Paver Sizes & Shapes
Concrete pavers come in a tremendous variety of shapes and sizes –- from small 4″x8″ and 6″x6″ all that way up to 24” slabs, as well as irregular and plank shapes. Clay brick pavers typically only come in 4″x8″ sizes.
Paver Finishes & Styles
While brick pavers all have a similar face, concrete pavers are available in an endless array of finishes — including smooth finishes, natural stone textures, cobbled looks, antique tumbled looks and more. Most concrete paver finishes incorporate blends of colors, and many have unique faces created with specialized aggregates.
Paver Colors
Clay brick pavers are typically only available in a limited number of shades or color blends. However, concrete pavers are available in a wide array of hues and color blends — including warm color tones, cool color tones, deep shades, and variegated color blends. This allows for greater design flexibility and the ability to create more coordinated outdoor designs. Unlike most brick pavers, some concrete pavers also have built-in protectants to help prevent the color from fading over time.
Consistent Paver Sizes
Concrete pavers are made in a highly controlled environment, allowing for more uniformed and consistent shapes and sizes within a particular style. This allows for more efficient installation. Brick pavers can often be warped as part of the firing process, which can make installation more challenging.
Coordinating Design Elements
Concrete pavers are often designed to specifically coordinate with adjacent vertical products — such as retaining walls, outdoor kitchen and fireplace kits and fire pit kits — in terms of style, texture and color. This makes it easier to plan coordinated outdoor living spaces. Although clay bricks can be used to construct vertical design elements, doing so is a longer, more complex masonry process.
Paver Design Flexibility
With brick pavers, designs are limited to running bond, herringbone and basket-weave paver laying patterns. However, with concrete pavers, the design options are endless. You can mix and match various shapes, sizes, finishes and colors to create unique outdoor living designs.
Paver Durability
Clay is fairly unpredictable, and some clay bricks are prone to cracking in freeze/thaw environments. Belgard concrete pavers are manufactured to handle extreme weather conditions and come with a lifetime transferable warranty against cracking or breaking.
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10 comments
Why is it that some pavers wear away to reveal small stones and if I choose concrete pavers, how can I avoid this from happening, especially where rainwater beats down on my pool lanai?
Over time the finer sands that make up the surface of the paver will gradually wear and erode. This is a natural process that should take decades, but can be more of an issue wherever water is running across consistently (from a downspout for example). The best way to prevent this (or stop it) is to apply a paver sealant. Techniseal provides a variety of options. Some will provide more gloss than others, and some with enhance the color if it’s slightly faded (Colorboost).
The comment about concrete paver’s durability v clay is simply incorrect. For concrete pavers’ finish and color to not erode and deteriorate, the company itself tells you to apply sealant. Clay pavers don’t. Moreover, some clay pavers have been in service for well over a century; just check out Boston’s Beacon Hill. Unless there is a concrete segmental paving system anywhere near 100 years old that is in service today, the claim about superior durability simply does not hold water.
Thank you for your response. You are absolutely correct in that some clay pavers do stand the test of time under certain conditions. However, clay is a natural product and by default subject to variability. Durability can be particularly unpredictable in certain climates. Belgard concrete pavers, however, undergo thousands of hours of rigorous R&D testing to ensure durability and are even backed by a warranty.
It’s cool that you point out that concrete pavers come in a lot of different colors. I want to have a stylish patio in my yard, so I’m considering having a concrete paver one installed. I’m going to search for a reputable business in my area that can build a patio out of concrete pavers for me.
It’s valuable that you mention that concrete pavers look great if you are planning on having an outdoor fireplace installed in your yard. I’d like to buy an outdoor fireplace at some point, so I’m thinking about having a concrete paver patio installed first. I’m going to look for a reputable business in my area that can install a concrete paver patio in my backyard for me.
Thanks for the great post on brick pavers vs concrete pavers! I’m a big fan of both and have used them both in my backyard.
Thanks for reading the blog!
Next, they’ll try to convince you that the Romans used concrete pavers, not clay ones! Clay wins in the durability category by CENTURIES! Come to Minnesota and see the concrete ones fall apart with the weather within ten years. Meanwhile, my clay paver sidewalk has not required one single brick replacement in 27 years (I collected a stack at the end of the project, thinking I would need to replace some. Not one single brick has needed to be replaced from wear, zero cracking, chipping. It’s a fifty foot sidewalk, clay brick paver). It’s the best investment I’ve made on the property. I am considering replacing the asphalt driveway which now costs me just over $400 every year to have sealed by Jet Black.
You are one of the lucky ones. We’ve had many customers with cracked clay pavers resulting from the freeze/thaw issues in your area. Belgard pavers are manufactured with a high compressive strength to help withstand those conditions. We cannot attest to the same quality for the concrete products in the market that are made by other companies. Our pavers have a lifetime transferrable warranty.