Paving Options:

From Clay to Beyond
The choices in paving materials range from genuine clay paving products — also known as brick pavers — to concrete products (poured, stamped or brick-shaped), natural stone products such as flagstone, and tile products like slate. Some are more appropriate than others for certain areas, and, of course, they all have their own unique character. Let's look at the products themselves and see how they compare.

Genuine Clay Pavers
New brick paver products provide countless aesthetic choices, while still offering the time-honored durability of a product that's been around for, literally, thousands of years. Genuine brick pavers, made from a blend of clay and shale, are dried and fired at nearly 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit, making them so strong that they can withstand loads exceeding 12,000 pounds per inch.

The rich, lasting color of clay pavers is one of the biggest aesthetic benefits of the product. Because the color is inherent to the clay — not added as an artificial dye or pigment — it will never fade. And because the colors are natural earth tones, they blend seamlessly into any outdoor landscape. Indeed, what could be a more natural ground covering than a product made from the earth itself.

Although the colors of genuine clay pavers are all naturally occurring earth tones, Mother Nature is quite generous with her palette. Pavers range from the lightest buff to the darkest charcoal and deepest chocolate. A variety of traditional reds and more subtle pinks are also available. Clay paver colors can even reflect minerals — like iron — found in clay and shale deposits, giving them strong, metallic undertones.