If you are looking to refresh your outdoor entertaining area, the best place to start is from the ground up. Pavers, for instance, not only are the perfect starting point for sprucing up your backyard but they also create a solid foundation. It also helps that pavers are easy to install and can be turned into an interesting DIY project. Paving is also an excellent opportunity to put your creative skills on display.

In this blog, Adbri Masonry Brand Ambassador Jason Hodges shares his favourite DIY friendly paving patterns and also offers a few tips to get you going with your project.

“For variety, style and impact for your home, the flexibility that pavers provide is hard to beat. With any one paver, you can create four to six different paving pattern styles, allowing you to find the right match for your home,” explains Jason.

Jason also advises that colour and texture are important considerations when selecting your pavers. “Consider which paving colour will best complement your existing space by matching them with roof tiles, guttering, bricks or render.”

Jason’s paving tips

When laying a paver, it’s important to leave a 3mm gap between the pavers. Once the pavers are installed, jointing sand is swept over the surface to fill the gaps – this will help prevent rubbing and chipping.

Before you begin your DIY paving job, check whether some of the pavers need to be cut to accommodate the pattern. It’s very likely you may need half pavers to fill gaps, which means you need to rent a brick saw from your local hire shop. Exercise care and caution when you handle the cutting tool – make sure you are wearing the right safety gear. Or engage a tradesman who can do the cutting for you.

Jason’s DIY friendly patterns

Stretcher Bond

One of the most common paving patterns, Stretcher Bond is DIY friendly, requires minimal cutting and leaves very little wastage. It’s a traditional pattern that replicates the classic look of brickwork and can easily hide imperfections.

Stackbond

Recommended for feature spaces such as entertaining areas and patios where the finish needs to be impressive, Stackbond is an excellent paving pattern for large format pavers, and especially in smaller spaces as the pattern can make these areas appear bigger. Yet another DIY-friendly pattern, Stackbond is simple to install - once laid all four corners of the pavers will meet. You just have to make sure that all the lines are straight as this pattern will show up any imperfections.

Herringbone

The Herringbone pattern is a real classic and is making a comeback these days in floor design trends. Herringbone is best showcased with small format pavers that are interlocked at a 90-degree or 45-degree angle. The pattern makes for great first impressions.

Basket Weave

The Basket Weave pattern adds character and dimension to the final paving outcome. A design that complements existing brick surfaces, the Basket Weave pattern can be achieved by simply laying two rectangular pavers the same way each time, swapping in direction every ‘set’ of two pavers and repeating the pattern. When choosing a paving colour, take a closer look at the bricks in your home, as they will be flecked with a few different colours.

Mixed Euro Stone

Mixed Euro Stone is a contemporary take on paving with mixed pavers of different colours and sizes laid to achieve a modern look. Recommended for both residential and commercial applications, the mixed pattern with its colour variations can easily hide any stains as opposed to one solid colour.

Watch the DIY paving pattern video.