Tag Archives: concrete

Landscaping with Concrete Pavers

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Close-up of a driveway made using grey concrete pavers.In recent blog posts I have written about gravel and permeable concrete as environmentally-friendly and attractive options for various hardscape uses in landscaping.  Yet another option that is sustainable, versatile and attractive is concrete pavers.  Pavers are pre-formed concrete” tiles” made to look like cobblestone, tile, brick, flagstone, slate, chiseled stone and other materials. Concrete pavers are evidently an increasingly popular choice for residential use as I have run across a plethora of information on the Internet touting their use in this way.

In the spirit of full disclosure, I will say up front that we do not recommend or use concrete pavers with our clients for two main reasons; 1) we don’t find the aesthetics to be quite “worthy” of the residential properties we have the privilege of working on and 2) we don’t necessarily agree 1000% with all the positive hype touting them over other concrete options.  Don’t get me wrong, I think concrete pavers are often a good choice in commercial projects such as parks or schools, I just don’t feel they translate elegantly into home use. So to each their own.  Aesthetics are subjective and personal and you can certainly make that decision for yourself.

With that, let’s talk about the positive aspects of concrete pavers.  At first blush, interlocking pavers may seem like a more expensive option than some other choices, but they actually offer long-term cost-efficiency due to their durability.  Because pavers are individual units, if one cracks at some point, it can be replaced.   And the high number of joints in the surface facilitates drainage of water from rain, enhancing skid-resistance and decreasing nighttime glare.

Environmentally Friendly
Studies have revealed interlocking concrete pavements (ICPs) have an average life of at least 29 years. Concrete Pavers Earn LEED® Points and Permeable Interlocking Concrete Pavements (PICPs) are eligible for LEED® credits under the U.S. Green Building Councils (USGBC and CaGBC) guidelines.

Paver Driveways
Paver driveways are actually stronger than concrete, having two to three times the compressive strength and weight-bearing capacity of normal concrete.  Installed properly, they are reportedly less prone to shifting, and should not settle or sag, even with heavy vehicle traffic or extreme weather changes.

Close-up of a walkway made using concrete pavers that look like brick.Paver Pathways and Walkways
Professionally installed, pavers provide a durable, uniform surface.  One of the biggest advantages of pavers is that in the event that something like a large tree root raises one or more of the pavers requiring repair, pavers are manufactured to be uniform so they can be replaced without leaving ugly patches or mismatched areas.

Concrete pavers used for pool decking installed in a six-pointed star pattern using light and dark grey pavers.Paver Patios and Courtyards
Concrete pavers come in a wide variety of surface finishes, colors and shapes.  Moreover, a skilled installer can create a variety of laying patterns, further expanding the customization possibilities.

“Concrete pavers” doesn’t have a very pretty ring to it, but taking into consideration all the benefits it offers as a hardscape choice it can be an attractive landscape materials option.  To recap, concrete pavers:

  • Come in a large range of colors and patterns
  • Are strong (2-3X stronger than concrete)
  • Have a long life expectancy (30+ years)
  • Are low maintenance
  • Are easily replaced if damaged
  • Provide a non-slip surface
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Textured or Stamped Concrete: An Attractive, Cost-Efficient and Durable Landscaping Option

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Overhead view of pool with a custom designed stamped concrete deck in Dallas, TexasStamped concrete (also known as textured concrete, decorative concrete, imprinted concrete, impression concrete) is concrete that is created to simulate brick, slate, flagstone, stone variations, tile and wood patterns.  Stamped concrete is created by pouring and smoothing out concrete, then allowing it to set until it is able to hold an impression.  A pattern is then imprinted in the concrete with a “concrete stamp” made of polyurethane.  Stamped concrete can be used to enhance pool decks, walkways, driveways, entryways, patios and courtyards.

Overhead view of a pool and spa with a custom designed stamped concrete or textured concrete deck in Dallas, Texas.Stamped concrete was first introduced about 50 years ago.  At that time, design options were limited.  But the industry had evolved and developed to the point where today one of the biggest appeals of stamped concrete is the wide availability of colors and patterns. At Bonick Landscaping we make our own custom patterns as the aesthetic standards of our clients simply require a better-looking end-product than most of the pre-fab patterns that are out there today.  Stamped concrete provides the same benefits of durability as traditional concrete (it stands up well to harsh weather and high traffic and lasts for many years).  These advantages make stamped concrete a good choice in terms of value among landscaping materials as the cost can represent a 50% or greater savings versus natural stone or other materials.

Stamped concrete can be colored in a number of different ways including integral/integrated colors, antiquing release colors, color hardeners and tinted sealers.

  • Integral or Integrated colors are mixed into concrete before it is poured and have the advantage of being consistent throughout so that if the concrete is ever chipped or scarred, the color appears the same.
  • Antiquing release colors are accent colors applied to the surface before stamping that prevent the stamp from sticking to the concrete but also accent color in the grooves and crevices of the stamped design.
  • Color hardeners are applied to the surface of concrete.  They are not recommended for climates that change rapidly due to what is called the “popcorn effect” where small circles “pop out” of the surface of the concrete.
  • Tinted sealers have a transparent color tint added and come in a wide variety of colors.

Front walkway leading to a house is made of large slabs of what appear to be stone but are actually stamped concrete made from custom molds.Typically, contractors use a variety of coloring techniques to achieve an attractive and realistic faux look.  To maintain its attractiveness, it is generally recommended that sealer be reapplied every one to four years depending on the area’s usage and weather exposure.

One final note on stamped concrete; because stamp selection and color application play such an important role in the final outcome, stamped concrete done correctly is truly an art.  I have seen poorly done stamped concrete applications as well as beautiful examples.  For best results, be sure to visit and look at examples of actual work done before choosing a contractor.

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