Should You Use Pavers or Concrete in Your Landscape Design Project?
With each new year often comes a new landscape design project. When redesigning a patio , pool deck, or driveway , there are plenty of important decisions to make along the way. For example, are you looking to cover the designated area with concrete or stone pavers?
Pros and Cons of Concrete
Let’s first discuss the sole benefit of concrete: it’s the more cost effective of the two. Many homeowners are swayed by the low cost of concrete.
However, when considering benefits such as aesthetic appeal and long-term cost, pavers are the clear choice. Concrete will crack as time wears on; it’s unavoidable. Concrete is also much more susceptible to changes in the weather. It will shrink or expand as temperatures rise and fall.
However, when considering benefits such as aesthetic appeal and long-term cost, pavers are the clear choice. Concrete will crack as time wears on; it’s unavoidable. Concrete is also much more susceptible to changes in the weather. It will shrink or expand as temperatures rise and fall.
Here in Minnesota, this is simply unacceptable. As a state with temperature swings from 50 below zero to 90 degrees above, our homes need to exist in an extreme environment. As these cracks form, repairs become more and more difficult to match in color and texture over time. Before too long, you’ll end up with a mismatched driveway, and you’ll need to repave the entire thing. Trust us, you’ll wind up spending far more with concrete than not opting for stone pavers from the get-go. Not to mention, using concrete in a walkway design can be a bigger safety concern. If your walkway cracks, it becomes a tripping hazard for yourself, your friends, and your family.
Oftentimes, stamped concrete is used to achieve the look of pavers without the cost. This is done by laying down concrete and stamping it to achieve the look of brick. Like most shortcuts in life, this is a cheap way to achieve maximum curb appeal. The solution used to prepare concrete for stamping actually softens the concrete, thus making it less durable than even regular concrete.
Pros and Cons of Pavers
Now, let’s talk about pavers. Our company uses brick and natural stone for paving . While pavers cost more upfront, you’ll save yourself the hassle of trying to repair cracks in the years to come. Stone pavers are the way to go for your patio design, driveway, or deck area. The visual appeal, more custom design options, and smaller likelihood of inevitable repairs are all well worth the extra initial cost. If and when paving stones are in need of repairs, it’s simple to swap out individual bricks for a fraction of the cost of replacing concrete.
Rather than go on and on about the benefits of stone pavers over concrete, however, we prefer to let our work speak for itself.
In short, when designing your dream patio, driveway, or walkway, don’t settle for the cheaper option. Cutting corners will end up costing more in the long run.
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