The pinwheel pattern puts a small square in the middle and lays four rectangular pavers around it. Each rectangle sits on a different side of the square and runs past its corner, which makes the arrangement look like turning sails. In PatioPlanner the pattern is called Windmill. This template uses 200 × 100 mm rectangles and 100 × 100 mm squares.
Where pinwheel looks good
The pattern is best seen up close. Patios, courtyards and front entrances show it off. With two tones, such as light rectangles and dark squares, the pinwheel shape stands out even more.
It is not meant for driveways. The squares are small and not locked in as firmly as pavers in a herringbone.
Two sizes in a 4 to 1 ratio
One module measures 300 × 300 mm and contains four rectangles and one square. Per square metre that is about 44 rectangles and 11 squares, roughly 56 pavers in total, without joints or waste.
Many paver lines offer a matching 100 × 100 mm half stone next to the rectangular paver. Order both from the same line so colour and thickness match.
Recreate the template in PatioPlanner
The “Open template in planner” button selects the “Mixed format (various sizes)” brick preset and the Windmill pattern. Mixed-format patterns keep their fixed stone sizes.
- Create your surface and check the rotation angle in the pattern section. Besides 0° there is 45°, which sets the pinwheels at an angle to the house.
- Pick the start corner. An edge with whole modules looks much better than one with half sails. Put the whole modules on the side people see most.
- Enter a waste allowance. The shopping list shows rectangles and squares on separate lines, each split into full stones and stones to cut.
- Try the optimizer. A few millimetres of joint width shift the modules at the edge, and sometimes a whole row of cuts disappears.
- Save the project. Your designs stay in the browser under “Projects”, no account needed.
If your pavers have different sizes, such as a larger centre square, rebuild the module in the Pattern Designer and apply it like any built-in pattern.
Tips for laying
- Dry-lay one module before you start. That shows whether rectangle and square really fit together with your joint width.
- Work module by module, not row by row. The pinwheel does not forgive a swapped paver.
- The small square shows every uneven joint. Keep the joint width constant with spacers.
FAQ
How many pavers do I need for a pinwheel pattern?
About 44 rectangles at 200 × 100 mm and 11 squares at 100 × 100 mm per m². A 15 m² patio needs around 667 rectangles and 167 squares before waste. The shopping list in the planner adds joints and the waste allowance.
Is pinwheel the same as a Roman pattern?
No. Pinwheel repeats a small module of two sizes. The Roman pattern combines more sizes in a larger module and looks more random. There is a template for it under Opus Romano.