Your walkways, driveways and backyard patios provide pathways that accent the overall style of your home. Most homeowners consider paving their outdoor spaces with concrete an affordable and stylish way to beautify and enhance the architectural style of their homes. While determining which type of concrete paving to go for, you will often be confronted with two choices: Stamped concrete and patio pavers.
Both outdoor home improvement choices offer unique and long lasting additions that can add style to your home and stand up to Mother Nature. However, there are certain factors you should keep in mind while stacking up your decision on which of these paving options to go for.
Usability and upkeep
Stamped concrete possess a unique texture and variation, making it more decorative than its counterpart. However, stamped concrete is more cumbersome to install, as it requires a bit of time to cure before being able to welcome traffic. When repairing stamped concrete, you may also find it challenging to match the exact finish of the older surface.
Furthermore, stamped concrete needs more vigilant maintenance, as it tends to crack severely over time. This is especially true when heavy loads are transported over the concrete surface, or when the material is exposed to temperature extremes. If you do decide to use stamped concrete, you could go for a textured pattern to better hide minute cracks.
With patio pavers, setting the surface up is easier as no curing time is needed, with the surface typically ready for use within a few hours of installation. The material also tends to be more accommodative to expansion and contraction due to the interlocking nature of the individual concrete bricks, making the material more resistant to cracking.
Since they are molded under intense pressure, patio pavers also tend to last longer and resist cracking caused by seasonal temperature variations or heavy pressure. Finally, damaged patio pavers can easily be replaced with new blocks of similar aesthetic quality, creating an even finish.
Safety
Because of its continuous block feature, stamped concrete tends to trap more rainwater, making the surface extremely slippery and also producing more daytime glare. This can lead to slip-and-fall accidents and make driving difficult and uncomfortable.
With concrete patio pavers, the many joints formed by the interlocking blocks offer sufficient drainage from rain and snow, resulting in a skid-resistant surface with decreased glare. Patio paving also absorbs less heat than stamped concrete due to the sand swept joints often integrated into the surface, providing a safe walking surface for barefooted folks.
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