How to Pick a Patio Paver

Research the types of pavers that are best for your climate and landscaping environment. For example, terracotta may look pretty, but if you live in a rainy area, tiles can crack in a short time and require replacement. A cement or stone paver will help avoid erosion and reduce maintenance needs for re-grouting and replacing pavers. Get recommendations from your local county extension office or botanical garden about paver materials for your climate.

Make a plan based on how the patio will be used. If you intend to sit outside and enjoy coffee or tea, you can make a simple, small patio with ready-made interlocking pavers. However, a large patio for outdoor grilling and dining requires a sturdy flagstone or brick paver to accommodate the weight of barbecue grills, patio furniture and people.

Select pavers that will match your home and landscape style. Choose cobblestones for a country cottage. Use flatter paver materials such as flagstone in gradient shades of gray or brown for a contemporary-style home. Prefabricated cement pavers in red or neutral colors such as gray or beige can accent a brick house.

Consider the type of grouting the pavers will require. Sand or gravel are commonly used for a sweep-in grout. Grass can sometimes work effectively for a small space patio on level ground. However, you must consider your soil and climate conditions. In an area that receives lots of rain, sand can become dislodged and make the pavers unlevel. A more permanent grout, such as Portland cement, will be required.

Research the requirements for compacting underlying soil and the need for a base of substrate material such as pulverized gravel. This can add to the cost of your paver project. For example, if you install flagstone pavers, the soil must be very tightly compacted, and a gravel substrate base of 3 to 4 inches added and leveled prior to laying the flagstone.

Save money by doing the project yourself. Get itemized estimates from rock and stone suppliers and garden centers, including an estimate on installation costs, so you'll get an idea of what you can save. There may be certain aspects of the project that you subcontract--such as leveling the ground and compacting the substrate--and others that you do yourself, such as laying the pavers and grouting. The savings may allow you to upgrade from cement pavers to flagstone, or to increase the size of the patio.