Poured Concrete VS Pavers
Which is better for patios and walkways, poured concrete or pavers?
Pavers are better….
Poured Concrete VS Pavers
Which is better poured concrete or pavers? Answer: Pavers. We get asked this question all the time. The fact that paver patios and walkways don’t crack or shift as easily as poured concrete makes pavers the clear choice. For all the years that we’ve been installing paver patios and walkways, we’ve also been pouring concrete for our clients when it is needed. Familiarity with both poured concrete and pavers has informed our opinion. Paver patios and walkways are more flexible than poured concrete patios and walkways. The same is true for modular concrete retaining wall block vs poured concrete retaining walls. The fact that pavers and retaining wall blocks are individual units each joined together in groupings give them more flexibility when land shifts and moves. Flexibility allows patios and walkways to age without cracking and shifting.
Pavers make longer lasting patios and walkways
Why Pavers Are Better: More Bang for the Buck
In an ideal world, both poured concrete and pavers would be equally long lived. While Minnesota is ideal in many ways, the fact of the matter is the ground here shifts around a lot due to water flow and freeze and thaw cycles. Paver patios and walkways are very unlikely to crack or shift if installed correctly with a 4-6” compacted gravel base. The same is not true of a poured concrete walkway or patio. Because of the large surface area being covered, a poured concrete patio or walkway needs to be installed with footings as deep as 5’ in order to avoid shifting. Contractors rarely install poured concrete patios or walkways with 5’ deep footings because it would make costs too high. Instead, most poured concrete patios and walkways are installed on 2-4” of compacted gravel. This leaves poured concrete patios vulnerable to shifting and cracking within only a few years of being installed.
When you invest in a new patio or walkway, you want it to last for as long as possible and you want it to look good, every-day. If the question is “should I use pavers or poured concrete for my patio”, pavers are the clear choice.
Contact Minnehaha Falls Landscaping today to schedule an on-site consultation so we can start planning your paver patio and walkway today!
