Pavers vs concrete are a hard choice whether you are replacing your walkway, driveway, or patio. Both materials are perfect for landscaping but differ in appearance, designs, installation and maintenance costs, and durability.
You must compare them to reach the best decision, so continue reading this article, and you will have the right insight about how they are used and the ways they appear different too.
| Features | Pavers | Concretes |
| Appearance | They are small blocks made in different shapes, sizes, and textures | They are made by pouring wet sand, cement, and gravel mixture on the ground, which dries to form a flat surface |
| Designs | Available in different shapes, textures, sizes and colors | They have limited designs |
| Costs | They are expensive | They are affordable |
| Lifespan | Last for 50-100 years | Last for 25-30 years |
Contents
What Is the Difference Between Pavers and Concrete?
The main difference between pavers and concrete is their appearance. Concrete pavers are bricks molded with concrete pieces and available in various designs. A concrete slab is made by mixing cement, gravel, and water. The mixture is poured on the ground and hardened into a flat pad.
– Designs
Since pavers are molded bricks from concrete, they are available in many designs. You can install big rectangular slabs on your pathway, get square glossy designs, or choose slabs made of tiny pieces, because they would change through their design as well.
The stones also come in different colors and textures, which you choose depending on your preference. You can also include natural stones on the side to increase curb appeal and this would add a vibrancy that is more specific because paves are often placed for this purpose.
On the other hand, concrete slabs are mostly flat because they are installed by pouring a mixture of cement, gravel, and water on the ground. You can only design these if you draw on wet concrete or paint them using different colors to resemble shapes.
– Installation Costs
Paver installation is more expensive than concrete slabs, and the cost varies with the designs, textures, and materials used to build them. It could cost you eight to 25 dollars per square foot for installation, and you need many blocks depending on the size of your patio or walkway. Pavers cost more because they are time-consuming and labor-intensive to make and install.
On the flip side, when it comes to concrete, it is cheaper to buy and install. You could spend between three and six dollars per square foot, making them a suitable choice if you are on a budget. These are also easy to install and maintain but expensive to repair.
– Durability
Although the cost of concrete pavers is high, they are more durable. This is because paving bricks are made of durable materials like cement or stone, so they are more robust than a mixture of gravel and cement. They can also be heavy, making them a good choice for your pathway or driveway.
Poured concrete is less durable and cracks faster, and this because the slab can easily crack due to tree roots, earthquakes, or frozen ground, and a slight break extends quickly, compromising the entire structure. Concretes also hold light weight, making them unsuitable for driveways; however, these suit outdoor living spaces perfectly.
– Maintenance
The low purchase price of concrete patios has a downside; they will require repairs sooner after installation. These slabs easily crack and can shift over time, and they are hard to maintain because a crack at one corner can extend faster to other areas, forcing the homeowner to repair the entire patio floor.
Paver maintenance is less than concrete because they are durable and hardly need repairs, and you would also see that thee durability is quite longer as well. Also, when one paver cracks, you can replace it with a new one without installing a new floor. Although one paver is expensive to purchase, the total maintenance costs are still lower than concrete ones.
And speaking of maintenance, both landscaping methods require protection to withstand elements like UV rays. This can be through cleaning the pathways and using sealants to prevent discoloration. Homeowners should also scrab the paths to remove any stains and prevent permanent staining.
Exploring Pavers, Designs, and Pros and Cons
There are many options to landscape your patio, walkway, or driveway, but you will always go right with pavers. Pavers are affordable, colorful, and more durable than stone, brick, or asphalt, and you can get them in any texture. Homeowners also prefer them because of the many designs available.
Pavers are made from different materials, which determine their beauty and durability. Whether you want those made from concrete, porcelain, stone, brick, or marble, you can get them in different shapes and textures. They are applicable to have such a variation available and easily placed.
One advantage of these exterior landscaping materials is that they are durable, aesthetically pleasing, and easy to replace. However, they are expensive to buy and install and prone to stains, and you will see more of them used because of their durability and the way they feature around their aesthetics.
– Designs of Paver Patios
Pavers come in many designs, shapes, and sizes; if you don’t find one that suits your aesthetics, you can get custom-made ones. However, the two main designs are interlocking and architectural slabs.
For instance, the interlocking pavers are the oldest design, and they are built with stiff and string concrete mix, which contains sand, gravel, concrete, and water, and they are thick. Because of their durability, these pavers are mainly used for driveways. However, these pavers don’t look natural and are too plain for homeowners who want aesthetics.
The architectural slabs are thinner and more sensitive. This is because they are made from wet concrete and look like natural stones or bricks, making them more beautiful than their counterparts. However, architectural slabs are not the best for driveways because of their thinness, which makes them easy to crack.
Besides the designs, you can get pavers of any shape, including a square, rectangle, or a mixture of shapes. Some homeowners also opt for custom-made bricks, which could be more expensive. These landscaping materials are also preferred because they are available in different patterns and textures, and you can lay them down in any style of choice.
– Cost
Whether you want the Oldcastle 16-inch square gray patio stone or the nantucket pavers concrete gray yorkstone paver pallet for your patio or pathway, they come at a cost. Pavers are expensive because of the wide range of designs and materials used to make them. The price will also vary with the paver’s texture and size.
At the same time, the interlocking pavers are more expensive than the standard ones, as they will last longer because of the material being ridged. The installation cost is also high because they are labor intensive. Some come into tiny pieces that must be arranged on the ground, which is a lot of work.
– Maintenance
Nantucket pavers patio-on-a-pallet concrete gray need constant maintenance to protect them from the effects of changing weather conditions. For example, low temperatures cause cracks.
This happens because of the ground expansion caused by freezing temperatures and contraction caused by warm temperatures. You can add sealants to prevent such damage and it wouldn’t need maintenance in the long run, because you have covered it properly.
You should also scrub the pavers with degreasing soap to remove stains and this way thee finishing will look quite neat. If you install interlocking pavers, use a blower to remove debris between the spaces. Look for shops of concrete pavers near me to purchase pavers and cleaning items.
– Lifespan
Pavers can last 50 to even a 100 years, depending on the material used to make them and the maintenance. Climate changes can impact their lifestyle, and you need to seal the pavers to prevent cracks. However, you can replace the cracked stone, leaving the others to pass the test of time.
– Pros
One benefit you get from installing pavers is their wide variety of designs. You can get them in different sizes and shapes, and textures. You can also install pavers to make different patterns on your pathways.
Home Depot pavers are also weather resistant. They are made with hard and durable materials to withstand summers and winters. Besides, if one paver breaks or cracks, you can replace it without destroying the entire pathway or patio.
Since pavers are available in different textures and designs, they are slip resistant, and you can place them knowing this matter and taking them into consideration. This is important for safety in driveways and patios because slippery floors can cause fatal accidents. Cars can also get into accidents when driving on slippery driveways, so this a good way to add friction.
– Cons
While pavers are beautiful and slip resistant, they are costly to buy and install. These are made with different durable materials and require much work to design and install, hence the high costs. Also, weeds will likely grow in the spaces where the designs meet, reducing your pathway’s aesthetics.
Exploring Concrete, Features, and Pros and Cons
Concrete slabs are plain landscaping or surface material used for homebuilding or decorating driveways and pathways. The concrete slabs are made by mixing cement, water, gravel, and sand and then poured on the ground to dry into a hard surface.
Most concrete surfaces and slabs are plain, but stamped concrete has decorative flexibility. You can use rubber stamps to add patterns and designs. Most homeowners prefer concretes because they are cheaper and easier to maintain, but they do have a lifespan that is 25 to 30 years.
– Cost
Concrete patios and pathways are common because of their affordability. These driveways have simple finishes, primarily smooth and painted with one color. Installing a concrete slab would cost you as low as four dollars per square foot, with driveways costing up to $6000.
Concrete installation costs are also cheaper because they are not labor intense. It involves pouring wet concrete on the ground, which you can DIY. However, the durability of these slabs also depends on how good the installation is, so it is advisable always to hire a professional.
– Maintenance
One advantage of concrete is the low maintenance requirements. However, cleaning and occasional repairs are essential to keep the slab intact. The slabs are also more prone to cracks due to temperature changes and the aging or growth of roots under the slab.
A crack at the corner of the slab slowly spreads to other areas, unlike in pavers. Besides, you must repair the entire pathway to keep the slab longer, which could be a hefty bill. Homeowners are advised to fix small cracks with a synthetic sealant to prevent spreading.
– Lifespan
Concrete is a durable material lasting 25 to almost 30 years, depending on the installation and usage. Although these pathways and driveways last long, they are affected by climate change and are heavyweight, and this is why they would change and you would have to consider the maintenance.
What happens, in this case, is that the low temperatures cause the ground and walls to expand, leading to concrete cracks. Hot temperatures cause the contraction of surfaces, which also leads to cracks in concrete.
However, there are ways that you can stop the cracks from spreading by sealing and patching them with sealants. Also, since concrete does not support heavy weights, don’t use it for driveways, or you would have to be keen on them and try to repair them.
– Pros of Stamped Concrete
Concretes are popular because they are affordable to buy and install. These require less effort, less time to install, and they don’t need molding, and this is because the slabs are also made using more affordable materials that do not increase costs. Installation of these requires pouring the mixture on the ground and waiting for it to dry.
Another reason homeowners like concretes because they seal the entire surface, reducing weed growth on the pathways. They are also easy to clean and don’t require blowing equipment to remove sand and debris between the intersections, so the job would be done in an easy way.
In addition, when you see concrete walkways give a polished and professional appearance and are easy to customize. You can use colors or draw shapes on the wet concrete to create different designs. You can also DIY the installation and play around with the damp concrete to achieve the desired look.
– Cons
While concrete is cheap and easy to maintain, it is hard to repair. A single crack requires you to remove and replace the entire pathway, which can be costly. Concrete driveways also don’t support heavy weights and are prone to crack due to weather changes.
Conclusion
Pavers and concretes are different in appearance, durability, and cost. While pavers are mostly small pieces of different designs and finishes, concretes are mostly continuous slabs with simple finishes. Pavers are also easy to repair because you can fix a crack in one stone, but repairing concrete pathways requires removing the entire path.
Choosing between pavers and concretes depends on your preference and budget. Pavers are available in more designs and shapes but are costly to buy and install. Concretes are easy to install and cost less, but they are less durable than pavers.
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