Comments on: The Advantage of Pavers vs. Concrete

By: Gordo

Gordo — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 03:47:23 +0000

I like your site, Very useful information. Keep it going.

By: Gordo

Gordo — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 03:46:29 +0000

I enjoy your site. Keep up the good work

By: Chris

Chris — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 14:15:13 +0000

I have a mid-rise residential building (150 units) and the contractor has indicated that doing all pavers in the parking lot (parking stalls and drive) will save me a considerable amount of money. I like the look but I question the durability of pavers in the drive area where cars and light trucks (no service trucks) will be driving over it consistently. Thoughts anyone? Thanks!

By: KevinPigg

KevinPigg — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 10:58:13 +0000

I really like Pavers. I am working on a post to explain step by step of installing them. Thanks for responding

By: Concrete Pavers

Concrete Pavers — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 02:04:09 +0000

Great post. As you say, they are slightly more expensive than concrete option, but overall the better investment.

By: KevinPigg

KevinPigg — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 11:32:17 +0000

Yes, with all the construction, we must do little things to help anytime we can. Thanks for that.

By: Maria

Maria — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 03:44:31 +0000

Pretty cool post. I just came across your site and wanted to say
that I have really liked browsing your posts. Anyway
I’ll be subscribing to your feed and I hope you write again soon!

By: Reuben Freed

Reuben Freed — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 02:50:06 +0000

While we're thinking about the pavement, let's wonder about rain water that falls on it and what happens once it hits the impervious surface – where does it go? to your storm drain? and then? into a culvert and then to a creek or river and eventually into the ocean.. ? And what is washing down with it? Fertilizer? Oil? You get the picture… I'm sure you've seen pavers that allow rainwater to percolate through them, pervious pavers that can take the weight of a truck but allow water into the layers of gravel and soil below the hard surface, filtering out the impurities until it gets to an aquifer, there to be stored and be used again… Hard, impervious paved surfaces store up heat to radiate it back at night, and shed water into overloaded drainage systems in storm events, causing flooding erosion and and damage to property. Think twice before you pave or concrete your yard- there are other choices that will serve you well and be much kinder to your environment.

By: Frank

Frank — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 20:47:19 +0000

All good points about the comparative advantages. I'd add the fact that pavers can be reused, reconfigured, relocated, resold, etc. whereas concrete is there to stay, or be thrown away (it is possible to recycle it in various ways, but it involves additional energy.) Over the long haul, this quality means pavers have a lower environmental cost (in terms of energy embodiment and material waste). It also means pavers are a better investment; they can change as your needs change. And no matter what you build, sooner or later you'll want to change it somehow.

I highly recommend brick pavers, also, which are more expensive, but far more durable than concrete pavers. Since they are a natural material, they are less likely to go out of style (are more "timeless") than many of the popular "new" colors in concrete pavers. If you choose a concrete paver, I recommend a single color, or a very subtle color blend for a more timeless quality.