Concrete or stone pavers which one is best for your patio?
If you decide to add a custom patio to your yard, or new walkways, expanding your outdoor living space can be an exciting decision. A landscaping project is a major investment, so you need to ensure that you choose materials that will last longer and be enjoyed for many years. In fact, patios are among the most popular choices for most clients, mainly since they provide excellent returns when reselling the property. In this article, we will compare the most popular paver’s materials, concrete and natural stone.
Concrete Pavers
When it comes to choosing a more economical material, concrete pavers are a good option. They come in various sizes, colors, and shapes, and many different patterns can be created using them. The pavers are pre-cut into the shape, so they will take less time to install than the natural stone paver. In addition to the above, concrete pavers offer the following three significant benefits:
- Proper maintenance can prolong their life to at least 40 and up to 60 years.
- Most masonry contractors can easily replace the broken paver with a new one when it cracks or breaks.
- You can create a unique walkway and patio by matching one to the other since these pavers come in so many colors.
Due to the lower manufacturing costs of concrete patio pavers, they are significantly cheaper per square foot than natural stones. A concrete paver made from architectural grade concrete looks like a natural stone when mixed and molded; thus, you get the natural stone look without paying premium prices.
Stone Pavers
However, stone pavers are more expensive, but they offer a wider variety of colors, sizes, and shapes than concrete pavers. There are a lot of types of stone pavers like Quarry stone, cottage ledge stone, slate, tumbled bluestone, flagstone, and cobblestone. And mostly, these all types of stone landscaping pavers are used to create and design walkways or patios.
It offers a more natural look to your patio, so when you choose natural stone, you will get a patio that looks like it has been there forever. Unlike wood, these pavers last forever and are made to withstand long, harsh winters like the ones we often get in Fredericton.
Installing a stone patio will require more labor and time since the pieces do not come pre-cut, and you will need to adjust them to fit the space you have. Any type of filler you prefer can be used, from pea gravel to mortar or grass between the stones.
Due to the physical labor involved in natural stone, it is significantly more expensive than other paving materials. The cost of installing natural stone pavers usually depends upon your budget and the size of the space you want to cover.
At Atlantic Brick and Stone, we offer a wide range of durable materials for building walkways and patios in Fredericton and surrounding areas. If you plan to upgrade or design a new patio, give us a call for a free consultation and estimate.