Paving as a whole is a beautiful and valuable addition to any garden but you can really accentuate and emphasise it by using the correct paving pattern to suit your home’s style and the theme of your garden.  There are many different paving patterns that you can use but there are some that stand out as being much loved and used. We outline them for you here. For more information about these, including how they are laid, speak to your local paving professional.

Common Paving Terms

To understand the paving patterns that we have outlined below, you need to know the terminology that we are using in this article.  Here is some “jargon” that we’ll be using!

• Header - the short side of the paver

• Stretcher - the long side of the paver

• Course – a row of pavers

• Bond - the actual paving pattern

The Herringbone Pattern

The herringbone is one of the most common and popular paving patterns of all. The pattern is created by laying pavers in alternate diagonal courses where the joints are no more than the length of one and a half pavers.  Herringbone paving can be created at a 45 or a 90 degree angle.

The Basket Weave Pattern

The basket weave is another popular paving pattern and it is comprised of two rows of bricks that are laid in opposite directions.  That is, the first two pavers are laid vertically, and the next two pavers are laid horizontally. Once a few rows of pavers have been laid, a distinct pattern emerges like one you would see on a wicker basket, hence the name.

The Stretcher Bond Pattern

One of the simplest yet most enduring paving patterns is stretcher bond paving.  In this pattern, all of the pavers face in the same direction either length ways or width ways.  Each paver overlaps the one underneath by half. Essentially, if you look at any three pavers in the pattern, they form a type of pyramid.

The Stack Bond Pattern

The stack bond paving pattern incredibly simple but it looks great, especially with square pavers.  In this pattern, the pavers are simply laid in order to create straight lines in both directions.  To give added visual interest, a border can be laid around the main pattern.

The Radial Pattern

This pattern is where you use alternating stretcher and header courses in order to achieve elaborate curved effects.  In most cases, the centre of the pattern is formed with a small section of herringbone paving.  This is one of the more elaborate and difficult to lay patterns but the effects are worth it.