The Best Outdoor Pavers For Every Austin TX Home Style

Austin is one of Texas’ most eclectic and diverse cities for home architecture. Homeowners here don’t need a “one-size-fits-all” guide to outdoor paver materials. You need a thoughtful explanation of which Austin pavers look and perform best with your home’s unique style.

Our team of Allied Outdoor Solutions designers and contractors brings decades of local experience installing beautifully durable pavers in Austin outdoor living spaces. From Hill Country homes to North Austin ranches and Hyde Park Craftsmans, use this guide to pair your house with the right paver stones.

We’ll also cover the pros, cons and aesthetic advantages of popular paver materials — how will concrete, brick, natural stone and porcelain perform in your outdoor living area?

Austin Outdoor Living: Diverse Materials for an Eclectic City

Ask 10 Austin, Texas residents about their city’s architectural style, and you’ll get 10 very different answers. The “Friendly City” attracts all types of people — and this melting pot of cultures and ideas creates a dynamic, ever-shifting view of popular home styles.

Material selection for outdoor living spaces is more complex in ATX than other Texas cities. The stucco and stone of Mediterranean homes looks out of place on contemporary patios. 

And the rustic brick pavers that look great with classic bungalows are an odd fit with newer townhomes and their high-contrast color schemes.

Austin Paver Selection Requires Experienced, Local Contractors

Allied Outdoor Solutions serves homeowners throughout Texas — but we deliver thoughtful, local results by hiring the best outdoor living designers and contractors in each region.

Our Austin, Texas design-build teams live and work in Austin. We know our way around the city, where to source the best materials, and how to build for residents in every suburb and community. 

We also know how to balance Austin’s ever-changing trends with timeless outdoor styles that never look outdated. You’ll love your paver patio, pool deck or driveway as much ten years from now as the day we install it.

The 4 Most Popular Paver Stone Materials in Austin, Texas

A vast majority of our clients in ATX choose one of 4 paver materials for their outdoor projects:

1. Concrete pavers
2. Brick pavers
3. Natural stone pavers (like flagstone and travertine)
4. Porcelain tile pavers

Each type of paver offers unique strengths and weaknesses when it comes to durability, strength and aesthetic versatility. 

Concrete Pavers: The Versatile, Durable Pick 

Our ATX paver material guide starts with concrete, for good reason. It’s the most versatile of all paver stone materials to design with, and it offers excellent strength and durability in outdoor spaces.

Concrete pavers come in a wide variety of colors, shapes and textures. Our outdoor living designers offer a variety of product options — collaborate to find the pavers that compliment your desired aesthetic.

This design flexibility allows you to achieve the look of brick and stone without their naturally porous nature. It’s still important to seal concrete regularly to prevent moisture damage.

The Advantages of Austin Concrete Pavers

• Heat resistance. Concrete (especially light-colored pavers) doesn’t absorb a great deal of heat, keeping the material cool underfoot.
• Design flexibility. Creative, custom designs are simple with concrete pavers. Choose from a variety of colors and consult your contractor about preferred textures.
• Simple repairs. Repairs are generally simple with concrete pavers. Clean, repair and replace individual stones instead of a full slab. 
• Strength. Expecting a lot of company on your pool deck? Need to park multiple cars on your paver driveway? Concrete is your best option.

Want even stronger patio concrete? Choose modified concrete, or enhance your pavers with Carvestone concrete overlay — it’s rated to withstand up to 6,000 PSI of pressure.

Drawbacks of Concrete Pavers in Austin

• Sealing still required. This isn’t a true drawback — but many homeowners neglect to seal concrete due to its inherent strength. Fading and staining can still occur on unsealed concrete pavers.
• It’s not stone. If your heart is absolutely set on natural stone, concrete will never fully emulate flagstone or travertine. 

Brick Pavers: The Rustic, Charming Choice

Hill Country residents and bungalow homeowners love brick pavers. They offer rich hues, rustic aesthetics and a sense of warmth and comfort.

Brick doesn’t require a ton of upkeep — but keep an eye on your grout or polymeric sand. Moisture, mildew and weed growth are common issues when you don’t perform routine maintenance between your brick pavers.

The final verdict on brick? If you love how it looks, nothing beats it. If it isn’t right for your existing home style, there’s not much you can do to change that.

The Advantages of Austin Brick Pavers

• Longevity. This especially applies to clay bricks, which co-exist naturally with the clay-based soil in Austin. They’ll last decades with the proper care.
• Timeless aesthetic. Rustic homes and select Mediterranean styles look stunning with brick pavers.
• Low maintenance*. This applies to your brick pavers themselves, as long as they’re regularly sealed and monitored. Your grout and sand require a bit more effort.

Drawbacks of Brick Pavers in Austin

• Limited versatility. Brick looks great where it looks great, and out-of-place where it doesn’t. 
• Difficult to cut. Brick is harder to cut and shape during the installation process, which can lead to some project complexity around borders and edges.
• Cost vs. concrete. Local suppliers generally charge more for brick than concrete.

Natural Stone Pavers: The Timeless Texas Selection

North Texas is a region rich in flagstone, sandstone and limestone. Natural stone pavers, retaining walls and outdoor flooring are everywhere — they’re integral to the look and feel of Texas outdoor living.

Flagstone’s natural existence in our region means it’s easy to source and acclimated to local soil conditions. Light-colored stone offers natural heat resistance and looks right at home in Austin landscapes and hardscape designs.

Using natural stone pavers is less advisable around pools and pool decks. The constant moisture and chlorine exposure from pool water damages your stone, even when properly sealed. It’s also less durable under the heavy weight of cars and trucks in your driveway.

The Advantages of Austin Natural Stone Pavers

• Aesthetic appeal. For many Texans, the best paver stones are real paving stones. They look beautiful, natural and at home on patios, walkways and retaining walls.
• Easily sourced. Unless you’re buying non-local stone (most travertine is imported from Turkey), Texas flagstone is locally sourced, easy to find and reduces delivery costs.
• Durability*. We place an asterisk here because properly sealed stone pavers are highly durable in walkways and patios. They perform less well in other outdoor spaces.

Drawbacks of Natural Stone Pavers in Austin

• Moisture retention. Even properly sealed natural stone retains moisture to some degree. It’s less effective in pool deck construction and uncovered patio spaces.
• Complex installation. Many stone pavers are not pre-cut. While this increases design flexibility, it can also increase installation time and cost.
• Cost. Though local flagstone is cheaper to source and deliver, its premium aesthetics often make it a more expensive material choice than concrete or brick.

Porcelain Pavers: The Strong, Glamorous Pick

If you’re more concerned with premium strength and style than overall cost, porcelain pavers are a real contender. They offer superior water resistance, stay cool underfoot, and provide good protection against cracking and chipping.

Porcelain tile is available in a wide array of colors, textures and styles. Like concrete, porcelain can be finished to resemble other materials — but Austin homeowners who choose them want them to look like porcelain.

Make no mistake: you’ll pay more for porcelain pavers than other materials. But your long-term maintenance costs are reduced by their strength and moisture resistance.

The Advantages of Austin Porcelain Pavers

• Superior strength. Porcelain showcases less potential for chipping and cracking than other paver materials.
• Water resistance. Use porcelain confidently around your pool deck or uncovered patios. They’re also highly resistant to damage from freeze-thaw cycles.
• Design versatility. A wide range of textures, colors and finishes are available.
• Low maintenance. Porcelain paver clients report spending less time and money on long-term maintenance than other outdoor materials.

Drawbacks of Porcelain Tile Pavers in Austin

• Price point. Premium strength and style means a high price tag. You’ll pay more for most porcelain pavers than any other popular paving stone materials.
• Complex installation. Specialized tools are required to install porcelain pavers. You can’t DIY this job — experienced contractors are needed.
• Weight. Porcelain pavers are heavier than concrete and brick pavers. You’ll likely need more hands on deck during the installation process.

Pairing Pavers With Your Austin, TX Home Style

We’ve covered the pros and cons of concrete, brick, natural stone and porcelain pavers for Texas outdoor construction. Now, let’s talk about which paving stones look best with your existing home architecture.

Are you living in a classic Austin bungalow? A contemporary East Austin neighborhood? Or an elegant Queen Anne downtown? Let’s pair 5 of ATX’s most notable home styles with great paver material solutions.

Classic Austin Bungalow Homes

Bungalows were all the rage in the early 20th century. They’re still interspersed throughout the Austin landscape, although many are giving way to modern townhomes. 

Your Austin bungalow is likely single-story with a classic walk-up front porch. Unlike other local home styles, your outdoor living needs may be more focused in the front yard.

The Best Paver Materials for Your Bungalow

• Concrete. The versatility of concrete pavers are valuable to bungalow style homes. While bungalow layouts are consistent in Austin, exteriors aren’t — renovation dates trend from mid-century modern to late-20th century. Concrete pavers’ design flexibility and overall durability allows them to blend seamlessly into any bungalow style. 
• Natural stone. Renovating your front porch? Natural stone looks beautiful under a patio cover. Extend your flagstone down the stairs and into a front walkway for a stylish new pathway from the street to your front door.

Hill Country Homes

You hear the term “vernacular architecture” thrown around in Hill Country — that simply means the homes there reflect local climate and culture. 

In Hill Country, that means a plethora of limestone, cedar and treated lumber in home design. Whether you live in a newly built estate or a timeless two-story home, you’re used to tall ceilings, beautiful wood accents and natural stone facades. 

The Best Paver Materials for Your Hill Country House

• Natural stone. Local limestone is the smart, implied choice for outdoor pavers in Hill Country. You’ll naturally reflect the local culture, landscape and surrounding architecture. If you want a unique look that still honors natural stone, ask us about light-colored travertine pavers.
• Faux stone concrete. Concerned about the increase in hail events in North Texas? Need a more moisture-resistant pool deck material? Customize your concrete pavers to emulate the look and feel of local limestone. Bolster their stability with Carvestone overlay materials to add strength and style.

Contemporary East Austin Homes

East Austin homes are younger and a bit bolder than in neighboring areas. Older one-story homes are giving way to modern houses with bold color palettes, metal exterior work and clean, geometric angles.

Modern form and high functionality are the name of the game in East Austin. Homeowners here want sleek design materials that require minimal maintenance and deliver bold aesthetic value.

The Best Paver Materials for Your Modern Home

• Concrete. Strong, stable and versatile wins. Work with our expert concrete contractors to formulate a unique concrete mix that delivers impactful color and patterning to your outdoor patio or front walkway. 
• Porcelain. Go bold and go big with porcelain pavers. Porcelain delivers upscale aesthetics and low maintenance needs, especially around refinished pool decks and backyard kitchen and bar areas. Choose a neutral color to balance your existing home’s bold color palette.

North Austin Ranch Homes

There’s something innately peaceful about the cozy ranch homes in North Austin. The region is dominated by single-story ranches with an L-shaped or U-shaped layout. Their asymmetrical footprint creates visual intrigue.

Natural charm is big in North Austin home design. Plenty of windows bring in ambient light, and (like Hill Country) there’s frequent use of treated wood and local stone.

The Best Paver Materials for Your Ranch

• Natural stone. Pair your patio and front porch with the natural stone elements of your existing home. We strongly recommend a covered patio or attached roof structure to protect your investment from rain, hail and live oak tree limbs.
• Brick. If your ranch has a brick facade or incorporates red and brown hues, brick pavers can add major visual impact to walkways, driveway borders and outdoor kitchen spaces.

Building an outdoor fireplace? Brick outdoor fire features look absolutely stunning next to a ranch-style home. 

Queen Anne and Craftsman Homes in Central Austin

The eclectic nature of Austin architecture is best seen in Central Austin. The blend of 19th century Queen Anne style homes and 20th century Craftsmans is a unique visual experience.

These 2 home styles couldn’t be more different. Queen Anne homes focus on ornate facades, steep roofs and statement decorative elements. Meanwhile, Craftsman homes in Austin offer low-pitched roofs, wide eaves and simpler lines.

The one thing these home styles do have in common is big, beautiful porches. And most of the focus on paver materials in Central Austin rests in these porch areas. 

The Best Paver Materials for Your Queen Anne

• Natural stone - especially cobblestone. Cobbles are a big part of Queen Anne architectural style. We like and trust Dublin Cobble and Cambridge cobblestone materials on Queen Anne porches and walkways.

The Best Paver Materials for Your Craftsman

• Brick. If your Craftsman home already incorporates brick, double down with brick paver pathways, walkways and borders. If you’re building a pool deck or patio, consider faux brick made from modified concrete overlays.
• Natural stone. Use dimensional natural stone to add intrigue and depth to your craftsman’s exterior living areas. Bluestone and travertine look wonderful in these spaces, with their textured appearance and streaks of gray.

Custom Paver Solutions for Austin, Texas Outdoor Living

We love working in Austin. The sheer variety of home footprints, architectural styles and outdoor spaces makes every design project an exhilarating new experience.

Trust our team of ATX-based outdoor living designers and contractors. We use decades of local experience to make thoughtful, customized decisions about the pavers and materials that best suit your home — and the way you wish to live outdoors.

Whether it’s Hill Country limestone or East Austin porcelain, talk to us about the materials that will make your dream outdoor living space a reality. We’re here, we’re ready, and we’re thrilled you found us.