Choosing a material for your outdoor space can be exhausting. You have to consider a lot of factors and weigh the pros and cons. You may even need professional help to help you decide on the best material to use for your outdoors.
We will be helping you out by comparing two of the most common materials used outdoors – pavers and concrete. Both are ideal materials for outdoor spaces.
PAVERS
Pavers are made of natural stones and are commonly used as flooring or stepping stones.
Pros
- Lower Maintenance
- Does Not Crack
- Easy To Repair
- Visually Appealing
- Variety of Design
- Options
Cons
- Expensive
- May Loosen
- Complicated to Install
- Difficult to Clean
CONCRETE
Concrete is a mix of cement, sand, water, and aggregates. When it hardens, it produces a very strong building material. It is the most common material used in construction.
Pros
- Affordable
- Durable
- Long-Lasting
- Easy to Maintain
- Easy to Install
Cons
- Limited Design Options
- Costly Repairs
- Can Split or Crack
- Affected by Temperature
- Slippery When Wet
Key Differences
Durability
Cement is one of the most durable materials. Change in temperature can also affect concrete and cause them to expand leading to cracks. This usually happens during cold weathers.
Pavers are strong and durable. They are less likely to crack. Due to the natural density of stone, water does not enter the stones.
Maintenance
If you want a low maintenance material, you may consider concrete. Although cracks and stains develop over time, you can apply protective sealant to prevent such issues. You can also try to patch minor cracks.
Pavers are easier to maintain. Stains are usually unnoticeable and cracks are less likely to happen during temperature changes. If cracks develop, you can simply replace the pavers individually.
However, weeds can grow between the pavers. You can prevent this by applying weed killers regularly.
Repairs
Concrete is hard to repair. If one area cracked, most people would patch the area using epoxy compound or mortar mix. Unfortunately, this will not be the same as before. The only way to fix the problem is to replace the whole concrete slab.
On the other hand, pavers are easier to repair. If a stone loosens, you can just adjust the base and re-lay the stones, or replace the pavers individually.
Installation
Both concrete and pavers should be professionally installed to ensure quality and longevity.
Concrete is easier to install compared to pavers. However, you need to wait for at least 5 days for the concrete to completely dry before being able to use it.
Pavers have a more complicated installation process. The process is longer, but what’s good about this is pavers have no curing time. This means you can use the surface as soon as the sealant completely dries out.
Safety
If you’re looking for a material for your swimming pool decks, cement may not be the right material for you. Cement gets slippery when wet, or when paint and sealant are applied. If the concrete is slippery, falls can happen.
On the other hand, pavers are not slippery as concrete. You can even choose pavers with raised edges for grip.
