One of the important aspects to achieve a good architectural design is using quality materials, which is also the solution to well-functioning buildings indoors and outdoors. An outdoor floor or superficial surface covering used in a building is known as pavement. The materials used for the construction of pavement are paving materials.
An increase in urbanization and construction of commercial and residential buildings requires several paving materials with distinct properties suitable for any kind of infrastructure. Also, government initiatives to provide better housing and its surroundings will need quality construction materials. Such demand for pavement materials from all kinds of sectors will help the global paving materials market.
What Are Paving Materials?
Paving materials are available in different shapes and sizes. There is a wide range of paving materials to choose from. These materials are broadly divided into two categories namely, composite materials and quarried materials. Composite material is processed when it is soft and then fire dried, whereas quarried materials are first dug out and then molded into desired shapes.
It includes materials such as concrete, asphalt, and stones such as flagstone, artificial stone, bricks, tiles, and others. Here stones fall under quarried type and they are one of the common and popular paving materials. Bricks and concrete are composite materials. They provide more versatility and flexibility compared to quarried stones.
There are two types of concrete available, one is cast-in-place concrete and the other is precast concrete. Cast-in-place concrete is the standard and affordable material used by most consumers. It is easy to install and maintain concrete pavements. Precast concrete is modular and available in many shapes and sizes.
Brick is also one of the most common paving materials which are used to make a variety of fun patterns. Bricks are ideally suggested to use in the surroundings of the pool due to its slip-resistant texture. Asphalt is used in pavement construction as well as in buildings and house roofing. It serves the purpose of waterproofing.
Some paving materials known as ornamental concrete, provide better design flexibility by allowing consumers to select from a variety of colors and patterns.
Factors to consider before selecting paving materials
Choosing the right and suitable pavement material is important in order to set desired design of your landscape. The basic factors to consider before deciding on paving materials are listed below.
- Most basic thing to consider is the cost of materials and your budget. Building materials that will serve you well for a long time will be more cost-efficient than materials that are less expensive but also have low quality. The cost of paving materials depends on many factors such as design, quality, availability, and others.
- Climate is one of the significant factors to consider when selecting pavement materials. The selected paving material should respond to the climate. Average heat and cold throughout the year, rain and snowfall, and exposure to daylight are some of the factors that need to be considered.
- Paving materials selected must have the durability and strength suitable for specific areas and conditions of use. Material that will serve longer and will be more repellent to corrosion, moisture, and other environmental conditions should be opted first.
- Maintenance is another factor to consider while selecting any material. Paving materials that are easy to manage and maintain are more suitable for outdoor landscapes. Good quality materials add value to the architecture and prove to be long-lasting.
Future Scope of Paving Materials
To accommodate the increasing demand from the general public for better sidewalk management and the development of hiking trails, there will be an increase in the production of paving materials. There has also been an ongoing trend where people have shown more interest in building nice outdoor architecture for their home space too which requires new pavement design, ideas, and materials. To fulfill such requirements, companies are looking for advanced and developed technologies to manufacture paving materials.
