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" Pavers are the true building blocks of landscape design. Placed piece-by-piece into driveways, patios, and pathways, these elements add beauty and function to a home&amp;#039;s exterior. And they require far less upkeep than a lawn or garden. Early spring is the perfect time to implement a paving project. The ground in most parts of the country will be thawed, and since it&amp;#039;s the beginning of the season, returning grasses and plants won&amp;#039;t get trampled while you work. Plus if you want to hire out the job, contractors will be easier to book now than at the height of summer. Begin the process by choosing the paver. In the chart opposite, we compare the materials most readily available at stoneyards\u2014brick, cobblestone, concrete, flagstone\u2014and introduce an eco-friendly alternative: recycled rubber. Once you&amp;#039;ve selected the look you want, think about durability and performance, such matters as how much weight the paver can withstand and how slippery it is when wet. Installation will be similar across the board; depending on type, pavers are either permanently mortared in place with cement or, more often, &amp;quot;dry laid&amp;quot; in a bed of compacted sand. Many also need edging treatments\u2014metal tracks or heavy blocks of stone\u2014to prevent shifting. Though maintenance for all types of pavers is minimal, there are some differences worth noting. For instance, only certain pavers can be safely cleaned with a power washer. Which ones? Read on.  BRICK $2.50 to $20 per square foot Finely ground clay and shale blended with water, molded into shape, and kiln-fired. Appearance: Looks best in traditional settings. Size is generally limited to 2 1/4-by-4-by- 8-inch rectangles. Coloring varies from dark brown to charcoal red; these tonal variations can enhance the project&amp;#039;s overall design. Commonly applied to patios and walks. Most projects are mortarless. Performance: PROS: Built-in spacer nibs yield consistent joints for a tight fit. Strong, so won&amp;#039;t crush under the weight of vehicles. Low water absorption minimizes cracks during freeze-thaw cycles. CONS: Square-edged pavers can chip easily during installation. Slippery when wet, so not recommended for pool areas. Pavers are not always of equal size, resulting in a slightly irregular pattern. Performance: Scrub stains with stiff-bristled brush and all-purpose cleaner a few times a year; avoid power washers. Remove moss as needed with a three-to-one solution of water and bleach. Shovel snow.   COBBLESTONE $6 to $8 per square foot Hefty blocks of granite rough- cut from larger, quarried slabs of the igneous rock. Appearance: Old-world aspect suits stately properties. Sizes range from 4-inch squares to 4-by-8-inch rectangles. Grayish-white in color; may have flecks of pink, yellow, or black. Often used as a border or as an accent band at one end of a driveway. Projects tend to be mortared. Performance: PROS: The strongest paving material, cobblestones can withstand any degree of traffic and weight. Virtually indestructible and guaranteed to last at least a lifetime. CONS: Surface is bumpy, so not good for footpaths. Professional installation is recommended, as the stones are heavy, have uneven edges, and lack built-in spacer nibs. Maintenance: Scrub dirt with stiff-bristled brush and all-purpose cleaner a few times a year; avoid power washers. Treat tough stains with solutions formulated for granite. Its rough surface traps dirt, so sweep regularly. Shovel snow.   CONCRETE $2.50 to $25 per square foot A mixture of sand, gravel, and cement blended with water and injected into molds. Appearance: Complements most types of architecture. Comes in many sizes and shapes. Pigments add color; faux brick available. Some feature an exposed aggregate, such as beach pebble or oyster shell. Ideal for driveways, patios, pool decks, and walks. Most projects are mortarless. Performance: PROS: Built-in spacer nibs result in consistent joints for a tight fit. Strong, so won&amp;#039;t crush under the weight of vehicles. Low water absorption minimizes cracks during freeze-thaw cycles. CONS: Color may only be surface- deep, so if a chip or crack occurs, gray base concrete can show through. Opt for &amp;quot;color-through&amp;quot; pavers to avoid this. Maintenance: Scrub with stiff-bristled brush and all-purpose cleaner a few times a year; avoid power washers. Sweep pavers that have rough textures often. Shovel snow.   FLAGSTONE $6 to $10 per square foot Thin slabs of sedimentary or metamorphic rock, including limestone, sandstone, and slate. Appearance: With its blue, green, and brown tones, flagstone works well in country environments. The large, flat slabs are either &amp;quot;regular&amp;quot; (rectangles and squares, 12 by 28 inches to 24 by 36 inches) or &amp;quot;irregular&amp;quot; (random shapes, 12 by 18 inches). Ideal for walks. Projects can be mortared or mortarless. Performance: PROS: Individual pavers are heavy\u2014they can be 100 pounds or more\u2014so they&amp;#039;ll stay put without an edging treatment. Thin, so can be laid with wide gaps in between to facilitate water drainage. CONS: Not durable enough for drive-ways. Depending on type, may flake after a decade. Slippery when wet, so not recommended for pool areas. Professional installation recommended. Maintenance: Scrub stains with stiff-bristled brush and all-purpose cleaner a few times a year. Stubborn stains can be safely removed with a power washer. Shovel snow.   RUBBER $4 to $9 per square foot Tires ground up into tiny particles and molded into assorted shapes and sizes; pigments add color. Appearance: Synthetic look is perfect for ultramodern homes or where safety trumps style; commonly used underneath playsets or on walkways. Sizes and colors range from 9-inch hexagons in black, red, tan, and green to 36-inch-square faux-brick tiles. Projects are mortarless. Performance: PROS: The forgiving nature of the material protects against injury from falls. Recycled. Slip-resistant. Absorbs sound. Most brands are durable enough for driveways. Tiles snap together or are installed with adhesive, so no edging treatment required. CONS: Sharp objects can puncture the surface. Colors will fade in just a few years in traffic-heavy areas. Maintenance: Scrub stains with stiff-bristled brush and all-purpose cleaner a few times a year. Stubborn stains can be safely removed with a power washer. Touch up torn areas with paints formulated for rubber. Shovel snow.  For more information view April 2006 Resources "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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