The initial cost of paving stones can. Concrete is less expensive than pavers, both in terms of materials and the price of labor. The cost of a ticket varies considerably depending on the size, the gradient, the amount of excavation required, whether a new inlet is installed or an existing one is replaced, and more. The same goes for the cost of installing patios and walkways.
It is known that concrete is cheaper than pavers. However, if you add color staining and printing, the cost starts to increase rapidly to be comparable to that of cobblestones. When a concrete slab breaks or moves, there's not much you can do to repair it without problems, other than repairing it or replacing the entire slab, which can be incredibly expensive. Concrete slabs for patios, driveways, or other spaces are not as durable as pavers and can crack, stain, and move over time.
Specifically, cast concrete is manufactured with a compressive strength of 2500 to 3000 PSI, while pavers are manufactured with a minimum compressive strength of 8000 PSI. While pavers and concrete seem simple enough, deciding which one to choose isn't always simple. Poured concrete slabs crack when there are invasive tree roots, freeze-thaw cycles, and other disturbances in the ground below. Regardless of the material you choose, both concrete and pavers will need to be protected to withstand the elements.
Although technically, installing concrete pavers costs more money than pouring concrete slabs, the truth is that poured concrete slabs generally have higher costs when you consider the repairs they require throughout their lifespan. Over time, UV rays and other elements can attenuate the appearance of concrete and pavers, so sealants help protect them from fading. If you don't plan to sell your property for many years, the resale value of concrete decreases and may even be completely canceled, since you'll likely have to pay for a full replacement every 25 or 30 years. Concrete is the more affordable of the two, but pavers offer the best resale value and are more visually appealing.
The only exception to this is the installation of poured concrete on a steep slope, since it can be difficult to do it right because concrete is a viscous and liquid mixture that wants to run downhill if given the opportunity. And, while your patio won't have to tolerate the same amount of weight as your driveway, it's likely to receive the most foot traffic of all your outdoor spaces, so it makes sense to choose the strongest option if it fits your budget. Sometimes, a concrete slab is stamped with a tile-like pattern while it's still wet; this is called “stamped concrete”. Concrete slabs are more likely to split and crack, especially if the ground beneath them shifts.
Concrete pavers are individual pieces, making the overall pattern of the paver more flexible and adapting to fluctuations in the ground when dry setting. However, if your cobblestone patio has a complex design and several pavers are damaged, you can contact a professional to do the repairs.
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