Natural stone pavers or concrete pavers? Choosing the right material for the hardscape of your outdoor space will play a vital role in the outcome of your landscape. It’s a significant commitment in comparison to deciding which type of furniture or plantings to get, since changing them will not be as simple after installation. So you need to choose and think about your decision carefully.

The questions our STONEarch clients usually ask us is which hardscape material will work best with their landscape. There’s no easy answer to this since it will all boil down on your vision, aesthetics, and of course, budget. It is essential on your part to consider and analyze these factors to determine the most suitable option for your landscaping needs.

1. Timeless Elegance
2. Low Maintenance
3. Ages Beautifully
4. You Have Plenty Of Style Choices
5. Easier To Install Than Concrete
6. Better Investment
7. Eco-Friendly And Sustainable

What Makes Natural Stone Pavers Unique?

Natural stone pavers include bluestone, travertine, granite, flagstone, and limestone. These natural materials come in different colors and have characteristics unique to them. They have that earthy look combined with an opulent and textured look.  

You can also find these pavers in various shapes, sizes, and textures. There are irregular flagstone pavers that can provide your patio with an interesting character and high level of visual interest, which you can’t achieve with concrete pavers. You can give your outdoor area a naturally crafted charm with the subtle symmetry and rugged lines that natural stone pavers can offer.

These landscape materials came from actual rocks and each piece possesses a distinct appearance, from weathering to formational methods and natural aging. This also means that Mother Nature will determine its color and texture.

What About Concrete Pavers?

Since they are manmade, concrete pavers are available in almost any size, shape, texture, and color. Their shape can range from large square forms and classic brick shapes to elongated ones similar to plank pavers. There are also concrete replicas of natural stones, bricks, and other materials. They are created with durability and strength in mind, but concrete pavers are prone to crack even with preventions. Concrete pavers may be an inexpensive option, but they are slippery when wet, and repairs can be quite expensive as well. You will need to consider these issues when making your decision.

Reasons To Choose Natural Stones Over Concrete

1. Timeless Elegance

Natural stone pavers come in varying types, from light beige standstone if you want to get that tropical vibe to dark ebony granite for achieving a majestic feel to your patio. Depending on where the stone is quarried, each piece has a distinct texture and color. Using natural stones on your landscape is a surefire way to captivate your guests and give your hardscape some personalization.

2. Low Maintenance

Stone pavers don’t usually develop cracks. If for some reason they do, they are easy to repair and replace. Simply remove the paver with cracks and replace it. That’s it! Plus, they also have smaller joints. That means their sand joints are less likely to encounter seed germination. And the best thing about natural stones? They’re effortless to clean!

3. Ages Beautifully

There is no doubt that stones look even better as they age and have a very long lifespan. Unlike concrete, the colors of natural stones are not pigmented, which only add to their beauty. They’re also not made from mixtures of composite aggregate like concrete pavers, so they can preserve their beauty as they age, mature, and fade. There are even certain stones that can attain their complete elegance and beauty with little age. And they will look as beautiful as the day of their installation even after hundreds of years.

4. You Have Plenty Of Style Choices

You will not fall short with style choices. You’re sure to find the right paving material for the landscaping project you have in mind, whether it be limestone, slate, flagstone, or travertine. Natural stones are also available in either irregular or flat surfaces, as well as varying shapes, from triangles and diamonds to rectangles, and so much more.

5. Easier To Install Than Concrete

You don’t need to acquire new skills to install natural stones. You can lay it on your patio floors like with concrete. On the other hand, installing concrete pavers is often more expensive than stones. They will require several aspects like labor, grading, and backfilling. They are also prone to breakage and shifting. To prevent this, you need someone with the right installation skills and can hinder the unfavorable effects of age and weather. Plus, you need to maintain concrete regularly, which you may not have time for if you’re a very busy person.

6. Better Investment

Utilizing natural stones on your landscape will add more value to your home. It’s an investment that will pay for itself in the long run. They are also regarded as materials with high value and quality. Traits like prominence, elegance, and sophistication are connected to them as well. Also, landscape projects created with natural stones are considered to be distinct, well-built, unique, and genuine, which helps add to the re-sale value of any property.

7. Eco-Friendly And Sustainable

These landscaping materials are probably one of the most sustainable available today. Our planet has vast stone resources, and although their regeneration may not be as visible as that of trees, the process is endless with a lasting life-cycle. And since they are natural, they are recyclable. You can also re-use them as crushed for aggregates or reclaimed paving.