Pavement Materials

There a many different types of paving materials that one can utilize in an outdoor space. They include but are not limited to:

• Gravel: Available in many sizes, shapes and colors, gravel is an inexpensive material that is often used in small garden paths, nature trails and parking lots. As an impervious surface, allows runoff to percolate into the soil without having to install drainage pipes and inlets. It is an ecologically friendly material. However, there are drawbacks in using gravel. Because of it being a loose surface, it requires the use of metal edging, concrete or other edging materials to keep it contained. If disturbed by frequent use, it often scatters beyond its boundaries, requiring regular maintenance. Other disadvantages include the inability to use the surface on slopes because of its likely-hood in being washed out and if improperly compacted may cause difficulties in walking or maneuvering on.

• Unit Pavers: Stone, brick and tile are examples of unit pavers. One of the most expensive paving materials, stone, is a very diverse material with a number of geological origins and is available in many sizes, shapes, and earth tone colors. Stone types include fieldstone, riverstone, cobblestone and flagstone.

  Fieldstone: Stone found at or near the earth’s surface in individual pieces. Irregular and varying in size, fieldstone is difficult to fit together and is not a good pavement material unless a naturalistic, irregular surface is desired.

  Riverstone: Riverstone is generally round and smooth by the forces of running water. It is commonly found in aggregates to provide textural contrast.

  Cobblestone: Similar to riverstone in its roundedness and origin, cobblestone is larger and more flat. It was used historically as pavement; however it is difficult to walk on. It is commonly found in aggregate to provide textural contrast.

  Flagstone: Flagstone is any stone that is layered, allowing it to be split into thin slabs and is quarried. Slate and bluestone, which are types of flagstone, can be cut into many regular and irregular shapes and used in a multitude of patterns. Being a relatively smooth surface, flagstone can be used in formal and naturalized settings. Flagstone can be installed on a flexible base of sand or gravel, making the pavement permeable or be installed on a non-flexible base such as concrete.

  Another type of unit paver is brick. Different from gravel and stone,brick is a manufactured paving material that is produced from molded clay that is fired in a kiln. Aesthetically, brick provides a warmer appearance than stone. Often used in combination with concrete, brick softens the appearance of the plain concrete. Due to its standard size, brick can be used in a number of patterns. Brick serves many different functions. It can be used in large spaces, as well as small intimate spaces. It can be used to unify structures within a space, including brick buildings. Similar to flagstone, brick can be installed over a flexible or non-flexible base.

  Lastly, ceramic tile is a unit paver that can be used to satisfy an outdoor space base plane. A type of thin brick, ceramic tile is strong and dense and, unlike brick, is very resilient to freeze/thaw activity. Unlike brick, tile must be installed on a hard smooth base. A disadvantage of tile is that it can be very slippery when wet.

• Adhesive Pavements: Adhesive pavements include concrete and asphalt. Although both materials are not ecologically friendly because of their impermeability, there are many benefits of using these surfaces. The costs of using adhesive pavements are generally less than using stone or brick paving materials, with asphalt being the least expensive. Both are extremely flexible allowing them to be used in many different ways and in varying locations.

Booth, Norman K, Basic Elements of Landscape Design, ( Illinois: Waveland Press, Inc., 1983), p.169.

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