Should i get pavers

You can also use a level to check how even the surface is. Next comes a 1-inch layer of sand — but make sure you use the proper type. Concrete sand, also called bedding sand, is the best choice; it is coarser than all-purpose or sandbox sand, as well as masonry and limestone varieties.

Sand will interlock your pavers and will harden and stay in place for a long time. These are usually made of metal, plastic or aluminum. Nearly every backyard paver installation will require you to cut some of the pavers to get a perfect fit. You can do this with a masonry saw rented from your local home improvement store or trust this job to a landscaping contractor. Keep in mind that even if your color scheme is monochromatic, the hue, lightness or darkness may differ slightly from pallet to pallet.

Once your pavers are in place, seal the cracks between by appplying a shallow layer of sand. Again, no playbox sand! Pavers are much easier to repair than concrete.

To repair paving stones, you need to pull up the problem area and sometimes the surrounding stones , adjust the base, and re-lay the stones. Fortunately, removing and replacing pavers is quite easy and requires a couple of hand tools and a short amount of time. Plus, your pavers will look the same as they did before the repair—if not better. Most people that do home renovation projects do so for two reasons: beauty and utility. A new walkway to your front door, new patio in your backyard, or a new driveway has to solve a practical need and a visual one.

Concrete can be stunning, particularly when polished, sealed with a glossy finish, or stamped with a texture that resembles brick, slate, flagstone, stone, tile, and wood. The image above depicts exposed aggregate concrete; down the middle of the driveway is a typical concrete slab. On the right side, near the bushes, they used a larger stone mix to give the concrete some character.

Paving stones have almost endless design options, shapes, and colors. There are many styles of pavers that you can use to match your taste and complete any hardscape project. You can also install pavers in a variety of patterns and styles like smooth, rustic, cobbled, and textured.

Each has a unique look and feel. Regarding paver colors , you can choose from light grey, dark grey, tan, brown, and red. You can combine the individual colors into a variety of blends that bring everything together. Not to mention, our color mixture saturates the entire paver—inside and out—so the color will last a long time.

Most importantly, pavers can be walked-on immediately after installed, where concrete requires cure time. Not to mention, it can take longer to properly pour a concrete pad than lay a paver patio.

This is especially true for small projects. No matter how useful, beautiful, or long-lasting a product can be, the decision to use it always depends on value. Which is the most cost-effective? Which improves the value of your property? However, you will save money in the long run with less costly and easier maintenance. The cost of a paver installation is about 30 percent higher than a stamped concrete patio.

Ongoing maintenance of concrete will eventually cost more than a paver patio. Also, consider that weed seeds will very likely work their way into joints not topped with sand. Unattended, they will take over your paver patio.

To completely renovate a weedy patio cleaning out the joints and new poly sand installation is required. Keep in mind that professional services are available for the cleaning and restoration of paver patios.

Whether or not to install a paver patio is a decision made after weighing the pros and cons. There are advantages and disadvantages. Talk to an expert and do research to find the patio that fits your durability and design needs. Login Remember me. This ultimately means that concrete pavers are the most cost-effective option overall. Why exactly do concrete pavers offer the greatest value in the long run? Although installing concrete pavers technically costs more money than pouring concrete slabs, the truth is that poured concrete slabs come with higher costs overall when you take into account the repairs they require over their lifespan.

Poured concrete slabs will crack when presented with encroaching tree roots, freezing and thawing cycles, and other disturbances in the ground underneath.