of natural stone, it was outside of our budget. We ended up going with something that was more the middle of the road, and was a combination of concrete and stone.

I have been pleased with our choice and think the pavers are very visually appealing, and I love that they don't take any maintenance once they are installed.

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    • Moss growing between cobblestone pavers in a garden.
      By: Alex Petelin
      Moss growing between cobblestone pavers in a garden.