Concrete Pavers Guide

One special type of paving slab are riven paving slabs. What does ‘riven’ mean? This simply refers to the surface of the paving slab. When the riven paving slabs are taken out of the quarry, they are split along natural fault lines to give the surface of the flag a somewhat flat but natural look. However, these stones are very uneven and irregular along their surfaces, though they will lay somewhat flat, so this type of stone is best for those looking for the ultimate natural material for their walkway, patio, or other project. Those looking for a more modern look may want to select paving stones (also known as concrete pavers).

There are two main types of riven paving slabs to select. One type is more regular in its thickness, while the other type contains slabs of varying thicknesses. When selecting a proper thickness for your project, you need to consider what kind of abuse and traffic your project will be enduring. The thicker the riven paving flags, the stronger they are. Note as well that these cannot be installed following the usual methods that one would use to install concrete pavers. This is because the slabs are varying thicknesses, and if they were laid on an even bed of sand, the entire project would be an uneven mess. Thus, each slab needs to be laid on its own base of a specific height so that the final product is even and presents no tripping hazards. Like always, a proper sub base must be installed to give the whole project a firm foundation. In addition, sand cannot be used to fill the joints; rather, mortar should be used to hold them together properly.

Because they are of unequal thickness and smoothness, each individual slab must be checked for rocking. Make sure that one can walk on the entire structure without any flag movement. If there is a problem, add some extra base underneath the offending riven paving slab to make it even.