Paving Laying Patterns

Mixed Size (600-Series) Black Slate Paving

Rio Brazilian Slate contractor pack laid on a terrace overlooking a scenic valley view. Rio Brazilian Slate is a 600-series format contractor pack. As can be seen on this patio, the variation in slab colour is intrinsic to natural stone. Consideration of slab colour selection and where they will be laid to ensure the mix of tones and colours is well blended should always be part of your installation plan. We recommend “dry laying” and numbering stones prior to installation to ensure the right aesthetic.

Mixed Size (600-Series) Light Grey Indian Sandstone

Pavestone Classic Light Grey Indian Sandstone patio paving shown here used in a traditional cottage garden terrace interspersed with planted beds. The paving is a mixed size 600-series format, which allows for flexible laying patterns that allow it to be laid in a manner to accommodate the flower beds and terrain.

Mixed Size (600-Series) Golden Fossil Indian Sandstone Paving

The aesthetic of natural stone is the uniqueness and variation of the colouring and patterns of the stone. Golden Fossil Classic Indian Sandstone is seen here, showing off the colour and tonal range (from light creams through to dark golden honey colours). In addition to the colour and pattern variation, Fossil sandstone is also known for the appearance of fossilised ferns and ammonites (cephalopods) that date back to at least the Cretaceous period (66 million years ago).

Mixed Size (600-Series) Kota Blue Limestone Paving

Kota Blue Limestone comes in a mixed size contractor pack format (600-series), seen here installed on a large garden terrace with dining area. Kota Blue has sawn straight edges, so can be laid with narrow joints to enhance a more contemporary appearance, or use standard joints if a more traditional aesthetic is desired.

Mixed Size (600-Series) Raj Blend Indian Sandstone Paving

Here we can see a great example of a large patio of mixed size Indian sandstone paving in 600-series format. Notice how the installer has placed and mixed the colours, hues and tones of the differing stones to ensure the desired blend appearance of the stone.

Mixed Size (600-Series) Antique Stone Effect Tanners Mill

This 600-series mixed size concrete stone-effect paving is designed to have the appearance of older, time-worn stone. Tanners Mill has a 600 x 450 mm format in the mix of sizes, meaning that it has a different laying pattern from standard 600-series packs, and is a variation on the existing 600-series patterns to accommodate this additional flag format.

Single Size Stretcher Bond – Dolomite Dust Porcelain Paving

Dolomite Dust (1000 x 500 mm) Porcelain Paving seen here laid in a classic stretcher bond. This pattern is the most common used with 2:1 ratio slabs for UK patio installations.

Single Size Stretcher Bond – Regal Summit Sandstone Paving

Regal Summit (750 x 500 mm) Honed Sandstone Paving laid in a stretcher bond pattern on this stylish patio dining area.

Single Size Stretcher Bond – Kadapha Black Limestone

Kadapha Black Limestone (900 x 600 mm) Sawn Paving shown here in a beautiful country garden. The patio has been laid in a traditional stretcher bond laying pattern. Note that these black limestone slabs have not been sealed against UV light. The unseals slabs have been allowed to naturally weathered and mellowed in the sun, where their dark pigments have been bleached by the UV sunlight, to create this soft grey tone.

Single Size Stretcher Bond – Dolomite Dark Porcelain Paving

An elegant vista in this garden of Dolomite Dark (1000 x 500 mm) Porcelain Paving. The slabs have been laid lengthways along the main axis of the patio in a standard stretcher bond laying pattern where each row (columns from this angle) is offset at 50% to the adjacent rows (columns from this angle).

Single Size Stack Bond – Tegel Black Porcelain Paving

A stack bond laying pattern is suited to contemporary aesthetics, where clean lines and an ordered appearance, play into the sense of modernity. In this example we can see Tegel Black (900 x 900 mm), a large format porcelain paving slab, that gives this patio grandeur and scale combined with minimalist sentiments.

Single Size Stack Bond – Calibra Silver Grey Porcelain Paving

In this example of the stack bond laying pattern has been used with Calibra Silver Grey (600 x 600 mm) porcelain paving. As you can see, the stack bond pattern gives this patio a modern, contemporary feel. The matrix/grid like appearance provides an organised and regimented aesthetic.

Single Size Stack Bond – Monviso Grey Porcelain Paving

Utilising a contrasting white grout, here we see 3:2 ratio slabs (Monviso Grey 900 x 600 mm Porcelain Paving) laid in a stack bond pattern around a swimming pool. The gridded layout provides a sleek and minimalist feel that exudes elegance and sophistication.

Single Size Stack Bond – Al Fresco Porcelain Paving

A stack bond patio has a utilitarian quality to it that resonates with modernist/contemporary designs. It is a no-nonsense, straight forward pattern, that provides a uniform and orderly look and feel. Here we see a small patio of Al Fresco 603 x 603 mm porcelain paving, with a breakfast dining area.

Single Size Stack Bond – Granite Carbon Porcelain Paving

Granite Carbon Porcelain Paving (900 x 600 mm) laid on this contemporary/modernist patio in a stack bond pattern. The patio has a steel pergola and uses concrete furniture to help paint the modernist aesthetic we see here.

Contrasting circular and straight paving elements add visual interest and a sense of considered design and care to the aesthetics. Here we see the inner-ring of Light Grey Indian sandstone circle used as a surround for a planter, inset in a stack bond matrix of setts of the same stone.

Here we see a 2-ring circle kit of Buff Indian sandstone with a pencil course border of Fossil setts. The subtle contrast between the lighter Fossil sandstone and Buff allows the overall aesthetic to appear harmonious and cohesive. Circular paving kits such as shown here are a great way to introduce visual appear and features in your patio paving.

This customer paving design sees Abbey limestone paving cut using a bespoke pattern to create a circular step in the middle of a low retaining wall between the patio and lawn terrace.

An elliptical path and a circle cut from Dolomite Slate porcelain paving with a contrast edge course in lighter grey. The serpentine path draws the eye to the feature circle as it curves around the raised bed. The circle has a stylised globe brazier and built-in seating, under seating log storage, and it is back by inset bottles to signal this is an area for drinks!

Custom cuts can make all the difference. Here we see a Raj Blend Indian Sandstone circle that has been extended using custom cuts to make petal shapes to create an eye-catching and beautiful flower patterned paving design.

On this patio, we can see the clever use of pencil inlays of darker contrasting setts to help define spaces and functions within the paved areas, such as the circular seating area. The inlays also help accentuate the elliptical, sweeping curve of the patio, and the care and detail of the paving cuts.

Here we see Pavesett Silver tumbled block paving (a three size 150 mm format series) laid in a classic stretcher bond pattern on this elegant looking driveway. Notice how getting the distribution and mix of the blend of block colours is important to the overall aesthetic.

The curbside appeal of your house can be raised significantly with a well laid driveway. Here we see Pavesett Autumn Brown (a 3-size 150 mm series format tumbled block paving system) laid on a domestic driveway in a stretcher bond pattern with an edge course of contrasting colour using Pavesett Charcoal.

The Tudor Antique Cobble range offers mixed sizes of tumbled sandstone and limestone that can be laid in a variety of patterns. Here the setts have been laid in rows of corresponding width in a stretcher bond manner.

The simplest type of stretcher bond block paving pattern uses a single size block. In this example, we can see Pavesett Silver 200 x 150 mm blocks laid in a stretcher bond laying pattern. They are inset within a larger patio (Abbey sawn limestone) to define a dining area, where the grey block paving contrasts against the golden coloured limestone surround.

For a traditional or period look and feel for your driveway or courtyard, tumbled cobblestones, such as these Old York Sandstone Blocks, are ideal. They have a timeless charm and natural beauty. Here they are laid in a stretcher bond pattern with a triple stretcher edge course.

Tumbled rectangular sandstone blocks laid in a classic stretcher bond pattern, wherein each joint falls offset from joints in other rows to create the “bond”.

If you want a traditional, rustic or period look to your driveway or courtyard, then you may want to shortlist rectangular cobblestone blocks (tumbled setts) and lay them in a classic stretcher bond as shown here, with each row off-set about 50% from the adjacent rows.

Here we see standard driveway paving blocks (2:1 ratio) laid in a traditional herringbone pattern. The chevron pattern not only looks great, but with unbound driveway blocks, it does add a little more of both straight and lateral stability where the blocks interlock.

A driveway laid in a herringbone pattern using 4:1 ratio block paving (Slimsett Anthracite). These Dutch/Flemish style 4:1 ratio blocks, being more elongated than standard driveway paving units, seem to more closely represent the skeleton of a fish that lends itself to the herringbone pattern’s name.

Standard 2:1 concrete block paving laid in a herringbone pattern with a contrast colour edge course that bisects the infill where the path meets the circular centre. The infill of the path section’s herringbone pattern is not true to the edge course, and in fact follows the same line as the circle’s infill / datum point, with the consequent cutting in neatly done to create a harmonious appearance.

Here we see some old Dutch clay paving blocks laid in a herringbone pattern to create a striking visual effect.

A clay brick paver path with an infill using a basket weave laying pattern and pencil edge course. Notice how the basket weave lends itself to a more bucolic/rustic look and feel

Contrast colour basket weave paving, laid to create a repeating pattern of off-set crosses. Whilst visually interesting, be aware that high-contrast colours laid in strong patterns can dominate the visual hierarchy in your garden’s landscape, dramatically effecting the aesthetics.

The tumbled paving blocks (Pavesett Ochre Grey) have been laid in a 45 degree stretcher bond pattern. This provides subtle but effective visual interest for those coming from outside and from within the property. These unbound blocks are held on the perimeter by an edge course of the larger 200 x 150 mm blocks, laid along their longest axis in a soldier course pattern.

A traditional carriageway of stone setts, laid using a double fan radius pattern. Where necessary, the mason/installer has cut the setts (most likely hewn with a masonry hammer) to create wedged-shaped rather than square setts. These wedged shaped setts help the alignment of the radius courses (similar to voussoir stones in an arch), so the lines of setts in both radius arcs, curve and intersect in a pleasing way.

One of the advantages when laying hand-cut bonded setts is that their small format and joint widths allow them to be manipulated and orientated more easily into interesting shapes and patterns. Depending on the radius of the course, often these square stone blocks can be laid intact, without alteration. As course radii become smaller near the centre of the circle/curve, the axis lines will narrow and setts might need to be cut and trimmed to make wedges to match the axis line. This can be done simply and easily with a masonry hammer’s chisel.

A nice example of traditional stone setts laid in wave/fan patterns. Notice how the radii of the arcs have achieved by exploiting the size variance of the setts and their traditional wider joint sizes. Each block is manipulated/directed within the tolerance afforded, with smaller setts being selected where adjustments to the angle/direction of the course’s arc are required.

Setts laid in a wave/fan arrangement in conjunction with a circular pencil course edge around a manhole cover. Notice how the mason has cut in custom wedges where the fans meet the circle edge course. These custom wedged stone setts were likely hewn in short order using a masonry hammer, with the mason scoring the cutting line with the chisel before splitting the stone at the appropriate point with more forceful strikes from the hammer.

Contrasting colour is one of the simplest ways to achieve interesting and eye-catching designs when laying paving. In this example, we can see black granite setts laid in a pencil line course to create a series of distinct waves within this “cobbled paving” of grey granite setts.

A single-stretcher edge course used on this pathway paving. The edge course stretcher has been off-set against the infill pattern (also a stretcher bond pattern) so that it appears to run perpendicular to the infill paving (although both edge course and infill are the same format square stone setts). This cleverly gives the observer visual distinction between the edge course and infill, when using the same format of stone.

Granite setts laid in a gentle off-set stretcher bond. This gives the pattern of these setts a slight diagonal appearance. Each row moves to the right about 25% of the width of a sett, to create an orderly slant to the paving blocks.

Black granite setts laid in a stretcher bond pattern on this driveway entrance. The dark grey / black granite provides a strong, visually impactful contrast to the brindle blocks of the interior property’s driveway. Likewise, the lighter colour mortar used in the pointing of the granite setts really helps the laying pattern visual “pop”.

When laying mixed or random sized setts, the pattern will lend itself to more random, haphazard and pragmatic layouts. The result is a more “organic” and natural looking, as the stone setts are placed where they will fit, rather than following a prescriptive pattern. This creates paving that feels more rustic and informal.

A rustic paving circle of granite setts surrounding a circular centre stone. Notice these setts are smaller than those in the top left. Their smaller format makes them easier to orientate and layout in a circular pattern, without having to cut the stones. The rustic style provides more tolerance in the joint width, allowing the setts to use the varying wedge-shaped angle of the joint to accomplish the circle.

This circle of hewn stone setts radiates from a single sett in the centre. The joint style is rustic, which lends itself to wider joints and looser tolerances, which enable the paver to create the circle without having to make lots of precise cuts.

These tumbled 2:1 format red/brown granite setts have been laid in a circle around a single sett. Notice how the 2:1 format means the laid paving pattern is circular in spirit only, and it is not until going out about 3-4 rings of setts from the axis, that one starts to see what could genuinely be called a circle.

These mixed size Oxford Tudor Cobbles with their tumbled, rounded edges provide the perfect surface for period home driveways and courtyards where a traditional/historic look and feel is needed. Their pattern is designed to follow traditional precepts and avoid creating cross-joints, where four line meet as a cross.

The “irregular” appearance of crazy paving lends itself to a mid-ground between truly natural occurring shapes, and ordered and regimented processed/dressed stone. It has a faux natural quality that provides visual appear and interest. Popularised in the UK in the 1960-1970’s, crazy paving is seen less commonly now, but it is still popular in North America and in Europe.

This concourse demonstrates the use of contrasting coloured paving blocks to create a visually interesting pattern. The paving utilising a 4:1 Dutch/Flemish style block paver laid in a series of basket weave pattern variations (single colour, alternating colours, colour pairs etc).

This paving in Prague, Czech Republic uses contrasting colour setts to create a vivid design motif. Both the double-stretcher inlays and the darker infill sections use stretch-bonds, with the infill sections orientated to the centre of the piece.

Contrast colour setts used here to form a series of curved, serpentine shapes utilising a chessboard infill that are orientated in a different direction to the surrounding lighter stone blocks.

Contrast colour setts have been laid here to create a custom serpentine design. Notice how the infill of the lighter section has smaller format setts as well as the matching sized ones.

Here we see a contrasting colour soldier course in Brindle adjacent to an infill of Charcoal block paving. Notice that the infill utilises a pencil inlay course between the soldier course and stretcher bond main infill.

In this example, we can see bricks laid in a soldier course to create steps on this patio terrace. The red bricks work well as a low contrast visual break against the rosy brown, tan and purple hues of the Heather Blend India sandstone paving slabs.

Here is a nice example of a pencil inlay course of setts being used to separate two different colours of paving slabs (Dolomite Dark and Dolomite Moon). The colour contrasting paving has been used to define a path or thoroughfare from the house to the outdoor kitchen. Note that the slabs have been laid at a 45-degree angle to the house and pencil course. This design decision demonstrates a sense of love/care and attention to detail/beauty, thereby improving the overall aesthetics of this patio.

Edge courses are great for helping to define paving areas, where they can be used to “picture frame” the patio space to say “this is one bit, and distinct from those bits!” Here we can see setts used to define the cooking area of this outdoor kitchen space (Dolomite Moon porcelain paving) distinct from the rest of the patio (Dolomite Dark porcelain paving).

A “cobbled” driveway of tumbled stone blocks showing a triple stretcher bond edge course. The triple stretcher bond edge course is a traditional design that is commonly seen and used in the UK when “cobble” setts are laid on driveways and roads.

A traditional “cobbled street” made up of a main infill of sandstone setts laid in a stretch bond, bordered with a triple stretcher edge course of the same sandstone, meeting the fanned arcs of grey granite setts on the right.