There is more to know when choosing a pavement than meets the
eye.

As a conscientious homeowner, you want assurance that the
pavement for your walkway, driveway, patio, or pool deck will
look beautiful for a long time, require little maintenance, stand
up to the weather, and return it's cost to you. They should also
be easy to clean or repair as well as compliment the style of
your home.

The popularity of paving stones is sky-rocketing, and it's easy
to understand why. With advances in the skill and technique of
laying pavers improving, as well as recent price drops – the
unrivaled beauty, upkeep, and long-term cost efficiency of
properly executed paving stone installations are becoming more
and more apparent.

The following table exemplifies the benefits and disadvantages of
all common paving materials.

Fill out the Instant Estimate Form on the right
or call us directly (818-244-4000) for a paving stone design
consultation which includes a thorough education by our trained
professionals in the difference between concrete pavers, clay
pavers, poured concrete, stamped concrete, and bricks. Our
representative will also conduct a complete evaluation of the
area where you want to install the paving stones and recommend
the best type and style to match your home's landscaping and your
budget.

Concrete

Concrete is the most common paving method used, along with
asphalt. It comes in either grey or brown, and will look
generally the same at your home as any other's. It's low cost per
square foot makes it the natural choice of many homeowners as it
initially appears relatively inexpensive. In actuality, however,
the inevitable cracking of concrete leads to a long-term cost
that's far greater than installing paving stones, without any of
the benefits pavers offer.

By its nature, concrete shrinks and therefore cracks. Cracks are
immediately apparent, visible within 0 to 2 days of placement,
while drying-shrinkage cracks develop over time. The reason
contractors place joints in concrete pavements and floors is to
allow the concrete to crack in a neat, straight line at the
joint, where concrete cracks due to shrinkage are expected to
occur.

As you can imagine, the cost of upkeep required by concrete
quickly catches up to the price of paving stones, which are
warranted for life. In fact, the average homeowner will spend
approximately eight to eleven dollars a square foot when
replacing existing concrete!

Stamped Concrete

Stamping concrete is a common way of attaining the patterns
associated with paving stones at what is assumed to be a cheaper
cost than actual pavers.

The "stamping" happens after the concrete has been poured and
just before it sets up. There are several methods of stamping,
but the most common is to use a rubber mat like material with the
desired pattern molded into one side. Control joints are placed
in the concrete in an effort to have the cracks follow the
joints, but this does not always happen and the cracks can appear
anywhere in the newly finished concrete.

Unfortunately, stamped concrete is just as prone to crack if not
more so than regular concrete, due to the ridges etched out which
create the paving stone look. In addition, just like regular
concrete, for each repair that stamped concrete requires the
uglier it gets. Trying to match the removed, cracked portion of
any concrete job with a new piece is impossible without leaving
scars.

Concrete is usually colored before it is poured. There are
standard colors that can be added to the concrete as it goes into
the truck, but the colors are not entirely predictable, and often
vary from the intended color.

Asphalt

Asphalt, along with concrete, is the most common pavement.

Asphalt however has less durability than other paving methods,
less tensile strength than concrete, the tendency to become slick
and soft in hot weather, and it releases a certain amount of
hydrocarbon pollution to soil, groundwater and waterways.

Like concrete, asphalt is prone to crack. Freeze and thaw cycles,
deterioration from settlements and salt, and regular wear and
weather breakdown are among the leading reasons for asphalt
repair. In addition, asphalt requires a new black seal coat every
2-3 years.

Asphalt repairs leave the same "patch" look as concrete repairs,
where the repaired asphalt will be different in color and/or
texture, and will never match the original pavement.

Brick

Traditional brick patios are built over a 4-inch concrete slab.
The bricks are set in a mortar bed and leveled one at a time,
then all the spaces between the bricks are filled with a grout.

Not only is this process rather expensive because one is building
two surfaces, but the grouted bricks and the concrete bed they
are placed in have no flexibility once they are set, and are sure
to crack at some point.

Interlocking brick patios are far more economical because they
are set in sand, like paving stones, instead of in mortar over
concrete. This allows the brick or paving stone flexibility, and
eliminates cracking all together.

Bricks however, despite being relatively expensive, are very
limited in their color, shape, and pattern options. In addition,
their natural surface variations lead to frequent damage and
chipping.

Flagstone

Flagstone is a generic term for thin flat rock that is used for
and limited to paving flat surfaces. Flagstone is named from the
location of the quarry it comes from. Arizona red is a reddish
sand stone; Pennsylvania blue is a grey blue; Beijing green comes
all the way from China. The cost of the stone is proportional to
the shipping distance.

Usually a concrete slab is poured and the stone is set in mortar
on the slab. However, in the interest of economy and longevity of
the job, the stones can be set directly over the soil. This way
the stones will then be able to move and shift over time. They
will sometimes need adjustments, but will be much more flexible
and less likely to crack when set in sand or soil.

Gravel

Gravel is defined as any loose rock that is at least two
millimeters in its largest dimension (about 1/12 of an inch) and
no more than 75 millimeters (about 3 inches).

Gravel is not as popular as other paving materials in the United
States, but globally far more roads are surfaced with gravel than
with concrete or tarmac.

Gravel obviously does not offer the same beauty as other paving
surfaces, and is normally used where aesthetics is of lower
concern. Regular leveling and adding of gravel due to ruts
forming is required to maintain the original look.

Paving Stone

With advances in the skill and technique of laying pavers
improving as well as recent price drops – the unrivaled beauty,
upkeep, and long-term cost efficiency of a properly executed
paving stone installation is becoming more and more apparent.

Paving stones come in a wide variety of surface finishes, colors,
shapes, as well as laying patterns to compliment and beautify the
architectural style of any home. (see our paving stone
gallery ). With a minimum rating of 8000 psi, paving stones
are also the strongest paving material – rivaled only by brick -
but unlike brick or other paving types, our paving stones come
with a
lifetime warranty .

Furthermore, one of the biggest advantages of paving stone is
that if a repair ever becomes necessary, stained or broken pavers
can be replaced easily, without leaving ugly patches or scars.

In Summary

Traditional concrete, asphalt, brick and gravel pavements clearly
pale in comparison to paving stones. For more information on
pavers please visit our interlocking
paving stone index.

Flagstone is a general term given to sedimentary rock used in paving and landscaping. Sedimentary rock is formed over time by strong pressure and heat, which forces together layers of small particles and creates a strong, dense mass. This formation is then split into thin sheets which we call flagstone.

Flagstone is most commonly a sandstone mix, but can also be made from limestone or quartz stone. It comes in different thicknesses, usually ranging from a half an inch to about two inches. Common colors are red, beige, brown and pink, but you can also find it in green, blue or white.

There are several benefits to using flagstone for your patio or pool deck. For one, they’re very durable and will last a long time. Because of their strength, they don’t need the type of soil base concrete pavers need, which makes installation easier. They also have a natural look and rich color, making them a top choice for home beautification.

The denser the stone, the more durable it is and the less maintenance required. Quartzite is a very dense stone and will last a long time without needing much care. Sandstone is a softer stone, and while still durable, is more prone to flaking and deterioration. You can also have your flagstone sealed, which will protect it and keep it lasting longer.

To learn more about flagstone or to get started on your next paving project, fill out our instant estimate form or give us a call at: (818)244-4000.