Why Pavers?

Pavers Flagstone Brick and Mortar Poured Concrete Asphalt
Cost Effective X X X
Won’t Crack X
Won’t Chip X
Guaranteed X
Easy Subsurface Repairs X
Choices Galore X

Common Reasons Homeowners Replace Concrete With Pavers

Many homeowners initially choose concrete because it offers a simple and familiar hardscape solution. However, after years of use, it’s common for concrete surfaces to develop issues that affect both appearance and functionality. As a result, many property owners choose to replace aging concrete with pavers to create a more attractive, durable, and versatile outdoor space.

One of the most common complaints about concrete is cracking. Even well-installed concrete can develop cracks over time due to soil movement, temperature changes, tree roots, and everyday wear. Once cracks begin to appear, they can be difficult to repair without leaving noticeable patches or inconsistencies in the surface.

As the ground beneath a concrete slab shifts or settles, sections of the surface may become uneven. This can create trip hazards, drainage issues, and an overall worn appearance. Many homeowners replace these surfaces with pavers to create a more stable and visually appealing outdoor environment.

While concrete can be customized to some degree, many homeowners eventually want a more distinctive look. Pavers offer a wide range of colors, textures, patterns, and design possibilities that allow for greater personalization and curb appeal.

When concrete becomes damaged, repairs often involve patching or replacing large sections of the slab. These repairs may not blend seamlessly with the existing surface. In contrast, individual pavers can often be removed and replaced as needed, simplifying maintenance and preserving the overall appearance of the installation.

Over time, concrete can become stained, discolored, and weathered. Exposure to the elements, vehicle traffic, and everyday use can gradually diminish its appearance. Many homeowners choose pavers as part of a broader effort to update their property’s curb appeal and outdoor living spaces.

In many cases, replacing concrete is about more than fixing a problem. Homeowners often take the opportunity to redesign their outdoor spaces by adding larger patios, decorative walkways, pool decks, or custom driveway layouts that better suit their lifestyle and enhance the overall functionality of the property.

Pavers are often selected for their combination of durability, flexibility, and aesthetic appeal. When installed over a properly prepared foundation, they can provide long-lasting performance while offering design versatility that concrete simply cannot match. For many homeowners, upgrading to pavers is an investment in both the beauty and long-term value of their property.

Pavers Offer a Lot of Advantages

Strength and Longevity

To countless homeowners, longevity is a top concern when making any home improvement decision. In the case of a patio or driveway, you probably want to have as much time as possible to enjoy your investment.

Because concrete is such a traditional and widely used material for driveways, you might assume that it can far outlast pavers. This popular mixture of substances is indeed durable, and it has an average lifespan of 25 years. Unfortunately, one of its main issues is that it forms cracks over time, and that may affect its life cycle.

On the other hand, concrete pavers can last up to 50 years. A downside to pavers versus concrete is that they may be more expensive to install. However, if they ultimately last twice as long as concrete, the differential cost could actually be minimal in comparison.

Another point worth considering is that pavers typically can withstand far more weight than concrete. This could be a major plus if you park more than one vehicle on your driveway.

Appearance and Variety

Except for some possible variations in hue when using refinishing products, traditional concrete doesn’t offer a lot in terms of variety. Stamped concrete comes in a broader range of styles and colors, but it generally doesn’t endure the weight capacity of pavers. Precast concrete paving bricks may fade after some time, but pavers come in a wide array of desirable colors, sizes, and styles.

Installation and Maintenance

As a rule, pouring concrete is a simpler process than installing pavers. Since pavers are laid individually, this typically means concrete installation is faster, as well.

When it comes to maintenance, pavers seem to have the edge over concrete. Although cleaning between the individual pavers may be a bit challenging, concrete requires a sealant application every year or two.

Best Value for Your Property

It seems clear that in terms of overall cost and upkeep, pavers are likely to yield the highest return on your investment. They may be more expensive to install, but their maintenance needs are less costly than concrete. Pavers are also much stronger and have a higher weight capacity than both traditional concrete and stamped concrete. Ultimately, pavers offer more variety and will likely increase the potential resell value of your property.

Viking Pavers: One of the Top Landscapers in the Bay Area

If you are looking for superior paver installation, look no further than Viking Pavers. As one of the best landscaping companies in the Bay Area, we are well equipped to assist in all phases of the process. From product selection to design planning to excavation to installation, we want you to have the driveway, patio, and walkway of your dreams!

Why Some Concrete Installations Fail Prematurely

Concrete is a popular hardscape material, but not all concrete installations perform the same over time. While a properly installed concrete surface can provide years of service, many homeowners eventually experience issues such as cracking, settling, discoloration, and surface deterioration. In many cases, these problems are caused by factors that begin long before the concrete is poured.

One of the most common causes of premature concrete failure is poor site preparation. If the soil beneath the concrete is not properly prepared or compacted, the surface may settle unevenly over time. As the ground shifts, the concrete can develop cracks, low spots, and other structural issues.

Natural soil movement occurs in many areas and can place stress on rigid concrete surfaces. Unlike interlocking pavers, which can flex slightly with changing conditions, concrete is more susceptible to cracking when the ground beneath it shifts or settles.

Water can have a significant impact on the lifespan of any hardscape surface. Improper drainage may allow water to collect beneath or around the concrete, contributing to erosion, settling, and surface damage. Effective grading and water management are important factors in long-term performance.

Concrete naturally expands and contracts as temperatures change. Over time, this movement can create stress within the slab, particularly when combined with heavy use, soil movement, or environmental factors. Even with control joints, cracking can still occur as the concrete ages.

Mature trees and landscaping can create challenges for concrete installations. As roots grow and expand beneath the surface, they may lift or displace sections of concrete, creating uneven areas and potential trip hazards. This is especially common in established residential neighborhoods with mature trees.

Daily vehicle traffic, weather exposure, and years of use can gradually affect the appearance and condition of a concrete surface. Cracking, staining, spalling, and discoloration are common issues that many homeowners encounter as their concrete ages.

One reason many homeowners choose pavers is their ability to accommodate minor ground movement and their ease of repair. Individual pavers can often be adjusted or replaced without removing an entire section of the surface, making long-term maintenance simpler and more cost-effective. When installed over a properly prepared foundation, a paver system can provide both durability and flexibility for years to come.

Our Paver Installation Process

Whether we’re installing a driveway, patio, walkway, pool deck, or retaining wall, every project follows a proven process designed to maximize durability, appearance, and long-term performance. Proper preparation is the foundation of every successful paver installation, which is why we never cut corners during construction.

We remove the existing hardscape material and excavate the area to a depth of
10” for driveways & 8” for walkways patios from final grade, removing all unstable
ground. Exceeding our competitors and ICPI standards.

Grades will be set for proper drainage, drain pipes, downspout tie-ins and future
lines will be installed. We install a GeotexTM fabric to stabilize the native soils and
prevent undulations in all areas. Exceeding our competitors and ICPI standards.

We install 4 5/8” or 6.5/8’’ for vehicle traffic areas of Class II base over the entire
paver area, which creates a stable yet flexible foundation.

Using a plate vibrator, we compact the class II base to a density of 98% to create a
firm foundation and eliminate the possibilities of sagging.

The area is evenly covered with 1” of specially manufactured bedding sand and is
smoothed out utilizing a screeding process. This sharp angled sand acts as a
cushion for the pavers and creates the interlocking mechanism system.

The stones of your choice are individually laid by our craftsman to create the
everlasting image of your dreams.

All edge stones are cut with a masonry saw, utilizing a diamond carbide blade.
This way we create clean, accurate edges for the desired shape of your project.

A concrete footing is laid around the edges to prevent lateral movement of the
sand set field stones. Border stones are then wet set on top of this footing.

The pavers are plate vibrated into the 1″ bedding sand to begin the interlocking
process.

Polymeric sand is swept and compacted into all paver joints. Which enhances the
interlocking process. and sets up like a flexible grout. We use polymeric sand on
all our installations as it is a best build practice.

One final time, the project area is plate vibrated to ensure the sand fills the entire
joints, and the pavers system is completely interlocked.