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4 Best Stone Patio Paving Materials

We are fortunate to live in a part of the country where we can enjoy almost all 4 seasons outdoors. Outdoor living space actually comprises almost 40% of our overall landscaping work. In order to accommodate an outdoor living lifestyle, it’s almost always necessary to expand and oftentimes enhance the look of an existing patio. Below we have listed 4 of the best stone patio paving materials used by our North DFW area landscaping company.

Concrete

One of the simplest ways to expand or enhance the look of a patio is through the use of concrete. Whether it’s installed with a simple broom finish or stamped and stained concrete that looks like natural stone, concrete provides a solid and elegant finish to any patio surface.

A concrete patio should be at least 4 inches deep, reinforced with rebar and should never exceed your foundation line. The final installation should maintain a minimum slope to ensure water runs away from the house. The cost of concrete patio installation in the Dallas area tends to be the less expensive option compared to natural stone.

Brick Patio Pavers

While made out of clay or concrete, bricks patio pavers also make an excellent patio material. You can also find concrete pavers made to resemble natural stone.

To install a paver patio, it’s essential to create a sturdy base. You can install a concrete foundation or use compacted decomposed granite or road base to create a solid base.

Once your base is installed, we recommend a 1 inch layer of masonry sand directly on top of the base. This layer of cushion helps to absorb the constant impact of foot traffic and helps to absorb the pressure between the brick and base material.

After the sand, follow by installing your bricks or pavers directly on top of the sand. Make sure they are straight and level with the grade or slope.

Finish your patio by installing a landscape edge restraint system and broom polymeric sand in the joints.

Flagstone

If you’re trying to achieve a more rustic and natural look for your patio space, consider installing flagstone. There are 2 different methods to use when installing flagstone.

The first method is referred as dry-laid flagstone. It involves creating a solid base of compacted, decomposed granite. Once we have 4 inches of compacted base material, we install the flagstone directly on top of the granite base. After installing the flagstone, bring in another 2 inches of granite and compact again.

The second method is referred to as mortared flagstone. We install a 4″ concrete base and adhere the flagstone with mortar or mastic depending on how thick the stone is. Then we mortar or grout the flagstone joints.

Travertine Pavers

Travertine is a form of limestone and can be found in an astounding variety of colors with incredible natural veining.

Travertine stone can be installed using one size paver for a straight symmetrical look or in patterns using a combination of different paver sizes and shapes. Travertine pavers for outdoor installations are typically about 1.25 inches thick as opposed to travertine tile which is less than .5 inch thick and better suited to indoor applications.

Similar to installing stone and paver patios, a travertine patio begins with a 4 inch compacted base either of concrete, decomposed granite or road base material. Follow with 1 inch of masonry sand and then install your travertine pavers. Finish the edges with a wedge of concrete to retain the patio and polymeric sand between the paver joints.

There is no shortage of paving material options for your stone patio and outdoor living space. Depending on your budget and style, you can achieve either the look of a modern brick paver patio with clean symmetrical lines or an authentic rustic patio using natural stonework like flagstone and travertine.