5 minute read
Natural Stone vs. Concrete Pavers
Landscape professionals have always considered cost, aesthetics, and performance when selecting hardscape materials and installation methods. But they are increasingly thinking about long-term environmental impacts due to changing customer preferences, as well as evolving local and state stormwater regulations in some locations. Both concrete pavers and natural stone pavers provide attractive, durable surfaces that can help with runoff management. And both types can be used in permeable installations for more natural stormwater management. While concrete pavers and natural stone both have their advantages, natural stone seems to have an edge in the long run. Let’s do an analysis.
Stormwater & Permeability
No matter what kind of paver is used — either concrete or natural stone — considerations need to be made around the full system. The base material, the gaps between the stones, and the jointing materials all need to be considered. Permeable installations allow water to seep through the small gaps left between the pavers, and down into a prepared base layer. Both concrete and natural stone pavers work well for permeable installations, and both types give similar performance when it comes to alleviating flooding and safely and efficiently directing stormwater.
Cost
Concrete pavers can be less expensive than natural stone pavers because they are mass manufactured. They are simple and easy to produce and can be replicated with a high degree of precision. Natural stone is just that — natural. It must be located, quarried out of the earth, and then shaped—all extra labor and extra steps that add to the initial cost. Often, natural stone pavers can cost three or four times as much per square foot as manufactured concrete pavers, which is not an insignificant difference when quoting a job.
By Matt Henderson
of hues and made in just about any shape desired. However, exposure to sun and the elements causes dyed colors to fade over time, and concrete pavers may eventually lose their original color.
Another factor in cost is naturally installation and labor. Concrete pavers can be easier to install because of their very consistent size, shape, and thickness. Natural stone often requires extra cutting, fitting, and more precise placement, all of which add steps and cost to the process.
Aesthetics
Because concrete pavers are manufactured, they can be dyed and colored in a wide range
On the other hand, natural stone pavers typically are not available in as many colors, but weather much more slowly. Some types of stone, like marble, can keep their appearance for centuries with simple regular cleaning and sealing. While natural stone may offer a limited palette of colors compared to concrete pavers, natural stone is already millions of years old before it is quarried and cut into shapes. It has, by simply existing, already won the color durability battle.
Maintenance
Once fully installed, the advantages of natural stone shine through over the long term.
Concrete pavers simply don’t last as long as many types of natural stone. Granite, sandstone and even limestone are all harder than modern concrete, and resist pressure and wear better.
Over time, some concrete pavers will crumble a bit, especially on the edges or crack all the way through. They will need to be at least resealed, if not completely replaced, sometimes within 10 years or less of original installation. Natural stone typically lasts much longer. In several European countries, it is still possible today to walk on natural stone pavers installed 500 or even more than 1,000 years ago.
Sustainability
More and more landscape customers are becoming sensitive to the environmental impacts of landscape work. In some cases, city and county governments enact regulations requiring sustainable practices and look to work with professionals who understand such guidelines.
Concrete pavers require lots of energy at every step of the manufacturing process. It starts with aggregate materials being sourced and transported to a factory and continues with the actual mixing and pouring of the pavers. A main ingredient in concrete is cement, and cement production by itself produces large amounts of CO2. Afterwards, the pavers require high temperature curing. Adding synthetic binders or coloring agents, common processes for concrete pavers, also results in increased emissions.
While natural stone must be quarried, doing so produces much fewer emissions than manufacturing does. Natural stone is shaped without synthetic binders or dyes and no high-heat curing is needed. Often, the dust and offcuts resulting from natural stone quarries is gathered and recycled into other purposes, such as gravel, pipe bedding, or even parts of artificial reefs.
Some might argue that quarries themselves are significant environmental impacts, but they still result in fewer industrial emissions compared to high volume manufacturing of concrete pavers. And stone quarries can be reclaimed, with old quarries being repurposed as parks, nature preserves, lakes, and reservoirs or other community spaces.
Both concrete pavers and natural stone pavers can be used in permeable installations to manage storm water. Both can be attractive and aesthetically pleasing. While concrete pavers may cost less initially, natural stone lasts much longer with much less maintenance. And in the long run, using natural stone produces fewer emissions than high volume paver manufacturing, which can be very appealing to customers who are increasingly mindful of environmental impacts. n
AUTHOR Matt Henderson
Category Manager
