Poured Concrete vs Pavers: Everything You Need To Know

Poured Concrete vs Pavers: Everything You Need To Know

You want to install a new backyard patio or walkway in your yard, but you are overwhelmed by the sheer number of available options. Each material that you could choose from has a unique set of properties and offers different benefits. Poured concrete and some of the available paving materials are more affordable upfront, and others are more durable or aesthetically appealing.

The most common options include concrete slabs and paving stones. Each option offers a lot of value but one of them will be better suited for your needs. Concrete slabs can be installed indoors and outdoors, making them the more versatile option. And, with stamped concrete, homeowners can choose from an array of color schemes, textures, and other design options.

Pavers are made of individual pieces that interlock and coalesce to create a unique hardscaping fixture, such as an outdoor patio or walkway. Pavers are typically made from natural stone materials such as brick or flagstone. However, you can also use concrete to produce pavers. Choosing between the two styles can be a difficult task, but we are going to help make the decision-making process a lot easier.

Facts You Should Know:

  • Concrete slabs are generally more affordable than pavers in terms of the cost per square foot.
  • On average, you are going to pay around 10-15% more on pavers versus poured concrete.
  • If you are considering if you should upgrade your current material to stamped concrete, paving stones are going to cost you the same or even less.
  • Poured concrete is a lot more affordable in terms of the initial cost, but in the long term you could end up paying more for repairs and refurbishing services.

Maintenance

  • Concrete: concrete slabs require very minimal maintenance. However, if you neglect to undergo any maintenance at all, then the material will easily crack and deteriorate. With stamped concrete, cracks and other defects are usually a lot less noticeable. We recommend that you periodically reseal the slab to ensure greater durability and protection. If your current outdoor patio is showing its age with several unsightly cracks and discoloration, then it’s time to replace it. You can also repair any problem areas, but this can create unmatching colors in the patchwork.
  • Pavers: Pavers also generally require minimal maintenance – the difficulty, however, lies in the paver joints. Over time, weeds and moss will grow in the joints, and when this happens, you will need to remove the weeds and treat the area with weed killer. Also, despite all the movement that happens in the soil underneath your pavers, the pavers will remain in good condition for quite some time. However, the material will eventually sustain damage and you will need to replace any compromised pavers. Settling can also occur, which will require you to remove the pavers and recompact the sand base before setting the pavers back into place. Repair work is fairly easy when it comes to stone and brick pavers.

Durability

Concrete slabs offer a great deal of longevity and resilience when it comes to maintaining their structural integrity. However, the movement in the soil underneath the installation will ultimately determine how long the material lasts. Cracks and other defects are bound to take form when there are shifts in the ground. The surface of poured concrete will remain smooth and pristine for many years, but again, with extreme changes in temperature, the ground will expand and contract. This, then, will also cause the material to break apart and crumble.

With pavers, water is unlikely to settle on the surface of individual pieces because of the many joints that connect them. They are rated as four times stronger than concrete slabs, so you can load four times the amount of weight onto a paver installation without any cracking or damage. Most paving manufacturers will offer a lifetime warranty because the material is structurally resilient. Pavers are also flexible because of their interlocking system which redistributes weight and pressure evenly to prevent any structural damage.

Replacement and Repairs

Once concrete slabs undergo extensive damage, you will need to replace them because no amount of repairs will restore their appearance. This will require you to produce and pour a whole new batch of concrete. Pavers, on the other hand, consist of an interlocking system where you can easily replace each piece when needed. This is a lot more convenient than having to demolish entire sections of a concrete slab to replace it. Replacement services will ultimately take more time and effort to complete when it comes to poured concrete.

Aesthetic Variations

Pavers come in an array of shapes, sizes, colors, textures and patterns, and they offer a lot more visual variety than a poured concrete slab. That being said, there are still numerous ways in which you conceptualize and transform the appearance of poured concrete. There are different staining techniques as well as methods in which you can embed decorative stones in the material.

Stamped concrete can also imitate paving stones. Let’s say you are on a budget but you would prefer to install a paver that has the appearance of flagstone or brick. Stamped concrete allows you to achieve that appearance but at a potentially lower cost. We should say that depending on what the installation demands, you may end up spending the same amount of money for stamped concrete pavers as you would for stone or brick pavers.

Safety

Poured concrete can be very slippery after you install it unless you overlay it with a coating that contains anti-slip additives. Unprotected concrete does not provide a lot of traction or skid-resistance for vehicles. Also, pool decks are setting where slip-resistance is crucial to ensuring everyone’s safety, so you will need those anti-slip properties. Pavers are typically manufactured ahead of time to contain anti-slip and anti-skid features. Vehicles will typically have better traction on pavers, which will also reduce the risk of creating tire marks and prevent potential accidents.

Value

When it comes to adding more value to your property, you are better off installing tone pavers. The initial installation cost can be fairly expensive, but the resale value of your home will increase dramatically. And, if you plan on selling your home, then you can easily recoup all the money you invest in the installation. If you play your cards right, you may also end up turning a profit. With poured concrete, the return on investment won’t be as profitable as stone pavers, but it can still provide you the necessary boost that it takes to sell your home.

Which One Should You Choose?

Ultimately, you want to add more curb appeal and functionality to your home. Poured concrete and pavers will both get the job done on a basic level. However, the difference lies in how you want to arrange your hardscaping. Are you implementing a unique exterior decorative scheme? Or do you need to replace your driveway which is showing signs of aging and extreme deterioration? Think about why you need the installation in the first place.

Concrete slabs are affordable in terms of their upfront costs, but they are typically not the cost-effective choice in terms of the expenses you will incur in the long-term. You will find yourself frequently repairing and replacing the material. Stamped concrete and paver stones are going to cost you a lot more money upfront, and stamped concrete will go through the same structural issues as regular poured concrete. Pavers are usually longer-lasting and damage-resistant, and repairs are fairly simple and straightforward to carry out (you will also perform repairs a lot less frequently).

Need help determining which option is better for you? Feel free to contact one of our professional contractors who can answer any of your questions. The process can be challenging to navigate by yourself and it can a world of difference to consult a professional and seek their feedback. No matter the problem you are encountering, we can help guide you through it. We can also offer you detailed information on pricing and what the installation process will entail.