Q: What costs less, a concrete patio or a paver patio?
A: Generally speaking, a concrete patio will cost less per square foot than a paver patio. A decorative concrete slab (stamped and tinted) will cost more than a plain concrete slab but will still probably cost less than the installed cost of a paver patio.
However, there are a few other things to consider than only the per-foot cost. For example, a large concrete patio usually requires delivery by a concrete truck, meaning it requires professional installation which you’ll have to factor into the price. A paver patio can be installed by a do-it-yourselfer, which can save considerable labor costs if you don’t pay someone else to do the work. The downside, however, is that installing a paver patio is more labor-intensive because of all the site prep involved.
Another factor is maintenance. Poured concrete patios require little maintenance (resealing every 2-3 years to extend the life of the slab), but they’re expensive to repair once major cracks appear (virtually inevitable over time). In the long run, the cost of repairing the concrete might offset the upfront savings of using the material. Paver patios require more maintenance (such as weeding) but are also easier to repair, and they make it easier to expand the patio.
