Paving Stones vs Others

The use of paving stones in the U.S. has increased tenfold. Areas such as shopping centers, new residential developments, intersections, city walks and parks have increasingly chosen to use paving stones for simple reasons. They are beautiful, durable, allow for ease of access if a repair is necessary, and they are much affordable. The explosion of popularity is also showing in residential use. Builders, H.O.A’s, property managers and home owners have been using paving stones as their first choice of pavement. Much like concrete, pavers have a price bracket, which in most cases is equal to, or less, than stamped concrete. Obviously, we have a bias towards paving stones since we are a paving stone installation company, however, the benefits of installing pavers over concrete, asphalt or gravel for driveways, walkways, patios or pools decks are clear. Pavers are at least 4 times stronger tham concrete, there are more pattern combinations available, more colors and textures available, prices are comparable to or less than stamped concrete, and the replacement of stained or broken stones is convenient. Try patching concrete or asphalt, it stands out.

Another plus in choosing pavers for your driveway, patio, walkway or pool deck is the warranty that comes along with the installation. A reliable installation company should guarantee its work. Generally, paving stone installations are warranted for at least three years against chipping or cracking, settling, lifting, spinning, turning or whatever – just not staining or fading. Again, try to match that warranty with concrete or asphalt.

As with most things, there is a certain amount of maintenance or upkeep to be expected with pavers. They should be swept, blown or sprayed off occasionally to keep dirt and grime down. Joint sand should be swept into the joints if it gets ½ inch or so below the bevel line. Weed growth should be sprayed with roundup or weed killer and any signs of sink spots should be addressed quickly to prevent stone degradation. While this may seem like a lengthy punch list, these steps don’t take an absorbent amount of time and should really be a rare occurrence. If you have a sink spot, it’s most likely a result of inadequate base from a poor installation and isn’t something that is considered a maintenance issue. In comparison, concrete should be resealed approximately every three years; concrete should be swept or sprayed off occasionally to keep clean; Cracks are pretty much inevitable and it would be smart to fill those to prevent weed growth and water penetration. Asphalt is brittle and needs to be re-sealed, re-tarred, lifted, patched and cleaned. It’s safe to say that paving stones require the least amount of upkeep.