BeeR Posted January 21, 2010 Share Posted January 21, 2010 OK where are the construction homers....pros/cons of each? Experiences? etc? Thx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaptainHook Posted January 21, 2010 Share Posted January 21, 2010 (edited) As a landscaper, all i can say is DON'T DO PAVERS. I hate 'em, hate 'em, hate 'em. They settle. They have to be weeded. They get lumpy. Tons more maintenance with pavers. If you can afford concrete, do it. Edited January 21, 2010 by CaptainHook Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zooty Posted January 21, 2010 Share Posted January 21, 2010 As a landscaper, all i can say is DON'T DO PAVERS. I hate 'em, hate 'em, hate 'em. They settle. They have to be weeded. They get lumpy. Tons more maintenance with pavers. If you can afford concrete, do it. As a homeowner use pavers. Look nicer IMO. Unless you want no maintenance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Missoula Griz Posted January 21, 2010 Share Posted January 21, 2010 I dont know. I have done both. I perfer my stamped concrete. I have it on the driveway and the patio. Easy to clean and really makes an impression. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeeR Posted January 21, 2010 Author Share Posted January 21, 2010 Thx - here is another a quick recap I found, seems pretty objective (some I've seen are clearly trying to steer you to one or the other). It seems like price and maintenance are the big pros for concrete...maintenance excepting cracks that is, which seems inevitable, and then yer f'ed. No cracking/easy repair seems to be the biggie for pavers. http://www.all-things-concrete.com/stamped...-vs-pavers.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaptainHook Posted January 21, 2010 Share Posted January 21, 2010 (edited) As a homeowner use pavers. Look nicer IMO. Unless you want no maintenance. How long have you had your pavers in? Any problems with them? Do you buy the sand every year? Edited January 21, 2010 by CaptainHook Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeeR Posted January 21, 2010 Author Share Posted January 21, 2010 poor the concrete, paint it like bricks. Done. ...until it cracks. Admittedly playing devil's advocate here, just trying to kick em both in the tires.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kid Cid Posted January 21, 2010 Share Posted January 21, 2010 I inherited a bunch of pavers as part of the landscaping of the house when I bought it. They were nice in the beginning. Looked real nice for the first couple of years. Now, they settle every year and I have to reseat a bunch every spring. Roundup is my friend. I will replace with poured concrete when I finally can't take it anymore.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big John Posted January 21, 2010 Share Posted January 21, 2010 poor the concrete I would use good rather than poor concrete to pour. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeeR Posted January 21, 2010 Author Share Posted January 21, 2010 Not doing the composite deck thing. It's pavers or stamped concrete. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
satelliteoflovegm Posted January 21, 2010 Share Posted January 21, 2010 I inherited a bunch of pavers as part of the landscaping of the house when I bought it. They were nice in the beginning. Looked real nice for the first couple of years. Now, they settle every year and I have to reseat a bunch every spring. Roundup is my friend. I will replace with poured concrete when I finally can't take it anymore.. I mixed a bag of granule Josh Gordon killer in with the sand and brushed it into the pavers. Kept it Josh Gordon free for the summer. Also have stamped patio which I prefer, just had it done and now we're moving. I'll have it done there too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Holy Roller Posted January 21, 2010 Share Posted January 21, 2010 We had some pavers put in around the back deck and they have been terrific (so far). Of course, our landscaper spent a whole day doing site prep which included packing the crap out of the entire patio area. I thought he was overkilling the packing process but he said it will be worth it later. I'm hopin'... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Perchoutofwater Posted January 21, 2010 Share Posted January 21, 2010 Pavers look better, but you need two things to make them work, proper preparation and fairly stable soils. If you live in an area with expansive soil, there is no way I would even consider pavers. If you have a nice sandy loam in your area and if you or whoever you have install them does it properly pavers should be relatively problem free. Concrete is much easier to take care of, and clean. Depending on the stamp the stamping may act as additional control joints which would reduce the cracking that naturally occurs in all concrete. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pig devilz Posted January 21, 2010 Share Posted January 21, 2010 I have experience with both... As a homeowner and work in the construction industry. I laid my own pavers on my front walkway, which has a slight slope to it, 8 years ago. I have had 0 problems with them. You MUST prepare the soil/earth properly. Meaning, digging the correct depth, laying crushed stone, rolling or pounding, etc...if you dont know what you're doing, it's easy to learn or hire a Pro. I filled the joints with an acrylic based sand mix that you broom in and then wet with a hose to activate it. (somebody asked about this recently here and I put up a link to these products, there are a few) Anyway, I have not had ONE Josh Gordon come through in 8 years! Or grass, nothing. I only applied that one time eight years ago. Stamped concrete looks killer when first done. BUT, and thats a hugh BUTT, it cracks and fads. Big time. And as someone mentioned above, you're screwed when it does. Fading is also a problem. Some will fad to a nice patina, others will fad away. Maintenance, maintenance, maintenance. And it never looks quite right either. Friends of mine, Masons and concrete companies have gotten out of the business of doing stamped concrete. The call backs are a nightmare. It was all the rage...until the cracks showed up. Pavers or natural stone, done right, is the way to go....imo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zooty Posted January 22, 2010 Share Posted January 22, 2010 How long have you had your pavers in? Any problems with them? Do you buy the sand every year? 5 years at mine, my parents house for 20 years and neither has had a problem. Yes we sweep sand into them every year. Mine takes about 20 minutes, theirs take about an hour. Time well spent since they look so much better than concrete. Seriously, its not even close. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaptainHook Posted January 22, 2010 Share Posted January 22, 2010 Here in Indiana, with all the freezing and thawing, it is very difficult to keep them level, no matter how much prep work you do. And I've yet to see one that doesn't sprout weeds. And you gotta put sand on 'em each year. You can't plant trees near them, or the roots grow in. I'm tellin' ya, concrete is the way to go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delicious_bass Posted January 22, 2010 Share Posted January 22, 2010 Here in Indiana, with all the freezing and thawing, it is very difficult to keep them level, no matter how much prep work you do. And I've yet to see one that doesn't sprout weeds. And you gotta put sand on 'em each year. You can't plant trees near them, or the roots grow in. I'm tellin' ya, concrete is the way to go. Isnt excessive cracking a concern with concrete and all the freezing/thawing? I have a walk-out lot and I am trying to decide whether to go with pavers or concrete when I do the area under the deck this summer. Up here in MN, we definitely get the wild extremes with temps. I figure I have to choose between pavers that might get uneven(but can be re-set) or concrete that will very likely crack up pretty badly. Leaning toward pavers but not completely sure... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaptainHook Posted January 22, 2010 Share Posted January 22, 2010 As long as you put the stress joints in concrete, we never have many problems with cracking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Irish Doggy Posted January 22, 2010 Share Posted January 22, 2010 Here in Indiana, with all the freezing and thawing, it is very difficult to keep them level, no matter how much prep work you do. And I've yet to see one that doesn't sprout weeds. And you gotta put sand on 'em each year. You can't plant trees near them, or the roots grow in. I'm tellin' ya, concrete is the way to go. Have you ever used polymeric paver sand? The latest "This Old house" series was pimping it last week saying it is becoming the new standard as it greatly reduces run off from hard rains, insects don't like it, weeds are nearly eliminated, and it is flexible to help with the freeze/thaw cycles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pig devilz Posted January 22, 2010 Share Posted January 22, 2010 Have you ever used polymeric paver sand? The latest "This Old house" series was pimping it last week saying it is becoming the new standard as it greatly reduces run off from hard rains, insects don't like it, weeds are nearly eliminated, and it is flexible to help with the freeze/thaw cycles. This is what I was referring to in my above post. I just went out to the garage to check, I used Techo Bloc polymeric stabilizing sand. Does all you listed above and more..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
satelliteoflovegm Posted January 22, 2010 Share Posted January 22, 2010 possibly a dumb question, but if you want it to last a really long time, what about digging out, pouring concrete, and putting pavers over top of that? If you finish it off with a protective layer of top soil, say four to six inches deep. For added stability plant grass seed in the early spring. Then yes, that'd be a great plan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeeR Posted January 23, 2010 Author Share Posted January 23, 2010 This is all great stuff, thx all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
isleseeya Posted January 23, 2010 Share Posted January 23, 2010 Stamped concrete for sure imho Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Footballjoe Posted January 23, 2010 Share Posted January 23, 2010 I vote pavers. I think they look much better. I just salvaged 1800 brick for my patio(s) and walkway as mentione din another post. If done correctly they will be fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delicious_bass Posted June 17, 2011 Share Posted June 17, 2011 Isnt excessive cracking a concern with concrete and all the freezing/thawing? I have a walk-out lot and I am trying to decide whether to go with pavers or concrete when I do the area under the deck this summer. Up here in MN, we definitely get the wild extremes with temps. I figure I have to choose between pavers that might get uneven(but can be re-set) or concrete that will very likely crack up pretty badly. Leaning toward pavers but not completely sure... Bumping as I am getting close to actually getting this project going but still deciding which way to go. I have a bid from a reputable local concrete company that will put in an exposed aggregate patio for me for about $600-$800 less than another reputable guy(who has done work for a friend) who will put in the same patio only with Borgert pavers. I think both would look nice and certainly do the job. As mentioned previously, I am concerned about the concrete cracking and that has me leaning toward pavers though I understand there will be maintenance involved with that option. Also, I am still kicking around the idea of taking this project on myself in which case I'd be using pavers. I can get the Borgert pavers at a discount or I may be able to get a deal on some composite pavers made here in MN. Obviously the DIY options would be cheaper but there is certainly a break-even point where I would just as soon hire the work out vs doing it myself. For those of you who have installed your own pavers, did you find the savings substantial enough that it was worth it when all was said and done? Or, if you had to do it again, would you hire it out? Leaning toward just cutting a check to paver guy and being done with it, but I am also tempted to see how well I can make it look and if i can save some dinero in the process, that's even better. Any thoughts or advice on this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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