Both pavers and gravel tend to be popular choices of homeowners when it comes to building patios, driveways, and walkways. Offering durability and ease of maintenance, homeowners often remain confused between the two. How do pavers and gravel actually differ from each other? What is the opinion of backyard patio builders? Let’s find out.

Pavers For Walkways, Patios, And Driveways

To begin with, paving stones tend to be a beautiful option for patios, walkways, and driveways that can help make a significant difference to a property’s value. Pavers are easy to maintain and offer extreme durability and longevity. On top of that, you can choose from a variety of colors that will help you match your backyard or landscape along with endless varieties of shapes and sizes.

However, one thing you should keep in mind is that the upfront cost of installing paving stones is a lot more than installing gravel.

Pros Of Using Pavers

One of the most common reasons pavers are used for patios, walkways, and driveways is that they will last for decades before needing replacement. At the same time, technological advancements and improvements in production processes have made them even more long-lasting. However, you will need to maintain pavers to prevent them from fading.

Fading is a natural phenomenon that can occur over the years due to sun rays and extreme weather conditions. But if you were to maintain the pavers, you can easily prevent them from losing their glory.

Cons Of Using Pavers

Pavers feature comparatively more upfront costs than gravel. If you like to do things on your own, using pavers to install a driveway or patio is not going to be a do-it-yourself kind of a thing. Furthermore, another hassle with pavers is if they are cracked or chipped, you will need to replace them. And the process is simply not pulling up the existing stone and replacing the new one.

You will have to put in work and effort to install the stone properly, which would otherwise turn out to be a mismatch. On top of that, if you want to build something using pavers, keep in mind that it is going to be a labor-intensive task. Handling pavers is no joke and requires skilled individuals to do it. Therefore, expect to spend some money.

Gravel For Patios, Walkways, And Driveways

Another popular material or item for walkways, patios, and driveways is gravel. Gravel tends to offer the aesthetic appeal of English cottages, French country homes, and Mediterranean villas. However, the thing with using Gravel is that it needs to be installed properly to look exceptionally attractive for walkways, driveways, or patios.

On the other hand, just like Pavers, using gravel has both pros and cons at the same time.

Pros Of Using Gravel

The best thing about using gravel is that it improves drainage. This means in case of extreme rainfall; you won’t come across puddles of water as gravel tends to absorb water. Plus, gravel produces a certain sound, which keeps the homeowners alerted about people entering their property.

And perhaps the biggest advantage of using gravel is they are affordable when compared to pavers. Unlike pavers, homeowners tend to undertake gravel patio projects and complete them on their own within a matter of days.

Cons Of Using Gravel

While gravel tends to create sounds that keep the homeowners alerted, they are not comfortable walking on bare feet. This means that it would be relatively difficult for wheelchairs, wheelbarrows, etc. to move through.

As compared to pavers, gravel requires high maintenance in areas that experience a lot of human traffic. The gravel can enter the shoes and stick to the feet and be carried inside the house or other areas. Therefore, you will have to replace the gravel and use a rake to keep things in check.

The thing with gravel is that it looks appealing in the photos and has an affordable price point. But then again, homeowners will have to put in a lot of effort to maintain gravel patios, walkways, driveways, etc.

Final Word

In the end, choosing between pavers and gravel depends on the budget and needs, and preferences. While pavers are expensive but are low maintenance and can last for decades. On the other hand, gravel is affordable but requires consistent maintenance. Ask a patio contractor Long Island about which material is better for your area depending on the weather and other factors.