Natural Stone Paving vs Concrete

June 04, 2013

Wondering how to choose between natural stone paving vs concrete? We go through some of the differences to help you decide what's best for you.

Reclaimed Yorkstone, as used here by Thames Valley Landscapes, creates the immediate impression of age and longevity.

Stone paving weathers

One of the biggest advantages stone pavers have is their ability to weather naturally. Many people would say they actually improve in character as they age. A perfect example of this is reclaimed Yorkstone. Highly sought after - and therefore expensive - its mellow, antiqued appearance makes a paving scheme look immediately at home. Concrete paving manufacturers have tried to re-create this reclaimed look with pressed concrete slabs and stone suppliers can tumble stone to artificially weather it. However, nothing is quite matches the look of genuine reclaimed paving which has weathered over time.

Damage to concrete pavers reveals the aggregate beneath the surface.

When concrete gets damaged

One particular down side of concrete is if damage occurs. When a concrete slab becomes chipped or a corner breaks off, it reveals exposed aggregate that looks very unsightly. It pretty much ruins the effect of that particular piece of paving and, if it's in a prominent position, the entire installation. Because natural stone weathers, however, any chips or damage will soon blend into the overall look. This is why stone is used on commercial hard-landscaping projects - because it offers better durability over a longer period of time than concrete products.

Even a very evenly coloured natural stone paving, such as Beige sawn sandstone, has enough variation to give character to a patio Design by Georgia Lindsay.

Colour variation

Concrete comes in lots of colours, which is an obvious plus if you have a specific colour scheme in mind. However, each paver is exactly the same. One of the best things about natural stone is its innate colour variation. While some is more consistently coloured than others, every piece of paving is unique. Stone is quarried in seams and, when one particular seam of stone has been exhausted, the next seam down may have slight differences in character and colour variation. Some of the concrete imitation products do look very authentic, but they still fail to match the variation in natural stone paving.

Colour fade

When natural stone weathers, it will lose some of the colour it has when newly laid. This is a gentle part of the weathering process which is what makes it attractive to many people. (It's worth noting that black limestone can fade considerably, if left untreated.) Concrete gains its colour from dyes. It's certainly not unusual to see faded concrete block paving in driveways, as it can lose its original colour over the space of a few short years.

Wide choice

If we go back a few decades, then the only stone paving used in the UK would have been Yorkstone or Portland limestone. Things are very different now. Stone imports have, not only made stone affordable, but have also created massive choice. You only have to look at the range of sandstone colours and textures. Stone imports began with Indian sandstone, but now include limestone, slate, and granite. There is also a range of different surface finishes available, only adding to the choice. For more information on how concrete weathers, and for a comparison with clay block paving, see Clay Pavers vs Concrete. Post updated: August 2023

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