Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
If you live where the ground freezes, go with the pavers. We have them at our camp in Maine and we are having the coldest winter in Maine history right now. We will not have concrete to crack.
Another vote for stamped and colored concrete. Looks almost as good as pavers without the uneven surface and as identified above, will not move or have grass/weeds growing in between them over time.
Stamped concrete. It is usually sealed and lasts forever. My brother did stamped concrete in his bathrooms as well as his wrap around patio. It is finished to look like river stones and looks natural. I still have flagstones around my house which were put down 40? years ago by a previous owner. I have removed some but it leaves gouges in the turf I don't like so I leave them alone. The zoysia usually covers them over.
Man, y'all aren't helping me at all! I was really hoping to hear how everyone loves pavers and hates concrete so I could validate The way I'm leaning. That's not what's happening!
Now, I'm starting to second guess whether I should reconsider stamped concrete.
Wow, pretty even on opinions. Maybe a few more voting for concrete.
IF, the price for concrete and pavers were the same, would those choosing concrete still go with that choice?
We don't get too much freeze/thaw down here. If it reaches freezing, it's really cold. Avg Jan/Feb high is low 50's.
Based on your climate you can do either effectively. The key thing is to get a contractor who knows how to install either method properly. I've seen many where seams for poured concrete are not planned appropriately (spacing / pattern issues) or pavers with what seemingly must have been incorrect foundation layers (subsequently problems).
Another thing to consider, depending on relationship and context of patio to house, is a hybrid that uses pavers for accent. When my parents old brick patio was removed due to poor planning (large trees too close to house as well as planted amongst the bricks causing heaving roots) I designed a rounded off slightly off square pad (about 12 x 14) to distinguish it from the strait lines of portions of house and had the concrete workers use the red bricks vertically oriented like hashes around the perimeter. It was done over 22 years ago and still looks great (harsh climate w freeze thaw).
Then for gas grill I made another adjacent pad from left over 18 inch square hearthstone pavers in a pattern three rows of four with bricks between and set it on a deep lime scale base. A few pavers cracked but other than that still looks great thought it gets weeds between because of irregularity of edges causing gaps.
As others mentioned, the disadvantages of pavers/ bricks is occasional weeds - though, if done correctly, they are minimal.
Poured decorative concrete has advantage with new technology to be made to look pretty much however you want. Drawback, when sealed ( and smooth finish) tends to be more slippery than most any pavers - and depending on climate, can heave (you won't have that problem). This can be avoided simply by looking at orientation of water drainage (roof lines etc) and grading properly where it is being poured.
I would match architectural style (say a Mediterranean / California style I presume based on your climate) with complementary patio design. Say, inlaid pavers on stamped concrete to highlight some motif which you may have in rooms which exit onto the patio. So many possibilities!
Last edited by ciceropolo; 02-23-2015 at 08:19 PM..
The reason I don't like pavers is the uneveness which develops. It makes the patio furniture wobbly in some places. Also, the young kids would trip on it sometimes.
I used pavers with this house but I wish I had used concrete. Weeds and moss are a constant problem between pavers. While I can power wash concrete I can't power wash pavers as aggressively. I blast out any sand between pavers.
We once used natural, irregular heavy stone for a walkway and a patio. We planted herbs between the stones. Ever consider that option? No frost heave, just low growing herbs or plants which help to cement in the stone?
Pour concrete and have them stamp it and make it look like pavers. Better yet, build a deck.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
