Concrete vs Pavers, Choosing the Best Patio Material for Oklahoma

If you’re looking to create your dream patio for your home, you may have started exploring the differences between concrete and pavers. Both types of patio materials offer their unique benefits and drawbacks, which are essential to consider before undertaking your next project. Understanding Oklahoma’s weather cycles, costs, aesthetic options, and maintenance needs for each type will help you make the best choice for your home’s patio. Our team at New Season Landscaping will help you better understand the benefits of both concrete and pavers, as well as how they compare to each other. 

Understanding Concrete

Concrete is one of the most popular construction materials used by homeowners for their patios and walkways, and it’s easy to see why. They are easy to install, reasonably durable, and offer a sleek look when finished. Concrete is made by mixing together cement, water, and aggregates such as sand and gravel. Once poured, it takes approximately 24 to 48 hours for it to dry enough to walk on. While being poured in one slab may be a cost-effective solution in terms of installation costs, it means there is little to offer in terms of ground stability, often leading to cracks in the concrete. While there are some customized options for concrete, such as stamping different designs, these usually come with increased costs that should be taken into consideration.

What Are Pavers?

Unlike concrete, pavers are made of individual materials, such as stone, brick, or clay, that are fitted together to create your patio or walkway. This process of laying individual pieces allows homeowners to customize their aesthetic and achieve a high-end look. Additionally, if damage does occur to any part of the patio, repairing it is cheaper and easier, as only the individual damaged pieces can be removed and replaced. This allows pavers to maintain their beautiful aesthetic over the long term as they’re less susceptible to cracks and other deformities. However, all these benefits come with higher upfront costs and longer installation times, so it is essential to determine if this material fits within your upfront budget. Additionally, because pavers are installed as individual pieces, they are more prone to weed growth between them; therefore, it is essential to have a good weed-treatment plan in place when using pavers.

Comparing Concrete vs. Pavers 

Let’s directly compare concrete and pavers to help see which is best for your patio. As mentioned above, concrete is cheaper to install, but it may result in higher maintenance costs down the road due to cracking and ground shifting. Oklahoma’s freeze-thaw cycles are notoriously hard on concrete patios, making pavers the favorite, especially when working on high-movement soil. However, the increased long-term value that pavers bring comes with a significantly higher upfront cost, making them more difficult to justify for homeowners seeking a budget-friendly patio material. Below, you can directly compare concrete vs. pavers to help you choose which would be best for you: