Stamped Concrete vs Pavers: Pros & Cons

Learn the main differences between using pavers or stamped concrete for your patio or driveway and decide which option is best for your project.

A stamped concrete patio in Rockville, Maryland.

Appearance

Pavers allow you to create interesting patterns with beautiful materials. With stamped concrete, though, an experienced contractor such as SUNDEK of Washington can create the look of just about any paver using stamps and concrete staining.

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There are more design options available with stamped concrete than there are with pavers. When working with pavers, there are limited colors, shapes, and textures. With concrete stamping, on the other hand, you can either choose from a wide variety of stamps your contractor has available, or you can have a custom stamp created that fits your design needs. The same goes for colors—clients can choose from a variety of colors to pick one that achieves the desired look.

One downside to designing with pavers is that if you are covering a large space, sometimes pallets of pavers can vary slightly in color. With stamped concrete, color variation is not a concern.

Longevity

Pavers are durable, but some clients prefer stamped concrete instead of pavers for these reasons:

  • Pavers can move and settle over time. With stamped concrete, however, you get a solid surface that has the appearance of pavers that are joined together.
  • When a paver cracks, it needs to be removed from its spot and then replaced. Concrete cracks can be spot treated.
  • Weeds may pop up in between pavers over time unless joins are regularly sealed.

Is concrete more slippery than pavers?

Pavers have a natural texture to them that generally makes them non-slip, but there are ways for contractors to make a non-slip stamped concrete surface. A contractor can either create a texture on the surface that gives it grit or they can include an additive in the sealer that prevents the surface from becoming slippery when wet.

Which gets hotter: pavers or concrete?

Experienced contractors such as SUNDEK of Washington work with high-quality materials and employ techniques that ensure the stamped concrete surface does not get too hot to the touch—even on very hot summer days. Typically, a properly installed decorative concrete surface stays cooler than pavers. This makes stamped concrete an ideal surface solution for pool decks or other areas where people will walk with bare feet.

In addition to choosing the right texture, the right color can help keep the temperature down. Light colors tend to stay cooler than dark colors. Read more about how we keep our surfaces cool here.

A paver patio. JPL Designs / Shutterstock.

Which is more expensive: stamped concrete or pavers?

If you install high-end natural stone pavers, the cost of the materials and labor will end up being around the same or more expensive than if you were to opt for stamped concrete.

If you choose lower-end pavers, they may be less expensive than installing stamped concrete. But it’s important to keep in mind that lower-end pavers won’t hold up as long as a stamped concrete surface or one that has been surfaced using high-end pavers.

The final cost depends on the size of your surface, the condition of your existing surface, the materials you choose, the type of pattern you choose, and how many colors you incorporate.

Which is easier to maintain?

It is important to realize that neither paving option is maintenance free. Here is a quick overview of their care requirements. How often you need to perform these maintenance tasks will depend on the amount of wear and tear your surface receives.

Pavers require the following maintenance:

  • Filling of the joints with sand
  • Removal of weeds that may grow between pavers
  • Sealing the surface
  • Replacing cracked or damaged pavers
  • Repairing any settlement issues that might occur

While stamped concrete requires:

  • Periodic sealing to protect the surface
  • Occasional cleaning to remove dirt and debris
  • Filling or patching cracks if they occur

Who installs stamped concrete in my area?

At SUNDEK of Washington, we install stamped concrete in Arlington, Alexandria, Fairfax, and Reston, Virginia; Bethesda, Clinton, Frederick, Gaithersburg, Hagerstown, Upper Marlboro, and Rosaryville, Maryland; Washington D.C. and beyond.

If you’d like to talk to us about your project, fill out the form on this page and we’ll contact you.

You can also contact us by phone at 866-631-8664

Or by email: [email protected]

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