Concrete vs. Brick vs. Natural Stone Pavers: Which Is Right for You?

Whether you are making plans for a new patio, walkway, or driveway, you have an array of materials to choose from that allow you to match your new hardscaping with your home’s unique style and your personal taste. But with so many options available, how do you know which one is truly right for your space?

Our landscape design experts are here to explore the pros and cons of concrete, brick, and natural stone pavers so that you can make a selection that provides beauty, durability, and value for years to come.

Should You Choose Concrete, Brick, or Stone Pavers?

When choosing the right paver, your decision often hinges on balancing your budget, desired look, and long-term goals. For the most design versatility, we recommend choosing concrete pavers. While brick has a timeless look and stone provides organic beauty, concrete can be formed into the widest array of shapes and colors. This makes it ideal for creating custom patterns.

If you want a rich, classic color that won’t fade, brick pavers are a superior choice. Unlike concrete, whose dyes can lighten over time with UV exposure, brick’s color is baked through the entire paver and remains vibrant for decades.

Finally, for unmatched durability and a one-of-a-kind, premium look, natural stone is the clear winner. While both brick and concrete are very durable, nothing beats the character and longevity of quarried stone.

An In-Depth Look at Concrete Pavers

Concrete pavers have become one of the most popular choices for outdoor projects and for good reason. These products are created by pouring a mixture of concrete and aggregate into a mold of a specific shape and size. They can then come in a wide range of colors, shapes, and textures and even be made to mimic the look of natural stone or brick. Most importantly, they are strong and a practical option for many homeowners.

Pros of Concrete Pavers

• Design Versatility: Since they are manufactured, they can be created in a virtually endless variety of shapes, sizes, colors, and finishes. From sleek, modern geometric patterns to rustic, tumbled pavers that mimic historic cobblestone, there is a concrete paver to suit any vision.

• Durability and Strength: Concrete pavers are incredibly strong and durable. They are manufactured under immense pressure, resulting in a dense, low-porosity unit that can withstand heavy loads and resist the freeze-thaw cycles common in many climates.

• Ease of Installation and Repair: The uniform shape and size of concrete pavers make them relatively easy and quick to install. If a paver ever cracks or becomes stained, you can simply remove the paver and replace it.

Cons of Concrete Pavers

• Color Fading: While modern manufacturing techniques have improved colorfastness, some concrete pavers can still fade over time due to sun exposure. The color is typically mixed into the top layer of the paver, and as this layer wears, the color may become less vibrant.
• Maintenance: You will need to power wash and resand concrete pavers every 3-4 seasons. Although, with our new polymeric joint sands, we are seeing longer lasting results, so you can wait longer between resanding.

More Information on Brick Pavers

True brick pavers are made from natural clay that is fired in a kiln. This process creates a timeless look and a product known for its color retention and durability. And thanks to their rich, warm colors, this staple of landscape design isn’t going anywhere any time soon.

A popular and versatile alternative to the traditional clay brick is a concrete masonry unit (CMU). These pavers are manufactured from a mixture of cement, aggregates, water, and pigments and are then molded to look like traditional bricks, giving you the classic appearance you adore without as high of a price tag.

Pros of Brick Pavers

• A Classic Aesthetic: Brick pavers (whether made from natural clay or concrete) evoke a sense of history and tradition. In fact, when used for a winding garden path or a stately herringbone patio, brick adds character and curb appeal to any property.
• Superior Color Retention: Another significant benefit of brick pavers is that the color is consistent throughout the entire paver. As a result, the color will not fade over time from UV exposure.
• Durability: Brick pavers are also incredibly dense and durable. This means they will stand up well to foot traffic and everyday wear and tear.
• Low Maintenance: Brick is naturally stain-resistant and requires minimal upkeep. Like other pavers, sealing is an option to enhance color and protection, but it’s not as critical as with concrete pavers. The main maintenance tasks with brick pavers are sweeping and occasional rinsing with a garden hose.

Cons of Brick Pavers

• Limited Color and Shape Options: Unlike manufactured concrete pavers, clay brick pavers come in a much more limited range of colors — primarily reds, browns, and tans. The shape is also typically rectangular, which can limit design possibilities compared to the vast array of shapes available with concrete pavers.
• Cost: Generally, brick pavers are more expensive than concrete pavers due to the energy-intensive kiln-firing process and the cost of the raw materials.
• Susceptibility to Chipping: The edges of brick pavers can be more prone to chipping or spalling under certain conditions compared to interlocking concrete pavers.

Details About Stone Pavers

As the name suggests, stone pavers are cut from natural stone quarried directly from the earth. Common types include flagstone, slate, granite, and limestone. Because they are a product of nature, no two stone pavers are exactly alike, offering a unique, high-end aesthetic with rich, natural variations in color and texture. Without a doubt, each piece is a work of art, shaped by nature over thousands of years.

Pros of Stone Pavers

• Unparalleled Beauty: The unique colors, textures, and patterns found in materials like flagstone, slate, travertine, and granite cannot be perfectly replicated by manufactured products. Therefore, a patio, walkway, fire pit, or outdoor kitchen made with stone pavers will have a rich, organic character that blends seamlessly with the natural landscape.
• Extreme Durability and Longevity: Natural stone is the most durable of all paver materials. It has stood the test of time for millennia in nature and will easily last a lifetime in your backyard. It is incredibly resistant to fading, weathering, and heavy traffic.
• Increases Home Value: A well-designed and installed natural stone patio or walkway is a significant investment that can add substantial value to your home.
• Natural Texture: The inherent texture of many types of stone provides a naturally non-slip surface, which is an important safety feature for pool decks and walkways.

Cons of Stone Pavers

• High Cost: The quarrying, cutting, and transportation processes of stone are labor-intensive, making it the most expensive paver option, often by a significant margin.
• Complex Installation: Because stone pavers are irregular in shape and thickness, each piece must be carefully fitted to create a stable and attractive surface. This, of course, requires a more skilled and labor-intensive installation process.

The Key to a Beautiful & Lasting Installation Is Preparation

While choosing between concrete, brick, and natural stone pavers is a crucial decision, the long-term success of your project hinges on something you’ll never see: the base preparation. No matter which paver you select, the work done before the first paver is laid is the single most important factor in ensuring durability and preventing future headaches.

A proper installation requires:

• Thorough Excavation: Digging out the area to a sufficient depth to accommodate the base layers.
• A Compacted Sub-Base: Laying and compacting several inches of aggregate (like crushed stone) to create a stable, interlocking foundation that won’t shift over time.
• Proper Grading: Ensuring the entire area is sloped correctly (usually away from your home’s foundation) to allow for effective water drainage and prevent pooling.
• A Sand Bedding Layer: A final, level layer of sand provides a bed for the pavers to sit in, allowing for minor adjustments and a smooth finished surface.

Cutting corners on preparation undermines the investment you’ve made in the pavers themselves and can lead to uneven surfaces, sinking pavers, weed growth between joints, and water damage. To avoid these problems, you should partner with a landscape company like Great Lakes Landscape Design to make sure your pavers are laid with long-term success in mind.

Find the Right Paver With Great Lakes Landscape Design

Ultimately, determining whether concrete, brick, or natural stone pavers are right for your home comes down to a balance of personal preference and budget. This means that there is no single “best” material — only the best material for your specific project. The design professionals at Great Lakes Landscape Design can help you compare and contrast the different materials in person, showing you samples and helping you select the right one for your aesthetic and functional goals.

If you’re ready to transform your outdoor space, schedule a consultation with our specialists and see for yourself how concrete, brick, and stone pavers stack up against each other in your own space. When you partner with our team, you can trust that whichever paver you choose, it will be protected by a lifetime warranty from the manufacturer and an industry-leading 5-year workmanship warranty from Great Lakes Landscape Design.