Interlocking Concrete Pavers

The benefits of paver stones over other types of paving options are impressive. They’re relatively easy and quick to install. They add resale value to your home, and they provide safe, convenient access to your outdoor spaces without fear of guests slipping on wet pavement or becoming mired in mud.

Natural stone, brick, and concrete are the top three choices for today’s outdoor pavers. Of the three, concrete paver stones are usually the best choice.

Interlocking paver stones are engineered to fit tightly together in your landscape. The pavers are not held in place by traditional mortar. Rather, a filler material, usually sand, is swept between the joints to add friction and pressure. As a result, interlocking pavers are actually held in place by each other, and their design helps distribute weight evenly across a larger surface.

Unlike large sections of concrete slab, concrete paving stones have small surface areas that make them more resistant to cracking. They’re much easier to install and to replace than slabs, yet they feature the strength, durability, and beauty of concrete. Paver stones are typically an economical choice for residential paving projects, as well. And they come in a diverse range of colors, shapes, sizes, and textures.

When installed by professional paver contractor, interlocking pavers can withstand up to 8,000 pounds per square inch of pressure. In comparison, concrete slab is capable of handling 3,000 PSI of pressure. This is one reason why interlocking pavers are popular choices for many commercial projects, including crosswalks, pool decks, and parking plazas.

Interlocking pavers installation is not less expensive than pouring concrete. Installing concrete paving stones require extensive design and project planning, expert preparation of gravel or sand base layer, and the hand laying and leveling of individual paver stones. This can take days or weeks as opposed to preparing and pouring concrete, which happens in one to two days. 

Interlocking pavers look expensive, but they’re really quite affordable. And they can last upwards of 50 years with routine maintenance. And if a section of pavement becomes stained or damaged, it’s easy enough to remove and replace it. For these reasons, most consider concrete paver stone installation to be well worth the initial investment.

In most instances, interlocking pavers last longer than large areas of poured concrete. They’re less prone to temperature changes and the shifting, cracking, and breaking that often happens as a result. Paver stones are also better at preventing pooling of water that can wear down a textured surface over time.

Interlocking pavers installed by professional pavers contractor do increase property values, though some projects pack more punch than others. For example, a paver stone patio is usually more valuable to a prospective buyer than a paver planter wall, and a nicely paved front walkway adds more curb appeal than a backyard fire pit.

Thicker paver stones are not necessarily better. It’s important to match the paver to the project. For instance, if you’re overlaying concrete slab with concrete pavers, thin pavers are required. Your paver contractor can help you decide which pavers are best for your intended application.

Concrete paver stones typically hold less heat than concrete slab because of the spaces between the joints. 

While you can apply certain types of sealer to restore color to faded pavers, many sealers are clear. Though they go on dark, they dry much lighter. 

You may see an occasional weed pop up between interlocking pavers. However, weeds are the exception and not the rule. Because sand or filler is packed so tightly between the joints of interlocking pavers and the pavers have been placed on a prepared base (usually crushed stone), weeds are unlikely.