Patios. Concrete VS Pavers

[lovemachine]

Patios. Which do you like best, concrete or pavers?

 

[bobbittle]

I prefer the look of pavers.

 

[stephen87]

+1 more for pavers.

 

[Indy_Guy_77]

Tough call, man!

One can do some really cool stuff with stampings and stains... As well as buy some really cool pavers.

But plain concrete vs semi decorative pavers...go pavers. But be prepared for settling and weeds. (Not that a pad is immune from settling and cracks).

Might just come down to economics!

 

[Titanium Man]

+1 more for pavers.

Much less expensive if you do them yourself.

 

[lovemachine]

Tough call, man!

One can do some really cool stuff with stampings and stains... As well as buy some really cool pavers.

But plain concrete vs semi decorative pavers...go pavers. But be prepared for settling and weeds. (Not that a pad is immune from settling and cracks).

Might just come down to economics!

If I went concrete, it would definetely be stamped and stained.

 

[bobbittle]

Tough call, man!

One can do some really cool stuff with stampings and stains... As well as buy some really cool pavers.

But plain concrete vs semi decorative pavers...go pavers. But be prepared for settling and weeds. (Not that a pad is immune from settling and cracks).

Might just come down to economics!

Done right.....settling and weeds won't be a problem.

 

[Brandon]

Done right.....settling and weeds won't be a problem.

+1
Pavers.

 

[Llamaguy]

Pavers look much nicer, but I've done it by hand and they're a pain.

 

[pjcalla]

Pavers. We went with natural stone, but either is better than concrete. No matter what, concrete is going to crack. Yes, you can "show" the concrete where you want it to crack, but there are no guarantees.

 

[lovemachine]

If anyone would want to post up pictures of their patio, it would be helpful.

I'm trying to come up with ideas

 

[terrehautian]

My fiance's parents have a paver patio, it is nice. Plus, tax wise it is cheaper then concrete (permanent). Also with pavers, one cracks, you just replace it. With concrete, either seal the crack or redo it.

 

[RugerRog]

We debated between the 2 as well, and we did a stamped and stained concrete - it does look good, and we have really enjoyed it.

The guys did a good job on getting the base down and they packed in gravel and sand I believe. They also used rebar to support. We did this about 9 years ago, and it was not cheap 4k maybe 4500. It is also big - 400 sq ft. That did include breaking up the old concrete patio and hauling away.

Two negatives, it did crack that was a bummer in the first year, and when it gets wet it is slick. I have fallen on it in the rain. It has a smoothed surface finish, and not brushed like 'plain' concrete.

If I could do it over, I think I'd go pavers.

 

[pjcalla]

Mine are up somewhere, can't remember the thread. I'll take updated pics tomorrow and put them up. How big of an area are you thinking about doing?

 

[obijohn]

Depends on how much your ground heaves during the freeze/thaw cycle. Pavers if there is a lot of movement as the mass will be more flexible, pour it if not.

 

[lovemachine]

Mine are up somewhere, can't remember the thread. I'll take updated pics tomorrow and put them up. How big of an area are you thinking about doing?

I'm hoping to include a firepit. But I need to do some figuring, I know that 20x20 is the largest I can go.

 

[kjf48197]

Pavers for me. In Indiana there are 2 kinds of concrete, the kind that has craked and the kind that will crack.

 

[public servant]

If anyone would want to post up pictures of their patio, it would be helpful.

I'm trying to come up with ideas

Wood.

 

[Boiled Owl]

When I was 20 wanted wood decks. Yep. Lots of fun rebuilding again and again.
Remember: TREE VERTICAL=Good, TREE HORIZONTAL=dead, decaying.

In my 30's new house went with pavers after living in the house for 5 years. (so the dirt was settled) The pavers FADE. Crap grows between them. Outside is retained and the sand washes out from underneath, so we take out a few here and there and reset them. Spray it for weeds. Algae grows on them, (North side of house)

So now I'm pushing 50. And I went with stamped concrete.

This is a 14X14' Patio slab that's been down since September. It is regular gray concrete, with a walnut release agent and a random stone pattern stamped in it. Two side faces are stamped as well. Then sealed. Surface is rough enough not to slip on.
Hasn't broke yet....

 

[AmericanBob]

Concrete does give you two guarantees. It will get hard and it will crack. Pavers don't really have cracking issues, but settlement issues are a whole other thing. They will move and shift and heave. The main thing with both of these materials is to make sure they have a proper base. That will help either material last longer. Pavers need compacted stone under compacted sand under them. I like compacted bases under concrete as well, either #8 stone or #53's is what I prefer. Pea gravel works ok under concrete as well but you can't compact it. I also think concrete needs rebar in it and the joints should be hand troweled in, not cut in the next day. Either one is going to move around on you. This is Indiana and our ground and winters are not kind to exterior masonry. So, just go with which on you like the look of the most and make sure the job is done right.