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PAVING STONES vs STAMPED CONCRETE!

Paving Stones Vs Stamped Concrete, Pro’s and Con’s.

Before we get into a bit more about the differences between “Concrete vs. Pavers”, we should mention the difference between “Concrete Contractors” and “Landscape Contractors”.

Contractors for either of the above-mentioned products could be described as experienced long-term contractors, with lots of equipment and experienced staff, versus someone new breaking into the business, perhaps undercapitalized and with limited experience. Methods employed by these two installation crews can vary greatly. This affects the pricing and quality of the project.

Ground Preparation – excavation depth, tamping pressure and tools used, rebar (rebar size and spacing for concrete are crucial)

Pavers/Concrete – There are 3 types of Pavers and numerous qualities of Concrete

Concrete Pressure Relief Joints – Depth of cuts and experience dictates where cuts should be.

Concrete Sealers – There are many more sealers on the market now. Silicate Based, Acrylic, and water based densifiers are common with some contractors. Prairie Concrete in Saskatoon is a good source for your information on Sealers.

Most Canadian suppliers are selling “Concrete Pavers”, although there are “Brick Pavers”, mostly shipped from the USA. Both pavers are cast under heat, making them strong. The brick pavers are made from clay and shale. They are a little more prone to efflorescence, typically brick pavers are available mostly in red or reddish brown earthy tones while concrete pavers come in a variety of colours.

Concrete purchased by reputable companies is normally a minimum 30mpa, or Dura mix. Dura mix is a standard trademark used by Saskatchewan Redi-mix plants, meeting a minimum standard used in our freeze thaw climates. With the addition of colours to mixes, sometimes the mix design in your concrete may be optimized or modified slightly.

 

There is no doubt that properly maintained concrete driveway or patio can stand up very well. Notwithstanding, a concrete slab, in high water table area, high clay saturation in a freeze thaw climate will have movement and crack. But the concrete slab will stay flat, and if the rebar was positioned and lifted, and the concrete was of a good quality and maintained through the use of sealers and rinsing off the road-salts in spring, it will wear very well.

The biggest complaint with paving stones seems to be ground movement. Once the pavers start to move and separate they sink, and gaps occur. My understanding is that most Paving Stone companies have maintenance or are willing to re-lift the pavers.Most of them do offer a warranty for this service. (usually for 1 year) Paving stones are a very hard product and stand up well to salt without the use of sealers. A good size paving stone driveway may take a week or longer to install. It would be costly to be forced to continually pay and have them come and level your paving stones. This may be one of the reasons you will see more driveways made of concrete. Price is another factor!

 

Q: Rachelle Nieman: Do you offer paving stone/brick pavers as an additional option to concrete stamping? With paving apparently, there is no cracking that still happens with stamping?

A: Unfortunately we don’t offer a paving stone option. We have focused our talent and resources on perfecting Decorative Concrete. You are correct that “pavers” don’t crack. They do shift or settle however because they are not reinforced with rebar/steel.

Concrete does have a matte of rebar that holds the structure together. If the rebar is adequately designed the cracks will remain “hairline” cracks. Concrete is often more affordable than pavers.

Q: M Liz Beisel: What is the most popular product for driveways and how long does it take from start to finish?

A: A driveway can be fully installed in a day but generally it takes about 2 days for a regular sized driveway with a walkway. Our most popular decorative concrete designs are a “texture mat” finish which stands out like river bedrock. Another very exclusive design is “Cypress Slate” which looks like quarried slate rock tiles which can be colored/stained.   

Q: Deenna Dekker: How long from start to completion does it generally take for n average driveway …I am assuming the weather is a factor?

A: It generally takes 2 days.

Q: Kim Krivoshein: Do you do round pools? Do you offer resin based products or just concrete? What would you recommend as best option?

A: W Decorative concrete if improperly installed, is extremely slippery. If the concrete has a steel trowel used on it in the finishing process the fine sands and concrete particles are brought to the surface. When an acrylic sealer coats the top the surface it becomes even more dangerous.

Our method keeps the coarse materials at the surface of the concrete. So much so that it has the traction of a grey “broomed” brush finish. Our techniques are so successful that Paradise (pools) and Leisurescapes will only contract with us for pool decks. Chlorine and Saltwater in pools react differently with different material. Of course, we prefer concrete for its traction and its durability. Decorative Concrete requires more cleaning than wood decks but we believe that one would enjoy their outdoor living space significantly more. 

Q: Crystal Gharini: Can I cement over a crumbling driveway or does it need to be completely redone? Please help!!!

A: If it is a decorative concrete pattern it can be restored. If it is a grey broomed finish there are options to restore it although the color match is difficult to achieve. If it is a small repair it will probably last longer than a large repair and prevent the spread of the concrete deterioration. For grey driveways with extensive crumbling, we suggest that it be removed. It is better to invest in new materials that repair older failing materials. I wouldn’t use concrete over older concrete in significant amounts. It will usually crumble off.  

Q: Sean Boyko: What is the cost comparison between your product and brick? What is the lifespan comparison? 

A: We are not experts on Brick paving stones but some generalizations about the industry are they are more expensive compared to concrete. The pavers can have an extremely long life but are more subject to ground movement. Concrete if installed and maintained correctly, should last 20-50 years in Saskatchewan. It might require touchups.

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Here they share a tip on Common Questions About Concrete Driveways:

How do I find the right contractor to install my driveway?

• Look at decorative concrete driveways in your neighbourhood and get the names of the contractors who installed the driveways that appeal to you most. Be sure to ask the homeowners about their experience with the contractor and the quality of the workmanship.
• Get references from friends, homebuilders or local ready-mix suppliers.
• Get names through your local directories.

Once you come up with a list of contractors, be sure to ask for references and get a list of projects in your area that you can check out. Also ask how long the contractor has been in business if they're insured, whether they have any professional certifications, and if they offer a warranty for their work. 

Do I need to seal my new concrete driveway?You should apply a high-quality sealer to all exterior concrete slabs exposed to freeze-thaw conditions. The sealer helps protect the concrete from moisture absorption, exposure to chemicals, and grease and oil stains. On decorative colored concrete, a sealer will also help enhance the color 

Generally, there are two categories of sealers for exterior concrete: film-formers and penetrants. Penetrating sealers tend to offer the best protection from moisture absorption. Regardless of the sealer you use, be sure it's applied according to the manufacturer's instructions.

What if the driveway cracks?

If your concrete was jointed properly, cracks are unlikely to be a problem. Think of joints as "planned" cracks that allow the concrete to expand and contract, minimizing any chance for random cracking.

Although joints will control cracking in most cases, even properly jointed concrete can crack in places other than the joints. Most of these random cracks are simply unplanned joints and won't impact the long-term service and durability of your driveway. But they can detract from the appearance. If you're concerned about random cracking, ask your contractor what measures he will take to prevent it and what his policy is about fixing any random cracking that does occur.

What if the color isn't what I expected?

It's unrealistic to expect your contractor to precisely match the color of your concrete driveway to a showroom sample, a neighbour's decorative concrete driveway, or a photo from a brochure. Even plain concrete can exhibit color variations, especially if the project requires more than one load of concrete or if the concrete placements are made on different days. Most of these variations are minor and will fade over time.

For more information, read Concrete Driveways -- What a Homeowner Should Expect from the Tennessee Concrete Association.

What is the cost of a stamped concrete driveway?

Your initial cost to install a stamped concrete driveway can range anywhere from $6 per square foot for basic stamped concrete (using just one pattern and color) to $15 or more per square foot for elaborate multi-pattern designs with special coloring effects (see Stamped Concrete Driveway Cost). While stamped concrete is pricier than asphalt, you'll get a much better return on your investment. Not only does a concrete driveway last longer and require less maintenance than most other paving materials, it can help boost the resale value of your home by adding curb appeal.

Read more about concrete driveway cost.

Can I get a warranty for my concrete driveway?

Yes! Many contractors will warrant their work, and you may be able to obtain an extended warranty (three years or longer) through your state concrete association, such as the Six Star Driveway Program available from the Michigan Concrete Association. Contractors and concrete producers who participate in the program agree to follow certain installation criteria and quality-control standards and will correct-for the duration of the warranty-any problems that occur due to their negligence.