Concrete or Pavers

Hi all,

I need some help in deciding whether to choose pavers or concrete (exposed aggregate).

I have heard that concrete can easily crack if the earth moves but I've also heard that pavers can just as easily move.

What is the best option in regards to driveway and other areas around a house?

Cheers

Bad cracking can only happen if installation wasn't done correctly. There needs to be a good base, reinforcement, be good placement and finishing of the concrete, and expansion joints implemented into the slab to ensure the cracking is controlled and it doesnt end up looking unsightly or rises in the wrong places.

The same can be said for the paving, the driveway will still need a concrete base with pavers on top with the same considerations mentioned above. The quality of the tradesman will determine whether it will move or not. If done right, it will last a long time before you start noticing any ill effects.

With regards to what where, it depends on the budget and the theme of the look of your house. It is common to expose agg the driveway, plain conc the blind side of the house (if not seen much) and use some nice pavers for entertaining areas, or a mix of both.

lightsview,
With pavers, you'll always get weeds (from under or from seeds blown into crevices). Hence regular spraying is required.
We're very conscious about minimising use of chemicals around our home. Thus, concrete gets our vote.
Chris

Hate pavers - they move & weeds grow between them!

Weeds will only grow inbetween pavers if they are laid on sand, the method I had mentioned was to lay them on a concrete slab base then set the pavers in a mortar bed with a hard grout mix in the gaps. Zero weeds and movement then, unless it hasnt been done right and cracks occur and weeds grow in them, but in that case the same would happen with concrete.

There is a perception that pavers means flicking some sand on the ground and throwing some pavers into it, if done properly it is just as long lasting and strong as concrete.