Travertine, Marble, Slate, and Limestone provide an unmatched combination of natural beauty, affordability, luxury, and durability for a variety of projects.  Generally these materials come in tiles that range from 3/8’’ to 5/8’’ thick depending on the format, making them excellent options for interior applications as well as exterior applications where there is an available concrete surface to install upon and the tile will not be exposed to freeze-thaw cycles.

Cafe Light Versailles Pattern Tumbled Travertine Pavers

When this is not the case - when the available substrate is dirt, sand, or gravel, or when the climate dictates that additional durability is warranted, there is an alternative that still allows you to capture the natural beauty of these options:  Natural Stone Pavers and Flagstone.

Golden Sienna Versailles Pattern Tumbled Travertine Pavers

Natural Stone Pavers

Pavers are available in many of the same stones, sizes, and colors as regular tile, but are far more durable in the face of the elements and far more flexible from an installation standpoint.  This durability stems from their thickness, which is usually in the proximity of 1.25’’ (3 cm) depending on the material. 

Materials such as Travertine, Marble, and Limestone also tend to have matching Pool Coping options available in either a 3 cm or 5 cm thickness, allowing you to coordinate entire outdoor areas with the beauty and durability of natural stone.  Travertine in particular, due to its natural level of porosity, is an extremely attractive option for hot and arid climates.  It has the unique ability to stay cool to the touch in the face of continuous exposure to heat and sunlight.  The textured surface for many natural stone pavers possesses a non-slip quality that makes them excellent options for safe poolside and outdoor environments.

Natural Stone Pavers and Pool Coping are generally available in sizes ranging from 24x24 all the way down to 6x12, and include unique formats such as 12x24 and many varieties of Versailles Pattern. 

Noce Versailles Pattern Tumbled Travertine Pavers

Flagstone

If you are looking for an often even more cost-effective outdoor option that still offers all of the beauty and benefits of natural stone, Flagstone may be a great option for you.  Flagstone is available in several sizes and thicknesses, but due to the random nature of the material these guidelines are much more general than with the Natural Stone Paver options previously discussed.

Ocean Green Large Random Slate Flagstone

 Also known as Random Flagging, Flagstone is commonly constituted of Limestone, Slate, Sandstone, or Quartzite.  Each of these four options offers a different set of aesthetic characteristics:  Limestone tends to be more similar to Travertine, offering lighter color schemes and a more consistent, slightly textured surface.  Slate provides wildly variant color schemes including blues, golds, earth tones, and darker color options that range all the way to the blacks and charcoals of the color spectrum.  It has a characteristic layered and clefted appearance that differentiates it from its Limestone, Sandstone, and Quartzite brethren.  Quartzite is the most similar to Slate, but is denser and offers a crystalline quality that makes it a very popular product for tropical climates.  It offers beautiful color schemes that possess moderate variation and unique color pairings, such as blue with pink, but generally don’t swing quite as wildly as Slate.  The crystalline quality also changes the aesthetic from a color perspective, bringing tones such gunmetal silver to the table.  Sandstone is more similar to the Limestone than it is to the Slate and Quartzite options and has a more limited selection, but offers color options that the others don’t, such as a very consistent deep red material (Morning Glory).   

These options can turn any exterior environment into the outdoor area you’ve always wanted.  Take a look at our selection of Natural Stone Pavers and Flagstone and let us quote your project today!

Bluestone Full Color Landscape Pavers - Squares and Recs Layout (Please Inquire)