When deciding on material for driveways, walkways and pathways, for many people it is a choice between laying concrete and laying concrete pavers. Both now have many choices in design, colour and texture to suit your style and purpose.
People ask which option is better – concrete or concrete pavers? Naturally, being a concrete company, we love the durability and wide range of options that concrete provides so not surprisingly, we’re going to point out the benefits of concrete of which there are numerous!
However now there is yet another option with concrete. Over the last few years we have developed and refined our handcrafted saw-cut concrete paving which looks like a high end smooth, modern paver, but without the weeds, subsidence and often the cost.
Handcrafted saw-cut concrete – why is it better?
Handcrafted saw-cut concrete is a slab of concrete with patterns that are saw-cut by hand into the drying surface. Unlike stamped concrete, it does not use pre-designed patterns, instead this style is done by hand. It’s been used in place of high-end concrete pavers in commercial applications at Gawler Place and Bank Street as well as many homes in Adelaide
We achieve a smooth and sleek appearance with our handcrafted saw-cut paving range and often you can’t tell the difference between an expensive high end paver and this range. This is because of the process we use to develop this look.
The first step is to choose the concrete aggregate mix. You can choose a smooth simple integral coloured concrete or an exposed aggregate finish. An exposed aggregate finish will show some coloured aggregate to interest but will be smoother to walk on than traditional exposed aggregate finishes.
Once the concrete aggregate is poured, it’s allowed to harden and we return a few days later to saw-cut square or rectangular patterns into the top of the slab. These pattern sizes vary from 600mm to 300mm in size. The size chosen depends on the area to be paved. Larger patterns will create a more expansive and modern look and smaller patterns may suit a more traditional home.
For an even smoother finish which looks similar to tiles, we can hone the surface after we have finished cutting in the patterns. This does mean some more cost and might not be suitable for some areas because it’s so smooth but it’s a great looking finish for a patio or outdoor entertaining area.
For driveways, patios walkways and entertaining areas often there are real benefits over installing pavers.
- No weeds in between pavers – ideal for the low maintenance gardener
- No subsidence – unlike concrete pavers, there is no movement or subsidence
- Excellent for outdoor entertaining areas where uneven pavers or cracks between concrete pavers cause wobbly table legs
- Durable – the concrete paving is reinforced with steel mesh and handles vehicles up to three-tonnes
- Easy to clean – concrete paving is sealed to protect it from red wine, engine oil and car tyre stains
- Wide colour range – we have a wide range of colours and pigments to choose from
- Cost effective compared to installing concrete pavers – a similar flat and smooth finish can be achieved with large concrete pavers, but this requires a concrete slab to be installed first which adds significantly to the cost
- Excellent for sloped or difficult to access areas of your yard – concrete can be poured on most sloped surfaces or those areas of your property that are difficult to get to. If additional grip is needed on a steep driveway, this can be catered for with more aggregate exposed or a courser smudge finish on coloured concrete.
Thinking about concrete pavers? Consider handcrafted saw-cut paving instead
We have samples at our concrete display centre in Adelaide at 1 Maple Avenue, Forestville. Our consultants will discuss a range of colours and options for your home or you can arrange a free no obligation visit to your home. Phone us on 08 82979611 to find out more about our handcrafted saw-cut concrete paving range of options.