Clay Bricks

Whereas standard building bricks often have core-fill holes, paving bricks are solid. To create bricks, manufacturers mix clay and sedimentary rock, form the mixture into bricks, dry the bricks and subsequently bake, or "fire," the bricks. Brick shapes vary from the traditional, rectangular profile to specially designed, interlocking units. Depending on the variety and origin of the clay, clay brick colors range from earth tones to greens. Surface treatments allow manufacturers to add aesthetic effects, such as intentional "weathering" to achieve an aged look. Clay bricks may be installed with or without mortar and directly over a simple base of sand.

Patio Pavers

The generic term "patio pavers" refers to cement-based paving blocks. Made from a mixture of cement and aggregate, manufacturers pour the paver mixture into prefabricated forms and allow the mixture to harden or "cure." Cement pigments allow manufacturers to offer cement pavers in a nearly endless variety of colors. Patio pavers commonly use earth tones and rounded edges and corners to imitate the appearance of cobblestones. Patio pavers install directly over a base of coarse aggregate and sand, with or without mortar.

Natural Stone

Building materials suppliers generally refer to natural stone paving materials by their cut, not the type of stone. Flagstone refers to thin slabs of natural stone with either a square edge or natural, random shape. The term "Belgian block" usually refers to natural stone cut into the shape of a standard clay brick, and "ashlar" denotes natural stone cut into square blocks or alternative geometric shapes. The types of stone used to create patio paving materials range from slate and limestone to granite and marble. Builders often install natural stones over a dry base of aggregate and sand and fill joints with either sand or mortar. Natural stone materials are generally more expensive than cement or clay products.

Glass Pavers

Manufacturers melt and mold recycled glass into individual paving blocks to create a building material that is figuratively and often literally "green." Glass pavers appear as both translucent, solid glass units or terrazzo-like mixtures of recycled glass and binders. Manufacturers typically shape recycled glass pavers into square or rectangular shapes. Glass pavers may be used to construct an entire patio floor or simply scattered throughout an installation as accent tiles.