Choosing the correct surface for your outdoor living area, walkways or driveway can be difficult. While colors, style, and appearance are important, you want to make sure that you are picking a product that will stand the test of time. Pavers offer many customization options and a potential boost in your home’s value, but one question remains: how long do pavers last?
The good news is that pavers are known for their durability and lifespan. Made of clay, concrete, natural stone, or even porcelain, pavers can last 20-25 years without any major repairs with proper care and maintenance. If they are properly cared for and sealed, concrete pavers can last upwards of 50 years.
What Can Shorten the Lifespan of Your Pavers?
While pavers are one of the more durable surfaces, several things can contribute to pavers failing or cracking.
- Improper installation – Correct paver installation takes several things into account, including the depth and kind of base, also known as substrate, as well as proper substrate compaction. It is also important to use the correct type of paver necessary for your project. Poor installation jobs can lead to pavers shifting or settling in unsightly ways or undue wear and tear of pavers.
- Incorrect cleaning of pavers – Most people would assume that a quick power washing would be a great way to clean pavers. However, power washing can wash away the sand that locks the pavers together, creating an unstable base. Likewise, incorrect paver washing can eat away at the top layer of the paver.
- Damage from standing water – Pavers laid correctly can help redirect water into other areas or you can use water-permeable pavers to assist drainage. However, if you live in a flood-prone area or your pavers were laid incorrectly, standing water can weaken pavers, causing cracks and chips.
Are Pavers Worth the Investment?
While there are factors that can contribute to shorter lifespans of pavers, concrete pavers installed correctly and maintained by certified experts may last for decades, outliving most poured concrete surfaces. Not only will they outlast other surfaces, but their repair is easier and cost-effective.
Solid slabs of concrete often have to be broken up and removed to fix smaller issues while pavers may often be repaired by replacing only a small section of pavers. The interlocking installment of pavers also allows them to move and constrict over time, reducing the number of cracks and stress fractures that are often found in poured concrete.
While the upfront cost of concrete pavers can be higher, the durability, curb appeal, and overall value of pavers make them a winning bet amongst other forms of outdoor surfaces. Pavers present unlimited ways to personalize your home’s outdoor appearance while also giving you a solid surface that you will last for many years.
Pavertime Can Help You Extend The Life of Your Pavers
At Pavertime, we know pavers. As certified ICPI experts, we continuously strive to educate ourselves on the newest techniques and information in the paver industry. Backed by decades of experience and knowledge of the Houston landscape, we can build you a paver patio or driveway with beauty, durability, and versatility. Call us today to schedule your free consultation.
