The Benefits of Pavers vs. Concrete for Your Driveway

Considering the benefits of pavers vs. concrete for your driveway means having to wade through several common misconceptions before arriving at a conclusion about what’s best for your home. Though concrete is widely recognized for its strength and durability, the truth about their long-term resilience on a driveway may actually surprise you. Pavers, on the other hand, are usually seen as an aesthetic choice and not a practical one. Though it’s easy to assume which material would be better for your driveway, a deeper delve into the facts indicates that pavers are much more than meets the eye – and, before investing in a significant driveway renovation, it’s important to be informed. That’s why we’re going over the benefits of pavers and concrete based on three crucial categories: durability, practicality, and cost. To learn about which material is actually most compatible with your home, lifestyle, and budget, keep on reading.

Concrete is just about the strongest material you can use to pave your driveway…right? Though there’s no denying that concrete is (generally speaking) very durable, ask yourself: how many times have you seen a cracked or chipped concrete driveway first-hand? Chances are that several come to mind. This is because concrete is actually very prone to cracking and breaking over time. This wear-and-tear is exacerbated by factors like changing temperatures and heavy pressure (read: cars coming in and out regularly).

Pavers, on the other hand, take up a smaller surface area individually. This makes them more resistant to things like cracking, breaking, and general wear-and-tear. On the off chance that cracking or chipping does happen with pavers, they’re also much easier to repair than concrete: individual pavers can be replaced without disrupting the rest of your driveway while repairing concrete is a much more extensive process.

One of the most important concerns to take into account when considering pavers vs. concrete for your driveway is practicality. We’re breaking this down further into two categories: maintenance and safety.

Though concrete is easier to clean than pavers, it is more prone to permanent staining over time. This is largely because pavers are more water-resistant than concrete, making it more difficult for water to pool on pavers and cause discoloration. This resistance to water also makes pavers a safer choice than concrete, as they’re far less likely to cause slipping and falling.

When considering the cost of pavers vs. concrete for your driveway, it’s important to think about both short- and long-term expenses. Generally speaking, concrete installation carries lower up-front costs (usually between $5 and $10 per square foot before labor costs) than paver installation (usually between $10 and $20 per square foot before labor costs). However, that doesn’t automatically mean that concrete is the more economical choice in the long term. In fact, because concrete is more prone to breakage, likely to stain, and more difficult to repair and replace, its long-term costs outweigh those of pavers over time.

When considering the benefits of pavers vs. concrete for your driveway, it’s important to delve beyond assumptions and get down to the facts. Though it may be tempting to write pavers off as an impractical choice, that actually couldn’t be further from the truth: pavers are built to stay intact longer, keep your driveway safer, and create a more appealing look than concrete. If you’re looking for a long-lasting, quality material for your driveway, look no further than pavers. To learn more about finding the perfect pavers for your home, check out our new eBook!