Materials Comparisons

What you should know about the five commonly used materials and their expected durability.

Concrete Pavers

Offers the widest variety of surface finishes, colors, sizes and style. There is an unlimited amount of patterns to choose from as well as textures and combinations. Sizes are very accurate and uniform. Concrete pavers may fade a bit over time but will last for decades. Maintenance free!

Clay Pavers

Superior color retention, unmatched durability, strength, design options and maintenance free. Traditionally comes in shades of red and red-brown. An old world appearance, sizes are not as dimensionally accurate as concrete pavers. Clay pavers have been around for hundreds of years, many of them still in use today. Clay pavers will probably outlast all of us, our children, and probably their children as well!

Stamped Concrete

This concrete is usually colored. It is recommended that a reseal be done every one to three years to maintain the pattern and color. Stamped concrete is prone to freeze/thaw cycles, namely cracking and spalling. Requires expansion joints every approximately 10 feet and can be distracting in the pattern. Very difficult to make repairs.

Ordinary Concrete

Concrete consists aggregate (usually made from different types of sand and gravel), that is bonded together by cement and water. It is typically white in color with a broom or smooth finish. Also prone to freeze/thaw cycles which eventually causes cracking. Design options are limited.


Life expectancy is 10 to 15 years (shortest of all compared materials), needs frequent resealing and maintenance including occasional patching. Difficult to get neat, clean edges.