While brick and concrete pavers are installed the same way and both offer years of durability and use, both have distinct advantages and disadvantages. Let’s look at some tips to help you make an informed decision about the paving stones you might choose from:
Concrete Pavers:
Concrete pavers are made with cement and air-cured. They can be pigmented in a wide range of colors and formed into all sorts of shapes.
Pros:
- Less expensive. Due to the lower cost of the raw materials, concrete pavers are less expensive than brick.
- Easier to install. Concrete pavers are easier to cut and install, due to the pavers being precisely uniform.
- More selection. Compared to brick, concrete offers far more design and color options to choose from.
Cons:
- Color fading: Concrete pavers are dyed with color pigments rather than natural clay, which causes them to fade over time, especially in direct sunlight.
- May require sealing: Sealants can help prevent the color from fading in concrete but add additional maintenance.
- Erosion: Over time, the surface of the concrete can wear down, causing the pavers to have a more worn-out appearance.
Brick Pavers:
Brick pavers are made from clay and cured in a kiln. Sometimes when shopping for pavers, the stones will be labeled as bricks based on their shape, not the actual material. In this case, be sure to look for “clay bricks”.
Pros:
- Retention of color: Because bricks are naturally colored by mixing different types of clay, they retain their color better than concrete, especially in direct sunlight.
- Long-lasting: While chipping and cracking may occur over time, bricks can last for generations and aren’t susceptible to the same erosion problems that concrete pavers face.
- Timeless: While a cracked or chipped concrete walkway looks worn out an aged brick walkway never loses its charm.
Cons:
- Cost: Clay bricks can cost up to 20% more than their concrete counterparts.
- Limited selection: Bricks have limited color options due to being made with natural clays. They are typically rectangular and only coming in a few different sizes.
- Increased labor cost: Bricks are more difficult to cut than concrete and usually come with a higher cost to install.
