Today, brick pavers have gained unprecedented popularity, especially when paving paths on the territory of country houses and cottages.
The material has many advantages and is considered a prestigious design option for paths and sidewalks.
Strong durability, modern and classic designs, thermal resistance, and the ability to withstand weight are some features adding to the popularity of brick pavers.
However, high cost and initial investment are drawbacks that homeowners should consider before opting for brick pavers.
This article will save time as we outline brick pavers’ significant pros and cons.
Table of Contents
Pros of Brick Pavers
Bricks are environment-friendly materials that can be reused even after removal from the structure.
Made after burning the clay at 1000 degrees Celcius, bricks are becoming the material of popular choice for homeowners and construction companies. Here are the significant advantages of brick pavers:
1. Design
You can easily design a Western-style and fashionable garden or entrance approach for your property with brick pavers.
Laying clay bricks in the corner of the garden and placing a table or chair will create a stylish cafe-like space.
It is ideal for a paver patio where you can decorate a house with a Western-style appearance in a more fashionable way, and it goes well with gardening.
A brick patio that is easy to make curves are also attractive because it can create a soft impression of the garden. It is also advantageous that it becomes more attractive as time goes by.
2. Durability
Increased durability parameters characterize bricks. When using these types of pavers, you can be sure that you will not need new investments in the development of the territory very soon and most likely will not be required at all.
For this reason, although the material has high-cost parameters, it is in phenomenal demand. Your investment, in this case, will be fully justified by high quality and undeniably luxurious appearance.
3. High strength
Well-known brands produce bricks that can withstand more than 3000 kg per sq inch loads.
You can transfer any amount of loads on your paver without having to worry about its deformation.
4. Hygroscopic
Bricks, although it has a high density, are hygroscopic material. Therefore, it is worth laying it out in environmentally friendly places: gardens, parks, and recreation areas.
Bricks do not exude harmful fumes in the absence of unpleasant-smelling liquids. It is indeed a gorgeous coating that can decorate any landscape.
5. Color uniformity
The brick paver is uniformly colored throughout the volume. This uniformity of color is achieved by selecting suitable types of clay, temperature, and firing technology. You can lay the bricks both front and back and retain color when rubbed.
6. Frost resistance
Strength and water absorption determine good frost resistance or the ability to withstand numerous freeze-thaw cycles. Brick is not affected by salts, acids, alkalis, or ultraviolet rays.
7. Variety of colors and textures
A wide variety of colors of bricks will satisfy the imagination of the most demanding developers.
During the production process, the facade surface of facing bricks goes through rustication and gunning, acquiring unique and inimitable textures.
Bricks are harmless building materials that entirely consist of baked clay. Even the variety of colors we mentioned above is achieved not with the help of dyes but by mixing several different types of clay.
8. Stylish appearance
The appearance of the material is original in a range of sizes. It has long been the basis for forming unique aspects of landscape design in the form of beautiful paths and even an element of a specific decor.
Its appearance captivates the minds of even the most demanding customers.
9. Economic
The brick blocks make it possible to build pavements quickly without site waste; this saves time and money.
Wind and bad weather, heat, and frost do not damage brick materials. Consequently, the maintenance costs are low.
10. Maintains its value over time
The properties of the brick remain unchanged over time. Even after many years, brick pavers retain their value over time or even increase.
Thanks to their durability, stability, and quality of life, property with brick pavements appeal aesthetically, increasing their value in the real estate market.
11. Ideal wear resistance parameters
One of the factors in the popularity of this material is its significant resistance to wear and mechanical damage.
It allows you to get the prospect of outstanding durability. With all this, the brick does not lose its exquisite appearance in the operation process.
12. Eco Friendly
Brick is an ecological and sustainable material since brick is made from clay, a reusable element. It can be smashed and moistened to return to its original state when raw.
It may contain additional elements, but this does not adversely affect the quality of the brick.
Its production does not consume much energy and is still an excellent thermal insulator, keeping the environment’s temperature balanced.
In addition, the ability to reuse bricks allows reuse in the exact location, but if you need to change some path or access, you can relocate the blocks.
The reuse feature requires the use of manual labor. Considering several facilities maintained by concessionaires, this condition avoids serious accidents such as those recorded when there are shocks from excavation machines.
It reduces the generation of debris and the consequent need and disposal cost.
It stands out for fire safety because the brick does not burn and is, therefore, unable to support the spread of fire, significantly increasing the chances of preserving material values.
13. Excellent drainage and resistance to surface erosion
The unique technique of laying bricks allows you to obtain prospects for excellent properties and qualities.
In heavy rains, the blurring of the coating does not occur, but all because the material is laid on a unique sand cushion.
The sheer quality of the material, complemented by a unique paving technique, is an opportunity to obtain a high level of comfort, quality, style, and trustworthy durability.
14. Lack of rigidity
Since bricks can move under specific ground displacements and excessive loads, the paving always remains perfectly even and cannot be deformed.
And this means you will always enjoy the splendor of comfort you could only dream of.
15. No Finishing
One of the significant advantages of brick paver is that it can dispense with the use of finishes, such as plaster, thin putty, plaster, or ceramic coatings, although it accepts all of them very well.
The rustic appearance of the bricks is exquisite and can – and should – be on display. The only recommendation is to waterproof the bricks, especially in outdoor areas, as they tend to absorb moisture.
You can do this using varnish or resin. You can bet on good old paint for those who prefer a cleaner look; it protects the bricks without destroying the material’s natural appearance.
Cons of Brick Paver
Given that today people choose to build whole houses or pavements out of brick, they must also consider all the material’s shortcomings.
Like all other building materials, brick is not ideal, and there are some points to consider before starting construction.
1. Retain moisture
After seasonal rains, all the moisture through the gaps between the bricks goes into the sand-gravel “cushion,” which rests on and stagnates there.
As a result, the basement’s foundation gradually dampens and collapses. Instead of bricks, it is better to fill the places adjacent to the house with high-quality concrete to prevent this from happening.
It does not absorb moisture; streams of water flow down from its surface to a safe distance from the house.
2. Expensive
Brickwork is more labor-intensive than other expensive materials. You must build brick pavements by carefully laying out individual brick by brick and watching how the seams look, especially if finishing is not supposed.
For the clay brick pavers to be of high quality, considerable funds are needed.
You’ll have labor costs between $2 and $8 per square foot if you do the work yourself or $10 to $17 if you let a professional do the work.
If you decide to handle the job, you will need a particular saw to cut the bricks. A rental can cost up to $90 per day.
You can save costs by planning by doing all your cuts in one day, so you don’t have to rent the saw for multiple days.
Generally, expect to pay an initial cost of 15 to 20 percent more for brick than concrete or other material.
3. Nonuniformity in shape
Due to the special manufacturing process, bricks show slight manufacturing tolerances. Unlike concrete paving stones, they are not the same size and cannot be seamlessly laid.
The variety of shapes is also somewhat limited: in addition to the classic rectangular shape, which is still the most popular, there are also small square bricks or bricks in mosaic paving format.
4. Can be destroyed quickly due to poor quality raw materials
With poor processing of raw materials, limestone, which is always present in the clay, remains in the brick mass, resulting in holes or pores. In these places, the brick strongly absorbs moisture and collapses.
5. Easily damaged during transport
Transportation to the construction site can damage the brick with chipped edges; you must reject some of the material. It often happens with cheap varieties that translate only lengthwise.
6. High temperature
The high temperature causes the brick to lose about 60% of its safety margin, resulting in a significant reduction in the life of the brick pavers of the house deck.
7. Professional consultation needed
Deciding to pave the exterior of your house with bricks is the first stage. You need to create a project to realize the structure.
Doing so allows you to keep up with technical moments and nuances when calculating and estimating consumables.
The creation of the project will contribute to the distinction of the construction at certain stages, making it possible to calculate the consumption cost accurately.
Therefore, it is advisable to consult professional consultants to help you decide and ask for the best and most lucrative option to suit your needs.
8. Lack of diversity
The number of colors for the brick is limited. It is not a significant disadvantage, but it cannot be delightful for people who want more diversity.
There is also the possibility of painting a brick pavement, but this process is quite laborious and will take time.
For people who prefer the rustic look of a brick paver, the design is limited to the colors red, brown, and shades of gray is not a disadvantage.
9. Issue of replacement
Another design issue is redecoration. Even if you do not choose to paint the brick, the chances are that, at some point, you may have to replace certain parts for various reasons.
Replacement means you need to use the same type of brick to match the other color – which may not be easy, especially if you’ve chosen a less common brick style.
10. Water requirement under construction
When working with bricks requires water. It implies the need to solve the water supply problem at the construction site. Also, for this reason, brick structures are not erected in winter.
11. Facility
The small size of brick pavers makes them tedious to install. Placing more pavers to cover the same area as you would with larger concrete pavers is necessary.
Because each row of brick pavers is usually offset from the previous row, you’re going to end up with quite a few bricks that need cutting. Cutting adds extra time and work to the installation process.
You may also notice slight differences in size from one paver brick to the next. Dimension differences can break your setup or make your rows look skewed.
Comparison (Pros and Cons of Brick Pavers)
| Pros |
|---|
| High strength |
| Suitable in a cold climate |
| Low water absorption (12%) |
| Abrasion resistance |
| Can last for more than25 years |
| A large selection of colors: from modern solutions to natural colors that remain unchanged during the operation |
| Easy to care for with water and a regular brush |
| Harmonizes well with plants and with almost any road surface and building materials |
| Used in various landscaping styles, from classic to rustic |
| Made from natural elements, Environment-friendly UV resistant |
| Cons |
|---|
| 15-20% more expensive than concrete pavers |
| Ice forms on the surface in winter |
| Absorbs moisture, which, with a sharp decrease in air temperature, destroys the structure of the paver from the inside |
| Reinforced foundation required |
| A smaller variety of shapes |
| A longer time for construction |
| Weeds between the bricks |
| Tends to be slippery during the monsoon season |
| Sag under the pressure of the wheels of the vehicle |
| Difficult to find a brick of the right quality |
The brick paver has been popular for centuries in many countries because the construction from such material can be without repairing and stand for more than 25 years with no visible damage.
Brick pavers are not subject to the destructive effects of various insects and pathogenic fungi.
The brick is not damaged by direct sunlight and does not lose its appearance. It can be the best decision you have ever made with the proper building maneuvers for your property.
Or you can look into some pros and cons of the gravel driveway and make a decision.
(Last Updated on September 2, 2022)
