Natural Stone vs. Concrete Pavers: Which Is Right for Your Project?

Are there some home (or business) renovations in the works? Picking a paver can sound like a simple decision, but there’s a lot more to think about in terms of their design, durability, cost, and drawing comparisons between two types.

Whether you’re a homeowner, landscaper, or developer weighing up natural stone and concrete pavers for a project, it’s a great idea to lay down the pros and cons.

This article will be an in-depth look into natural stone and concrete pavings. After all, you want your property to look beautiful!

How Do You Decide on Pavers?

Putting together plans for a patio, poolside area, driveway, or commercial walkway? Asking yourself these questions will give you a clearer picture of whether the material is best for you.

1. What is your project? A driveway may require stronger, more load-bearing pavers compared to a garden path.
   
2. What design are you going for? Modern and clean or rustic and organic?
   
3. Do you have a strict budget? Consider both upfront and long-term costs.
   
4. How often can you maintain the pavers? Some materials require sealing and more frequent upkeep.
   
5. What is the weather like in your area? Will your pavers be able to handle extreme heat, frost, or heavy rain?
   

Asking yourself these questions is just step one! Up next, we’ll draw a comparison between both concrete and natural stone.

Natural Stone vs. Concrete: Comparing the Two

So you’re unsure of what to decide on for your commercial, residential or industrial property. Thankfully, we’ll dive into the differences.

There are three types of natural stones, each of which has undergone dramatic natural processes:

Igneous (or volcanic) rock is a solid form of magma (molten rock) once it has cooled and is one of the most common types of rock on the Earth’s crust. The intense heat of the mantle in the Earth’s core melts and breaks down the minerals below the surface, and as the magma rises, it cools, solidifies, and combines. What are the four colour variants of igneous rock?

1. Ultramafic, a very dark mineral such as magnesium or iron and very few light minerals such as silicon.
2. Mafic, which can be dark green, red, brown, grey or black.
3. Intermediate, which are often grey rocks that contain diorite or andesite.
4. Felsic, which can be pink or white and contains light-coloured minerals like potassium or quartz.

Sedimentary rocks. They usually form at the bottom of bodies of water, such as seabeds, lake beds, or ocean floors, when layers of small rock clasts, grains and particulates bond together through sedimentation.

The colour of sedimentary rock depends on the bonding process. For example, sandstone can be slightly pink if it was formed near potassium feldspar, whereas limestone can appear pale yellow or creamy due to being mostly of calcite.

Metamorphic rock, which is formed when exposed to high temperatures and undergoes a chemical or physical change. These rocks come in two categories:

1. Foliated, when minerals have been aligned and create leafy, long patterns on the stone (such as gneiss) derived from granite and look flaky or plate-like, similar to slate.
2. Non-foliated, where minerals haven’t aligned in the metamorphic process and do not align or elongate. A good example of this is marble, which metamorphosed from limestone!

Sandstone

Sandstone is formed when grains of sand are cemented together over time (called lithification) and is categorised according to its textural make-up.

1. Arkosic sandstone is reddish or grey
2. Quartz arensites are pale pink or white
3. Lithic arenites are often grey or dark sandstone, and sometimes a reedy shade

Since sandstone can be formed in many different environments, it can come in lots of colours and shades! Sandstone has complex and unique patterns on its surface, such as curving or wavy lines that cross each rock left by ocean or river currents.

Limestone

Limestone is mostly calcium carbonate and is derived from dead marine life and has a variety of applications for paving.

Commonly pale in colour (such as white and grey), there are darker types of limestone, but they contain higher amounts of organic material and are harder to find. Some limestone variants have traces of iron, which gives it a red or yellow colour!

With its high organic content, it isn't unusual to find fossilised remains or natural patterns on its surface. It has a distinctive texture and is soft to the touch, so it may be a more inviting option for your pool paving, for example.

What about Travertine? A type of limestone formed by alkaline water, travertine is found in limestone caves or hot springs and is a well-known building material.

Granite

Used in a number of monuments and buildings (such as Mount Rushmore) Granite can give a traditional aesthetic to your property! With no uniformity in how the mineral crystals cool in granite, it has speckled colours instead of being smooth.

Granite is mostly quartz (and hence light), but the amphica minerals are dark and break up the lightness of the stone. Take a look at these Impala Black Flamed Granite Pavers!

Combining striking beauty with durability and being easy to maintain, these pavers are ideal for many outdoor projects, including creating patios or upgrading a pathway. Design wise, you might love and prefer the look of natural stone pavers.

https://www.pavingdirect.com/info/characteristics-of-natural-stone-paving

Why might you not want to invest in natural stone paving?

Since the textures and colours aren’t consistent all the time, it might not work for larger jobs or extensions, as it can appear mismatched.

Thinner cut, they also need to be laid onto concrete, so it requires a high level of skill as opposed to laying onto a bed of roadbase and sand. Natural stones are also more complex to repair, so think about whether you can DIY them or whether you’ll need to pay for a professional contractor.

A good example is slate as it has a low impact threshold and can split or break if exposed to heavy impacts.

Concrete Pavers

As one of the most widely used construction materials in the world, concrete is used for small-scale residential buildings, industrial and transportation projects.

A mixture of cement, water, and aggregates such as sand and gravel, concrete pavers come in a wide range of shapes, sizes, and finishes. They can be formed into interlocking patterns and dyed to almost any colour.  It also

Why might you want to invest in concrete for your paving plans?

1. Instead of natural patterns (which can look irregular) concrete colours and format are a lot more consistent. Made with a mixture of cement, sand, aggregates and specific oxides to create colours, concrete can match your property.
2. Concrete paver thicknesses are consistent as well, such as being up to 100mm for industrial purposes, or up to 50 mm for light traffic. You’ll be able to prepare your base and lay down a consistent, smoothly paved surface.
3. Concrete is usually a lot easier to maintain and repair. Segmental pavers are laid on a bed of compacted roadbase and bedding sand, so this allows the paved surface to flex when dealing with heavy loads.
4. Excellent water resistance. Concrete can harden and maintain its strength even when exposed to water.
5. Concrete has a high temperature resistance. Conducting heat slowly, it retains its structural integrity and stays stable up to 910°C, so it is extremely fire-resistant.
6. Concrete is chemically resistant to most chemical attacks (besides substances like acids with a pH < 4, sulfates, and ammonium salts). Apply protective coatings for long-term durability.
7. Flowable and can be poured into moulds or formworks of any shape or size!
8. Concrete is often less expensive per m2 in comparison to natural stone options.
9. In the event of cracked pavers or movement (over time), these pavers can be lifted and replaced without ruining the rest of the paved area.

What types of concrete paving can you order at Paver Shop?

Byron (Cream) Concrete Wet Cast Pavers

These concrete pavers are available in different sizing options to suit any individual’s space.

Newhaven (Grey) Concrete Wet Cast Pavers

These concrete pavers are available in different sizing options to suit any space! 

Black Rock (Charcoal) Blackbutt Concrete Stepper

This concrete stepper paver is a perfect addition to any backyard, garden, or walkway.

So, should you plan for natural stone or concrete?

It depends on what you’re looking for aesthetically, how durable you need the application to be (pool paving will differ to garden stepping stones) and in general how much stress or abrasion resistance you think you will want. If you have any doubts or question questions on materials, Paver Shop is your one-stop-shop for all things paving.

Paving for Melbourne Properties: Call Paver Shop

With maintenance, cost, and climate to think about for the long term of landscape design, an experienced paving contractor will give you tips, tricks, and installation or maintenance support.

Limestone has a beautiful texture, sandstone has many colours, slate bears well against weather, granite handles foot traffic, and concrete is versatile. As a landscaper, garden designer, or an excited DIY’er, Paver Shop supplies pavers to Brunswick, Bundoora, Greenvale, Mill Park, Northcote, Preston, Pascoe Vale, Taylors Lakes, Thornbury and anywhere in Melbourne.

Owned and operated by a trade professional with over 20 years of experience in paving and landscaping, we are a specialist in the supply of quality natural stone products with a range to suit your needs.

Contact us today by emailing [email protected] or request a quote online for supply and install guidance, sales advice on our pavers, or visit us in Thomastown, Victoria. Alternatively we offer a “we come to you” service; for an appointment please call (03) 9462 4325.