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Is it cheaper to pour concrete or use pavers?

Standard concrete slabs are generally lower in cost per square foot than the alternative. Typically, you will pay 10%-15% more if you choose paving stones over standard concrete slabs. If you decide to upgrade to stamped concrete, paving stones will most likely cost you the same or even less in most cases.

installitdirect.com - Pavers vs Concrete: Cost & Benefits | Install-It Direct
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Pavers vs Concrete: Comparing the Costs and Benefits

In This Article

If you are considering replacing or adding a walkway, patio, or driveway to your outdoor living area, you may become befuddled over the myriad of choices you have. Some paving materials are more cost-effective than others, and certain types are more durable and easier to maintain. In this article, we go through the options when deciding between pavers and concrete.

Concrete vs. Pavers: Fast Facts

Standard concrete slabs are generally lower in cost per square foot than the alternative. Typically, you will pay 10%-15% more if you choose paving stones over standard concrete slabs. If you decide to upgrade to stamped concrete, paving stones will most likely cost you the same or even less in most cases. While a concrete slab is more affordable upfront, the long-term costs for repairs and/or replacements will almost always outweigh the initial savings. The most commonly used paving material today are concrete slabs and paving stones. With the two most common paving materials in mind, deciding between patio pavers or concrete slabs is still a difficult task. To get a better idea of these specific costs, we are going to compare different costs for each based off a 1,000 square foot area.

Paver Installation Costs

The installation of interlocking pavers has multiple factors that help determine the final cost. Depending on the material used and installation company, prices will vary, as will the quality of work. FAST FACT: For a 1,000 square foot area, installing pavers will take about five days to complete by a crew of four to five. Paving stones require a lot more preparation, which makes for a more labor intensive installation. The paver installation process includes: excavation, grading, sub-base compaction, geotextile fiber install, base preparation, base compaction, sand preparation, laying the pavers, cutting the borders, preparing the bond beam, compacting the stones and, finally, sealing the pavers upon completion. Since there is no curing time with paving stones, the paver installation is ready to use immediately upon completion. Also, if the grading happened to be slightly off or settling occurred later down the line, the pavers can easily be readjusted to correct the issue by removing them, regrading the problem area and replacing the stones. When getting an estimate for paver installation, you should expect to pay a minimum of $15 per square foot for a quality paving stone installation. For a 1,000 square foot installation area, the cost will be about $15,000.

Pros:

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Cons:

Require a lot of preparation labor

If you want to learn more about the specifics of a paving stone installation, check out our ​paver installation price guide​. If you would like to calculate the cost of pavers for a specific project, we also have a ​paver costs calculator​.

Concrete Slab Installation Costs

As a common material choice for most patios and walkways, the price of installing concrete slabs comes down to similar factors of installing interlocking pavers. Concrete slabs are somewhat easy to install, but the material takes time to dry and cure, which means that your driveway, patio or walkway cannot be used until this curing process is completed. The installation process includes excavation, grading, preparation of the foundation, setting forms, and pouring the concrete. Because a minimum order may be required, you may end up paying for more concrete than you need. One of the major downsides to concrete is it can crack when the ground below it flexes, if tree roots grow beneath the slab or for other reasons as it ages. It is also very important to get the grading just right with a concrete installation, as it can be a very costly error to fix once the concrete has been poured. Improper concrete grading can lead to low spots which will retain water, leaving discolorations and staining. For a simple quality concrete slab installation with no texturing/stamping, the estimated average cost is roughly $13 per square foot. This equates to $13,000 for a 1,000 square foot patio, walkway, or driveway.

Winner: Concrete

Concrete slabs are the cheapest option up to install. However, they come with stipulations like drying time and potential cracks/distortions.

Paver Repair Costs

Throughout the life of your patio, walkway, or driveway, a few paving stones will break. Since pavers are a flexible paving material and an individual paver can be swapped, replacement and repair costs are simple and affordable. Depending on if you DIY or hire a professional, paving stone repair can range from $15 to $125+. Keep in mind, if you choose to work with a quality paving stone installation crew, there may be a warranty on both the paving stones and installation. Here at Install-It-Direct, the paving stones we install have a lifetime guarantee against cracking and breaking. Also, our labor and installation has a warranty of two years!

installitdirect.com - Pavers vs Concrete: Cost & Benefits | Install-It Direct
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