Stamped concrete or Pavers in a desert climate (Mesquite: home, landscaping)

[jfitt]

We will be closing on our home in Mesquite next week. We are responsible for backyard landscaping and would like to extend our patio. For our current home in the Northeast, we have pavers. However, they have shifted during the 7 years they have been installed; due to weather (average of 100 inches of snow a year as well as frost, ice, temps below 0) we would never consider stamped concrete here.

We have a meeting with the landscaper and are trying to decide which material to use. Can anyone please share your thoughts as to which would be better for desert living? Thanks, so much.

[jhlcomp]

Go for the pavers. Stamped concrete will crack - it is bound to happen

[Espressoo]

If cost is not an issue, between the two choices, I would opt for pavers. If installed properly, pavers should outlast the concrete patio and home itself.

[goodbyehollywood]

Pavers aren't that much more than stamped concrete, and they look a lot nicer. Some installers tell you that stamped concrete rarely cracks, but mine cracked within months and it's very difficult to fix.

[doggiebus]

Go with pavers. Two neighbors of mine had their driveways done in stamped concrete (I know you are doing a patio) and one has some chipping after 1 year. The other had the driveway resealed which you are suppose to do every few years if you want it staying new looking. And after a month of the resealing , the entire thing was flaking off like nail polish. She had to have it totally repainted and sealed. If she could go back in time she said she would of gone with the pavers.

[geos]

Pavers are easy to reset if they shift and they're more environmentally friendly allowing rainwater to percolate into aquifers while it mostly evaporates off concrete.

[jfitt]

Hi Everyone-
Thanks for your feedback both here and via DM. We have totally dropped the idea of stamped concrete and will be using pavers. We have a lot to learn about desert living.

[olecapt]

Originally Posted by jfitt

Hi Everyone-
Thanks for your feedback both here and via DM. We have totally dropped the idea of stamped concrete and will be using pavers. We have a lot to learn about desert living.

You did good on your first one. Ain't no freezing and ice and expansion in the desert. Laid right it almost appears to be eternal. Make sure it is laid right though.

Note that they use them on Catalina Island in Avalon where the road can be torn up in big surfs. Every ten years. Pavers get whacked just like concrete or asphalt...but you just put the back and good as new.