In terms of installation costs and concrete costs, poured concrete is technically the most affordable per square foot. However, although the initial cost of pavers is higher, concrete pavers offer greater value and durability than cast concrete and stamped concrete. Concrete and pavers are similar in that they are both sturdy construction materials, strong enough to withstand the movement of vehicles at the entrance. Concrete is the more affordable of the two, but pavers offer the better resale value and are more visually appealing.
Concrete is easy to install and maintain, but pavers don't crack and offer more design options. A basic concrete installation with a smooth finish will always be cheaper than that of pavers because the installation is quick and does not require much labor. However, stamped concrete stained to look like natural stone can match or exceed the cost of pavers. In these cases, pavers may be cheaper than concrete.
Paving stones have a higher resale value because of their beauty and versatility. Concrete slabs are generally more common, but over time, pavers will generate more value because it is expensive to replace concrete. In terms of initial cost, cast and stamped concrete tends to be the most economical option. Concrete is quite inexpensive and can cover a large plot of land quite quickly.
It is known that concrete is cheaper than pavers. However, if you add color staining and embossing, the cost starts to increase rapidly to be comparable to that of cobblestones. Concrete slabs are somewhat easy to install, but the material takes time to dry and cure, meaning that the entrance, patio, or walkway cannot be used until this curing process is complete. Concrete slabs are more likely to split and crack, especially if the ground beneath them shifts.
In addition, changes in temperature can cause concrete to expand and contract, which will also cause cracks. Meanwhile, pavers are incredibly durable and it's easy to replace individual stones as needed, so maintenance costs are lower over time and stones will last much longer than the concrete surface. As you can see above in the image of the sidewalk, the concrete splinters and someone tried to put it back together. In addition, concrete is prone to cracking under unfavorable conditions, with too much weight, or if the soil below the area shifts or erodes.
Paving stones are considered more difficult to install than concrete because a concrete slab is poured in, while pavers must be placed individually by hand. Concrete production standards require that it have a much lower ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) specification than pavers. Specifically, cast concrete is manufactured with a compressive strength of 2500 to 3000 PSI, while pavers are manufactured with a minimum compressive strength of 8000 PSI. Paving stones or brick pavers are individual sections made of various materials, such as natural stone, concrete or brick.
Concrete Repair is also more laborious than replacing some individual pavers, since a professional will likely have to tear off an important part and pour in the replacement concrete. The latest report estimates that adding stones for patios or walkways translates into a 9% ROI for homeowners. If you don't plan to sell your property for many years, the resale value of concrete decreases and may even be completely canceled, since you'll likely have to pay for a full replacement every 25 or 30 years. The installation process includes excavation, leveling, foundation preparation, adjustment of forms and pouring concrete.
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