Concrete Pavers Guide

Slate is a natural sedimentary stone made up of a variety of minerals that coalesce over time into the stone material. Layers and layers quartz, clay, ash, and other substances lay on top of each other, and over millions of years these layers hardened and formed very dense slate. Since this material is very hard, it has been used for many years in a variety of construction projects.

Uses of Slate

One use for the material is in slate pavers. Slate pavers come in a variety of colors, shapes, and sizes. Each paver is unique in its combination of these three qualities, as the stone is removed from its natural habitat in the earth. Colors vary from the most popular grey to red, black, brown, blue, green, and other colors. The sizes and shapes of outdoor slate pavers will also vary. Some are irregularly shaped slabs of the material, with varied textures and sizes that can be fit together in a mosaic, used as stepping stones, or laid out in gardens and landscapes. Other slate paving stones are more regularly shaped like their paver cousins (concrete and other natural stone). These can be interlocked like other paver systems; the brick themselves can come in any variety of polygon shape, such as squares, rectangles, octagons, and more. Still others resemble planks of wood – these slate planking pavers can be installed as flooring to provide a unique, elegant, natural look that cannot be replicated. If the standard shapes don’t fit your plan or imagination, you can get the slate cut to your own specifications in order to have your own customized project come to life. All of these various shapes can be arranged in a limitless number of patterns, especially if you mix and match paver shapes.

Different Kinds of Slate Projects

Due to the various slate paver options available, and due to their strength and durability, there are many great uses for the material outside your home. The options range from driveways, walkways, and patios, to special garden or landscape paver installations, to walls, steps, inside and outside fireplaces, and much, much more. The only limitation to their use is your imagination, so consult with a contractor, manufacturer, or designer today to begin exploring ideas. Slate is so versatile that it is used not only outside but also inside the home.

While other options, like concrete pavers and natural paving stones, may be more popular, sometimes slate can add a special look to a home that cannot be captured with other materials. For instance, consider how unique slate patio pavers would look if used in the right way.

Benefits of Slate Pavers

There are some great benefits to installing slate pavers. Of course, like all natural stone they are very strong, durable, and near maintenance free. They will resist fading or weaking due to the effects of weather or to normal wear and tear. (See below for a caveat about this.) Thus they make a great choice for any type of outdoor hardscape installation. In addition, they are relatively easy to install when compared to other pavers, as they can be laid right on top of soil. Other pavers need sand layers underneath in order to protect the bricks from the acidic effects of soil. Thus, the homeowner who has the skills and confidence to lay the patterns of slate desired can save money by installing them alone; however, most homeowners will benefit from hiring a contractor to do the work.

Though they are near maintenance free, some types and colors of slate pavers will do better if they are protected with sealing or a gloss, as the sun can sometimes cause the vibrant color of fresh stone to fade away.

Slate pavers cost will depend on a number of factors, but generally the price of slate paving stones will be less than other natural stone pavers, all labor costs being equal.