“Clay or concrete pavers? Clay or Concrete? Clay or…. (Passes out)”. Well, maybe the first question is, “what’s the difference?”. Everyone is familiar with clay pavers even if you’ve never intentionally paid attention to them. They are the red or yellow bricks we see on the side of buildings, inside century old palazzos, and on old grand majestic walkways. The main material or ingredient in clay brick pavers is clay and they can look more red or yellow. The variation in color is due to the mineral composition of the clay. For instance, clay that are rich with iron oxide turns reddish, while clay containing a lot of lime will have a white or yellow hue (1). Concrete pavers on the other hand pretty much consist of concrete, sand, and gravel. The concrete is pressed into the shape of a brick. Concrete pavers can come in just about any color because a dry-shake pigment can be added with the concrete to create the desired color. If no pigment is added, the concrete brick will be a colorless grey/white. It should be mentioned, for those that really cannot decide, cobblestones are also an option. Cobblestones are actual stones chiseled into the shape of bricks; however, this is another topic unto itself.

There are a few things to consider when picking concrete or clay pavers:

Cost
It’s commonly believed that clay pavers cost more than concrete pavers. This may not necessarily be true when factoring in your local market, masonry installation costs, and the overall pattern you want (which also dictates labor costs). It’s best to shop around. Overall, thin brick veneer pavers (used for driveways and high trafficked areas) will likely be the cheapest by a large margin. Thin brick pavers are thinner than traditional bricks and are manufactured in both clay and concrete.

Size
When considering desired patterns, brick size may or may not be important in a particular project. The standard clay sizes are 4”x 8” bricks and 8”x 8” rectangles. There’s not much variation in sizes as they are manufactured by kilns that are manufactured to produce primarily these sizes. Alternatively, concrete bricks can be manufactured in just about any size and there is a great amount of variation.

Longevity & Preservation
Both clay and concrete pavers will last many years. However, it’s well known that clay bricks last much longer than concrete in two areas. The first is overall strength. Because concrete bricks are not kiln fired and are dry cured instead, they do not have the overall strength that clay bricks commonly have. Clay bricks have a compressive strength of at least 2.5 times stronger than concrete bricks. This affects lifespan. The lifespan of concrete brick pavers is around 20 -25 years with proper care (regular washing and sealing). The average lifespan of clay pavers can last generations with proper care.

The second is colorfastness. Unlike concrete brick pavers, clay pavers do not fade in color. Concrete pavers fade in color over time because the dry-shake pigments that were added to the concrete pavers (that turn them into a desired color) slowly erode due to foot traffic and weather wear and tear. Concrete pavers can be re-stained after installation, but the brick itself will have lost its color. Both clay and concrete pavers will need to be regularly sealed to prevent moisture and stains from building up within the pavers.

When considering the best stone or brick products for your project, it’s wise to hire an experienced mason that regularly works with these products to add insight. You can find high quality Masons on HutSolver. Simply take a picture of your project, post it, and start getting feedback and meeting high quality PROs.

Sign up to HutSolver – it’s free to join and use! We believe you’ll solve many of your home projects with creative ideas and knowledgeable Home Improvement PROs.

About HutSolver
HutSolver is a marketplace for home projects where homeowners share their projects (create project posts), receive creative feedback and build relationships with qualified home improvement professionals (PROs). Post, Hire, and Manage your project all on HutSolver.

(1) https://ceramics.org/ceramic-tech-today/construction/the-many-types-of-bricks

The post Clay vs. Concrete Brick Pavers, Which Is Better? appeared first on HutSolver Magazine.

Picture this: the masons you hired nine long weeks ago finally laid the last brick on your new driveway. You can barely contain the elation that makes its way to your cheeks, as you know this will be the last day of listening to saws grinding brick, and having to park on the street. As the crew starts packing up their truck and the head mason begins making their way to your front door with the final invoice, you feel such a feeling of satisfaction in the look of the new driveway that you don’t mind paying the remaining balance, you even welcome it! When your mason is thanking you for your business and about to leave your front porch they say, “oh, don’t forget to maintain your driveway periodically”. Too confused to ask a follow-up question, you wonder internally, “what maintenance”?

Newly laid brick or stone driveways, patios, siding, you name it, have a vivid appearance. As time marches on, and if not maintained, their vibrancy decreases. Here are a few basic maintenance tips to keep your pavers looking their best:

Seasonal Maintenance
Each Spring season, it’s a good idea to clean your pavers. Start pulling any weeds growing between joints. Next, saturate your pavers with water. Then, in a bucket, pour paver cleaner (one recommended by the manufacturer or installer of your pavers) and use a coarse street/stable broom to scrub your pavers. If you would prefer to make your own cleaning solution, use warm water with a mild degreasing dish wash instead. Next, rinse the pavers and put a granular weed preventive between the joints. A power washer is not needed, but if you prefer to use one, be careful as generally, their standard pressure can be considered harsh for pavers and sealers; again, use with caution.

Every Few Years
It’s generally recommended to apply a sealer every three years. Be careful not to apply more than twice during the three year period as a heavy film can be created on the surface, which can change in color when exposed to sunlight, distorting the actual color of your pavers. The exception to this is if you decide to have a professional power-wash your pavers. In that case, it’s wise for you or your professional to consider applying a sealant application immediately after.

When considering annual maintenance for your pavers, it’s wise to hire an experienced mason or power washing company that is familiar with cleaning pavers. You can find high quality Masons and Power Washers on HutSolver. Simply take a picture of your project, post it, and start getting feedback and meeting high quality PROs.

Sign up to HutSolver – it’s free to join and use! We believe you’ll solve many of your home projects with creative ideas and knowledgeable Home Improvement PROs.

About HutSolver
HutSolver is a marketplace for home projects where homeowners share their projects (create project posts), receive creative feedback and build relationships with qualified home improvement professionals (PROs). Post, Hire, and Manage your project all on HutSolver.

The post Paver Maintenance? What Maintenance? appeared first on HutSolver Magazine.

When daydreaming about a home’s exterior, it’s difficult not to fall in love with the look of clay brick masonry and pavers. Aside from aesthetics, there’s a reason why solid clay brick was very popular many, many years ago. Simply, it is very durable, while also being resistant to termites, and offering some natural resistance to fire and earthquakes. Depending on where you want to install clay brick, some options may be more favorable than others.

Exterior Walls:
Unless a home is built with a solid clay brick exterior from the beginning, it becomes difficult to fully install brick exterior walls to a home without substantial demolition and renovation of existing structural walls, which can be considerably expensive and time consuming. If that does not sound appealing, there are a few ways you can get a similar look without significant renovation and expense. If you like the look of clay brick masonry and pavers, consider brick veneer. Brick veneer costs much less than solid brick as it uses real clay brick, but only one wythe (layer) of clay brick that can be installed to an existing exterior structure (wood, steel, etc.). If you’re looking for an even cheaper option, you might consider faux brick veneer. Faux brick veneer is made of polyurethane or similar plastics that are made to imitate the look of real brick. This is likely the cheapest option, however, faux brick is usually recommended for decorative accents, and has difficulty standing up to weather elements, making faux brick veneer ideal for more interior applications.

Walkways, Driveways, and Patio
When thinking about walkways, patios, driveways, or pretty much anything on your property (other than your home), options open. The two most common options are solid clay brick or clay brick veneer pavers. Note that clay brick veneer pavers are different than brick veneer (wythe) exterior walls mentioned above. Clay Brick veneer pavers are also known as “thin” brick pavers because they are considerably thinner than solid brick, and are still pretty strong. They tend to be recommended for high traffic areas such as driveways. Thin Clay Brick Veneer Pavers tend to be considerably cheaper than solid brick while looking mostly identical to solid clay brick. In both instances, the homeowner will need to keep up with regularly applying sealers to maintain the appearance and performance of the pavers.

When considering the best masonry products for your project, it’s wise to hire an experienced mason that regularly works with these products and can add insight. You can find high quality Masons on HutSolver. Simply take a picture of your project, post it, and start getting feedback and meeting high quality PROs.

Sign up to HutSolver – it’s free to join and use! We believe you’ll solve many of your home projects with creative ideas and knowledgeable Home Improvement PROs.

About HutSolver
HutSolver is a marketplace for home projects where homeowners share their projects (create project posts), receive creative feedback and build relationships with qualified home improvement professionals (PROs). Post, Hire, and Manage your project all on HutSolver.

The post Love the look of Clay Brick Exteriors? Here’s How to Get the Look for Less appeared first on HutSolver Magazine.