Believe it or not, there's more to choosing the right paver for your project than just picking your favourite colour and shape.
While the look of your pavers is certainly an important consideration, did you know that their depth and the material they are made out of can impact what they can be used for?
Read on to see our answers to some of the most frequently asked paving questions we get here at Midland Brick.
Durable
Pavers are a long lasting product to choose for your area. When they’re laid correctly and are taken care of, pavers will maintain their newly installed finish.
Aesthetic
As they’re available in a range of colours, finishes, sizes, and styles, pavers are a great choice if you want to create a nice outdoor home style.
Appropriate for many locations
Pavers can be used in many outdoor spaces, such as:
- Patio or alfresco areas
- Pool areas
- General walkways / paths
- Driveways - both commercial and residential
Some are permeable to water
If the area you’re paving is prone to flooding, permeable pavers could be a solution to consider as they’re designed to encourage water to filter through the pavement surface to the ground below.
This allows for fast draining, and can ease the pressure on stormwater systems.
Learn more about the benefits of permeable paving.
If your paving project will be carrying pedestrian traffic only (for example, a backyard patio or pool area), 40mm pavers are a suitable solution.
For projects requiring additional strength to hold light vehicles (i.e. residential driveways), most 50mm or 60mm pavers will be sufficient for this job.
Please take note though that while many 50mm pavers can be used for residential driveways, most councils require pavers to be at least 60mm or more in depth for the crossover (the bit of driveway between the boundary of your property and the curb).
Our recommendation is to check with your local council before purchasing your pavers if the project will include the crossover.
For large commercial works such as roads, car parks or buildings, consider pavers over 60mm in depth to ensure they can withstand the weight, wear and tear they will be subjected to.
It’s not a myth! You usually need at least a 60mm paver , especially for the crossover.
Of equal importance is the sub-base laid before the pavers. While not always required for foot traffic areas, if your pavers are to be used for a driveway, correctly preparing the site is essential to ensure you do all you can to minimise rutting (sinking), paver movement and other damage.
There are pros and cons for both types of pavers.
The colour in clay pavers is fired in during the production process, so they will not fade and they can be more resilient when it comes to cleaning. However, due to the manufacturing process required, clay pavers are usually only available in smaller formats.
Concrete pavers, on the other hand, are available in a variety of sizes and are able to be manufactured in a variety of colours since oxide is used to achieve coloration, but they may weather more so than clay. At Midland Brick, we recommend you seal concrete pavers; this may not be as necessary for clay.
Absolutely!
The most simplified process for laying pavers is:
- Prepare the ground and compact the ground so it’s completely level.
- Spread sand as the final level before paving.
- Start placing your pavers down, making sure to use pavers from every pack. This helps to blend the colours evenly if there are any inconsistencies between paving packs.
- Complete a final compaction and fill all joints with either sand or jointing sand.
- If you’re looking at paving a sloped or irregularly shaped area, it’s best to hire a professional as it’s much harder to achieve a consistent and stable finish.
To read more information on the best way to ensure success when laying pavers yourself, visit our comprehensive guide.
Sealers aren’t needed for every paving type, however we always recommend sealing your concrete masonry pavers. Sealing is especially recommended for concrete pavers to:
- Increase the vibrancy of colour
- Protect colour from weathering due to sun exposure
- Help repel stains
Important tip: If using clay pavers, make sure the sealer you select is suitable, as some sealers are only recommended for use on concrete products.
Explore our range of sealers.
Maintaining your pavers is a simple way to ensure they stay looking new and clean for longer. Our biggest tips for paver maintenance are:
- Make sure your pavers are laid correctly in the first place.
- Seal your pavers to help reduce staining.
- Keep your pavers clean with frequent sweeping and the occasional wash with a garden hose.
- Top up any paving joints that need a little bit of extra jointing sand to stop weeds or pests pushing through.
Find out more about how you can maintain your pavers over time.
Stains on your pavers are common, especially on driveways where they’re exposed to car oil and tyre tracks.
The best way to help reduce stains building up is by sealing them. This creates a protective layer, making it harder for the pavers to absorb stains. Sealer doesn’t prevent all stains, but it does go a long way in reducing them.
There are many patterns to choose from when deciding on how you’re going to pave your area.
For a driveway, the best paving pattern is the herringbone. This is where pavers are laid at 90 degrees to one another, forming an L shape. This repeating pattern helps to interlock the pavers, creating a stronger bond. The added strength is perfect for driveways supporting heavy vehicles.
Learn more about driveway pavers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are paving seconds, yard specials or factory second pavers, and do you sell them?
Yes, Midland Brick sells all of the above when we have stock available!
Paving seconds, yard specials and factory second pavers are non-standard products and may fluctuate in size, colour and texture, and some may have minor chipping and cracking. hese can be used for cuts and infills. Non-standard products are available from Midland Brick branches only, and we recommend viewing them in-store before purchase.
We recommend that factory second pavers, paving seconds and yard specials are not used for driveways, crossovers or swimming pool surrounds, unless otherwise stated. Please check with your Midland Brick sales advisor prior to purchase.
Does Midland Brick sell cheap pavers?
Absolutely! We have a range of paving options suitable for all budget, including budget-friendly and "cheap" pavers.
Our Masterpave 50 range of classic finish pavers provide an economical option for domestic driveways, paths and alfresco areas. From time to time, we also offer factory second pavers at heavily discounted prices as well. These are non-standard products and may fluctuate in size, colour and texture, and some may have minor chipping and cracking. hese can be used for cuts and infills. Non-standard products are available from Midland Brick branches only, and we recommend viewing them in-store before purchase.
Are there special instructions for paving crossovers and driveways?
Midland Brick recommends the use of a sub-base layer under all segmental brick pavement subjected to vehicular traffic in accordance with accepted engineering principles as referred to in Crossover and Driveway Guide. When paving crossovers you should first contact your local council to ensure you comply with their specifications. In some cases you may be entitled to a rebate from your local council.
Download the Crossover and Driveway Guide
Download the How to Lay Pavers Guide
What type of sand should I use for paving?
There are two types of sand generally used for paving in WA - bedding sand and joint filling sand.
Bedding sand
Bedding material should be well graded clean sand. A well graded concreting or plasterer's sand is considered suitable. Salt attack is a potential problem with some clay and masonry paving and the capillary break provided by the bedding sand is essential. Fatty sands, loams or packing sands are not suitable.
Joint filling sand
Joint filling sand should be clean, sharp, well graded and finer than bedding sand with no soluble salts and no excessive fine material. Washed dry white sand is recommended.
How do I remove tyre marks from my clay pavers?
Tyre markings may appear on any type of pavement surface due to tyre compounds, vehicle weight, direction and the action of power steering.
Download Easy Guide to Cleaning
What about paving around salt water pools?
When paving around swimming pools, Bullnose pavers are recommended for use as pool edging. Paving should be protected from salt water with a suitable sealer to a minimum width of 2 metres from the pool edge. Midland Brick recommends sealing both sides of the bullnose paver prior to installation, for best performance.
Midland Brick sells a range of sealers, with options providing different finishes and for different purposes - including sealing pavers around pools. Please ask your Midland Brick sales advisor for more information, or call 13 15 40.
Please note that sealers should be renewed periodically as recommended by the sealer manufacturer. When clay or masonry product is subjected to severe salt attack situations, some deterioration may occur over time.
Does Midland Brick sell sealers?
Yes, Midland Brick does sell sealers suitable for a range of different paving materials (i.e. masonry/concrete or clay) and applications (i.e. around a pool, high traffic). We even sell a non-slip additive that can be mixed with the sealer for use on pavers around pools and water features. Please ask your Midland Brick sales advisor for more information, or call 13 15 40.
Please note that sealers should be renewed periodically as recommended by the sealer manufacturer. When clay or masonry product is subjected to severe salt attack situations, some deterioration may occur over time.
My pavers vary slightly in colour. Is this normal?
Whilst every effort is made to supply pavers consistent with examples, variation will occur naturally within a production run and with each production run of pavers. When ordering pavers, we recommend they are all delivered at the same time to ensure colour consistency, as colours will vary within and between batches. For the best colour results, Midland Brick recommend that you blend your pavers from various packs as you lay.
Download Blending from Packs Guide
What are Handmade pavers?
Handmade pavers are unique to Midland Brick and have been made to appeal to those who favour rustic charm, as each firing creates a very individual look to achieve the traditional character. Handmade pavers feature variations in colour, texture and size. To achieve the desired effect, care is required with blending from several packs. We recommend personal selection of Handmade pavers. A Midland Brick sales advisor will be pleased to help you select pavers for your project.
How do I cut my pavers?
When cutting pavers please ensure they are fully wetted (soaked with water), to reduce the chance of discolouration from cutting slurry entering the product surface. Similarly, ensure all slurry is washed from any cut product before laying. To avoid unsightly and hard to remove stains, ensure that no cutting slurry falls on surface of product already laid.
It is also very important that you use the correct personal protective equipment (PPE) when cutting bricks or pavers.
Download Information on Cutting Pavers
What thickness pavers should I use?
The area which you are paving will determine what thickness paving you will need.
If you are paving pedestrian areas, such as patios, courtyards, footpaths, pool areas and side areas you can use any paver thickness, however you can save money if you choose from our selection of 40mm pavers, such as those from our large format range of paving (Promenade Classic and Granite and Stylestone). 40mm pavers will help you save money and are perfect for these pedestrian only areas.
If you are paving a driveway or area where vehicles (excluding heavy commercial vehicles) will be driving on your paving, you will require a 60mm paver. The extra thickness of our 60mm pavers ensure they are strong enough to withhold the weight of vehicles and will not crack.
If you are paving an area where heavy commercial vehicles may be driving on, such as trucks, then you may require a thicker paver such as our 76mm Roadpave clay paver or a paver from our commercial paving range. For best advice it is recommended you discuss these options with one of our sales advisors, or call 13 15 40.
To find out more about Midland Brick pavers, view our range online, call 13 15 40 to speak to a member of our Customer Service team, or visit us in store.