Expert advice about concrete pavers and paving stones used for driveways, patios, and walkways; also covers mortarless interlocking pavers.

Most people assume that any paving product that looks like brick is, in fact, brick. Not so. Paving brick is made of clay, the traditional source material of brick manufacturers. Concrete pavers, which may appear similar to their clay counterpart on the shelf, are actually very different.

concrete paver driveway
Varied shapes of colored concrete pavers provide a visually stunning surface that won’t be prone to cracking. © Don Vandervort, HomeTips

Concrete pavers, similar to concrete block, consist of cement and aggregate. Formed in molds, a vibration process provides the combined materials with density. Over time, the units gain strength due to the curing or hardening of the cement.

Colors other than gray are achieved by adding pigments to the mixture of cement and aggregate.

concrete pavers grass
Concrete pavers set in a lawn provide a flat, visually soft outdoor surface that you can actually drive onto in a pinch. Imelenchon | MorgueFile

 

Rectangular concrete pavers offer a brick-like appearance.
Rectangular concrete pavers offer a brick-like appearance. Here they are being leveled in a bed of sand. Sevenke / Shutterstock.com

Because it is not inherent to the material, the pigment added to concrete pavers can erode, eventually exposing the color of the aggregate and perhaps resulting in a complete change from the original color of the concrete paver. Dark pigments in particular can fade over time. Unfortunately, once the color has faded, it is impossible to bring the color back to its original appearance without replacing the concrete paver.

Like modern, extruded brick pavers, concrete pavers are manufactured with highly accurate dimensions and are typically available at large home improvement retailers.

Interlocking concrete pavers form a contiguous surface that resists separations, provides visual interest.
Interlocking concrete pavers form a contiguous surface that resists separations and offers visual interest. ©The Pixel / Shutterstock.com

Mortarless interlocking pavers are available in a variety of colors, shapes and sizes. Machine-made, they offer high-strength paving solutions for driveways, walkways, and patio floors.

 

Concrete pavers, set in a base of compacted sand, provide a flat, elegant patio surface.
Concrete pavers, laid in a base of fine gravel or sand, provide a flat, elegant patio surface. ©Christina Richards / Shutterstock.com

Assembled without mortar, they are typically installed in a shallow bed of sand, and, to create a solid interlock, sand is vibrated between the paver joints. Material prices of pavers tend to run from about $1 to $2 per square foot.

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About Don Vandervort
Don Vandervort has developed his expertise for more than 30 years as a remodeler and builder, Building Editor for Sunset Books, Senior Editor at Home Magazine, author of more than 30 home improvement books, and writer of countless magazine articles. He appeared for 3 seasons on HGTV’s “The Fix,” served as MSN’s home expert for several years, and is featured as Yelp's home improvement expert. Don founded HomeTips in 1996. Read more about Don Vandervort