Do you want to add a driveway, a walkway or a patio to your home? Are you confused about whether to use brick pavers or concrete? The answer, is that both concrete and brick pavers are strong and durable materials which can serve for long periods of time.
Let’s take a look at some advantages and disadvantages of both concrete and brick pavers.
Advantages of Brick Pavers
Here are some advantages of using brick pavers.
Eco-Friendly
Apart from being manufactured from natural materials, bricks are salvaged frequently and reused.
Color Retention
Bricks are made from a combination of different types of clays which gives them a natural color. No matter how scorching the sun is, they are able to maintain their natural color.
Durable
Although bricks can chip or crack but they can stay intact for a lifetime. Bricks can only break when pressure is exerted upon them. Unlike bricks concrete can erode and fade.
Lesser Cleaning
Bricks are stain resistant and therefore require less maintenance and cleaning compared to concrete pavers.
Disadvantages of Bricks
Here are some common disadvantages of using bricks.
Color Options
Bricks are made up of natural clays and the color options may be limited.
Breakable
Bricks sometimes crack, chip and break when pressure is exerted from heavy traffic. However, their solid coloring acts as a camouflage to the blemishes and they remain unnoticeable. In the event a brick does crack, it can easily be replaced.
Advantages of Concrete
Let’s unveil some benefits of using concrete.
Less Expensive
Concrete is a cheaper material. The reason why they cost less is the low cost of the raw materials they are made up of.
Variety of Options
With concrete you get a variety of choices when it comes to color and design.
Disadvantages of Concrete
Here are some disadvantages of using concrete.
Color Fading
Because they are dyed with artificial color pigments instead of clay, their color can fade quickly over time.
Requires Sealing
Although temporary sealants can protect the color of the concrete, yet additional maintenance is required.
Erosion
Whereas bricks tend to wear away by cracking or chipping, concrete fades away by erosion.
Quality Variation
Concrete varies when it comes to durability and quality, depending upon the recipe used by the manufacturer. It is even hard to find the right quality in the marketplace.
Shorter Life Span
Concrete is initially a strong material but with time it fails to sustain the weight of heavy traffic. Unlike with brick pavers, it is harder to replace a slab of concrete in the event it does crack or break.
As you can see the pros outweigh the cons when it comes to selecting brick pavers for your home or business. If you think that brick pavers may be the right option for you, please give JJW Brick a call. We would be more than happy to answer any questions you may have regarding brick pavers. We can be reached at 1-800-BRICK-PAVERS. Call us today!
