Paving
We’re excited about the future of paving in Aotearoa New Zealand. It wasn’t long ago that our paver choices were limited to a handful of basic styles. Now our options are only limited by our imagination.
Design options:
— Natural stone pavers
— Manufactured pavers
— Texture and finish
— Edging pavers
— Feature paving
Natural stone pavers
Pavers made from natural stone are a cut above the rest. In Aotearoa New Zealand we have access to a variety of stone from all over the world, including our own back yard.
Popular natural stone paving types include Granite, Sandstone, Quartzite, Basalt and Bluestone.
They come in all different shapes and sizes. Regardless of the type of stone you choose, no two pavers are the same.
Manufactured pavers
The options for manufactured pavers are almost limitless. The process of creating pavers from concrete is called wet-casting.
Concrete pavers are incredibly versatile and can be made in almost any colour, size, shape, texture and finish.
As well as concrete, the pavers can contain colour pigments and stones or aggregates.
These pavers are sustainable and because they’re manufactured in New Zealand, their carbon footprint is usually lower than natural stone paving.
Texture and finish
Pavers are cut or finished in many different ways. Some popular finishing options include exposed aggregate (where the tiny stones that are added to the concrete mixture during manufacture are exposed on the surface to make them stand out), non-slip (where sand is added to the surface to give it a grippy texture), polished or honed (where the paver surface is machine ground, sanded and buffed to take away the top layers, leaving a very smooth, polished surface) and smooth (which normally refers to the natural smoothed surface of the manufactured paver).
Depending on the composition of the paver, they can sometimes be acid washed (to give it a deep thorough clean) or sealed (to protect it from stains and the elements or give it a glossy, rich finish).
Grout is the compound used to fill the gaps between the pavers. It comes in many different colours and can be used to complement or contrast the pavers.
Edging pavers
Pavers are often used to frame, define and edge.
When used to frame a concrete or asphalt driveway or pathway, they give the area a finished or defined effect.
When used to frame a lawn, they give it a finished look and also make maintenance easier by containing the edges and providing a level surface for the lawnmower.
Many pavers can also be made or cut into a bullnose, which is a shape applied to edge of the paver. This is done when the edge of the paver is intended to be exposed, such as on steps, wall caps and around pools.
Common bullnose shapes are round, pencil arris, square edge arris, chamfered edge, and drop face.
Feature paving
Feature pavers can add a point of difference to any landscaping.
Popular feature pavers include schist (pictured), cobblestones, sets or split top sets.
Feature pavers can be laid in concentrated areas, in mosaic patterns, randomly, geometrically, linearly, or in borders.
Some pavers have permeable or semi-permeable surfaces that allow natural stormwater drainage and in some cases allow hardy grasses to be grown between.
Explore more landscape design options
See paving in our projects
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steps | pergola | paving | walls | fences | gardens | ...
Miramar
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paving
Mount Victoria
Wisdom
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