When compared to wooden decks and patio surfaces composed of paver stones or bricks, concrete patios are the clear winner. From a wide variety of affordable styles and designs, to low maintenance nature and longevity, concrete offers multiple advantages. Consider these three:
1. Stylistic Versatility of Concrete
Traditional wooden decks are relatively straightforward in how they’re laid. The greatest design choice is typically balcony material and stain and sealant colors.
Similarly, gravel or crushed limestone patios are inexpensive and quick solutions but offer limited style choices. In sharp contrast, there are thousands of options when selecting the style and finish of a patio.
Finishing techniques such as stamping patterns to emulate brick, stone and tile, scoring geometric designs, and staining concrete patios in solid colors or blended patterns start as low as $2-8 a square foot.
On the higher end, embossing or engraving patterns and logos into surfaces can sometimes run upwards of $20 a square foot.
The various design options available make it easy to create a patio entirely unique to your backyard, taste, and budget.
2. Initial Cost
The initial cost of a typical concrete patio is far less than a wooden deck or paving stones. Although design choices can increase the cost per square foot, typically they run $15 per square foot. Wooden decks, however, are around double that cost at $33 per square foot, according to Houselogic.com.
It also notes that a wooden deck typically gets a higher ROI (75%), while these patios return an ROI as low as 30-60%.
So if you’re looking to improve the value of your home or maximize ROI, make wise style choices to ensure that the patio is an appropriate fit with your landscaping and design.
3. Longevity and Cost Savings
Wooden Decks vs. Concrete Patios
There are several similarities in the maintenance process of wooden decks and concrete patios. Both need to be properly maintained to maximize the longevity of the surface material against the damage caused by weather.
Also, both wooden decks and concrete patios must be power-washed and scrubbed, sanded, or ground until smooth before resealing. If properly maintained, both surface types can last upwards of 30 years. However, the sealant application is far simpler for concrete when compared with wooden decks.
Concrete patios pose a distinct maintenance advantage in that a 5-gallon can of sealant covers 1,000 square feet, costs around $100-150, and is only needed once every 2-3 years. Wooden decks should be resealed and re-stained annually, meaning they should also be power-washed and sanded annually.
Homeadvisor.com estimates that most homeowners spend $500-1000 on sealing or waterproofing a deck. 4 gallons of sealant are needed to cover 1,000 square feet at an average cost of $150, and an anti-mold and mildew deck cleaner ($10-20) must be applied before the sealant.
Additionally, owners of wooden decks must also check for rot and mold, replace damaged wood, and replace loosened nails and screws.
Overall, concrete is both easier and cheaper to maintain.
Concrete Slab Patios vs. Paver Stone Patios
Although patios formed of paving stone or brick have a lower initial startup cost (~$6-10 per square foot), pavers don’t stand up to the elements the same way that reinforced concrete can.
Concrete contractors carefully plan joints in the concrete slab before they pour it to ensure its durability. Additionally, with concrete slabs, there are options (such as steel rebar) for reinforcing concrete in geographic locations where soil composition makes for a poor foundation, or where extreme weather poses a threat to the integrity of the concrete.
A professionally-poured concrete patio won’t shift over time or give way to dirt and vegetation, unlike pavers and brick.
