When it comes to hardscape construction of residential spaces, homeowners may find it difficult to decide between stamped concrete and pavers. In this blog, we will discuss the pros and cons of both hardscape options so that homeowners can make the right pick on their own. But before that, it will be apt to provide a short description of stamped concrete and pavers.
Stamped concrete: A relatively a new construction option, stamped concrete involves the foundation of the concrete surface, which is then embossed and textured to resemble stone, hardwood, and other material surfaces.
Pavers: This, on the other hand, is a time-tested hardscape option that has been used for hundreds of years for constructing walkways and patios. Many European landscape aesthetics exist because of interconnected pavers. Pavers are actually concrete tiles assembled in an interlocking pattern to form hardscape surfaces.
Now let’s take a look at the benefits and downsides of both these hardscape construction options.
An impartial analysis of stamped concrete
Benefits
- The fluid construction of stamped concrete offers endless options to play around color and patterns.
- Stamped concrete doesn’t require a lot of maintenance. An annual sealing is enough to withstand weather damages and stains.
- The imitative characteristic of stamped concrete is beyond comparison. Homeowners can mold stamped concrete surfaces to give off any type of material appearance. Professional contractors can even give a stamped concrete flooring an appearance of interlocked paving.
Downsides
- In regions with extreme winter conditions, stamped concrete surfaces can become vulnerable to cracks.
- Colors used to draw design patterns in concrete can fade away with time, particularly due to sun exposure. In such cases, patching is required to restore the stamped concrete surface, which becomes a herculean task since it involves matching the restorative color and patterns with the fainted ones.
An impartial analysis of concrete pavers
Benefits
- As compared to stamped concrete, the installation of interlocked concrete pavers is easier. Homeowners can also do it by themselves.
- Repairing a concrete paver is also comparatively simple. You just have to replace the cracked and damaged paver in order to maintain the original look of the surface.
- Some paver options come at an extremely low price.
Downsides
- Poor installation of concrete pavers can culminate into many inconveniences. For instance, pavers don’t settle down in their positions if the installation is done without sufficient soil preparation.
- In the absence of polymer binding, homeowners have to top up joint sand every other year. Similarly, weed growth in between pavers can also occur, if a binding polymer is not used to insulate joint sand.
- Many times, the pavers used in construction are not of the same In such cases, the entire interlocked paver surface looks uneven and patchy.
As you can see, both hardscape materials have their merits and downsides. Flat Rock Concrete offers concrete construction services for residential and commercial spaces. If you can’t make up your mind regarding the hardscape material you want for your property, get in touch with its experts to make a better decision. Give us a call today at (248) 379-0250 or (586) 726-6091!