My wife and I are thinking about digging out a part of our backyard and putting a new patio. We are not sure if we should go in for a brick or concrete patio. We have talked to couple of local contractors and realized that concrete patios are a lot cheaper than brick ones.
What are the big +s and -s of these patios? We live in the new england area. So, winter is pretty bad here. We have woods in our backyard (dont know if this matters).
Concrete: + Less expensive. Long life if properly designed and installed. Little or no maintenance.
- (None)
Hard set (cemented) pavers: + Nicer looking little maintenance
- More expensive
Pavers set in sand: + Beset looking Longest life Damage can be repaired Can be modified making it larger or smaller.
- Most maintenance* Likely most cost
I chose #3 three times. All three are still in use and look good. The oldest is about 30 years old now. Others in the same area are about 150 years old. My newest is 15 years old.
It requires regular maintenance to eliminate weeds (I tend to use a spray) and I tend to do a real clean up and re-sanding about every 5-10 years. In not properly laid originally expect a relaying after about five years (this is a one time thing)
1 It is the least appealing looking. [stamped concrete is better, but then it costs more, and it still isn't as attractive as pavers.]
It will probably crack at some point-- then the whole thing needs to be replaced. If an area of pavers falls into a sinkhole--not likely- that area can be patched. [more likely is a stain- paint, BBQ grease, etc]
If you ever change your mind about the color, shape, size or style- removing pavers is a breeze. Concrete removal is as expensive as its installation.
Also- the OP didn't mention a DIY project, but pavers certainly lend themselves more to that idea than concrete. DIY pavers are probably about the same cost as an installed concrete patio. It is hard work, but within the realm of a healthy adult or two.
With a slab patio, you have the option of putting flagstone, fieldstone or other mortared in stone surfaces right on top. You can also score and stain it to look more natural stone like.
For a new concrete patio, there is also the option of stamped and stained patterns. The cost savings is mainly in the lower labor cost for pouring a slab as opposed to the prep and manual hard labor of setting pavers. Pavers can be a DIY but a large slab should be done by an experienced crew and cement truck.
In new england, you might get frost heave or root intrusion which moves the patio, pavers make it possisble to fix
The folks that i talked to said that the concrete patios can be made to match any finish - eg: the basketweave brick pattern that we liked a lot. If this could be achieved, would it look as good as a brick patio ? The price diff is huge. Would concrete patio stand up to the new england winter ?
Done properly, yes. Just look how much concrete is around the cities. How many 50 and 100 year old sidewalks are still in good shape? You need the proper base, metal screen, expansion joints and a good mix of the right thickness for the job.
I'm in NY where we have similar winters and I can't recall ever seeing one. Actually what I see more of lately is 5 and 10 yr old concrete falling apart or cracking.
And a contractor who has an excellent reputation and who will stand behind his work for a long time.
Three kinds. You CAN put in concrete that won't crack in your lifetime, it just takes twice as much time, three times as much effort, and four times as much money.
If it's done right, of course concrete can take a NE winter. Just look at all the concrete buildings, bridges, ramps, etc. They aren't falling down.
As to how stamped concrete looks vs pavers, you should call some companies that do stamped concrete and go see what it looks like. Many times they can give you commercial sites they did that you can easily see. You've probably looked at stamped concrete hundreds of times and never even realized what it was.
Also, I'd be careful with the price. I think right now you are comparing std concrete to pavers. Stamped costs more, because there is more material and labor involved. Stamped concrete also requires some maintenance. It needs to be sealed every 2 years or so to keep the finish looking sharp. Otherwise, it takes on a weathered look.
If you really like a particular paver look, you may be better off going with that. If you like some of the stone type looks that stamped concrete can take on, then that may be a better choice.
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