What is Concrete Pavers & what is the advantages and Disadvantages of Concrete Pavers?

Concrete pavers are made from cement and aggregate that is poured into forms, compressed, and air cured. Concrete can be formed into all sorts of shapes and sizes and pigmented in a wide range of colors.

Advantages of Concrete Pavers:

• Less Expensive: Concrete pavers are less expensive than brick, due to the lower cost of raw materials.
• More Choice: Concrete offers far more design and color options than brick. If you can imagine it, you can make it happen with concrete pavers.
• Innovation: New and better concrete pavers are being designed all the time, so you might even find choices that correct the known downsides of concrete.
• Easier to Install: Concrete pavers are precisely uniform and easier to cut, so they’re a popular choice for DIY projects.

Disadvantages of Concrete Pavers:

• Color Can Fade: Since they’re dyed with color pigments rather than natural clay, concrete pavers can fade over time, especially in sunny areas.
• May Need Sealing: Optional sealants can help prolong the color in concrete pavers but add to maintenance.
• Surface Erosion: While brick tends to wear by chipping or cracking, concrete wears more gradually, eroding away the smooth finish and exposing more of the aggregate underneath. Over time, the surface of concrete pavers might look worn while brick stays retain their surface.
• Varying Quality: Concrete varies widely in strength and durability depending on the manufacturer’s recipe, and sometimes it’s hard to know what kind of quality you’re getting. I’ve seen gorgeous concrete pavers that looked like natural stone, and I’ve also worked with cheap ones that crumbled and cracked before I even got started.
• Shorter Life Span: While initially holding up better to traffic than brick, concrete pavers have a shorter lifespan (a couple of decades vs. generations).