Many people choose to lay paving in areas around their homes that serve as driveways, walkways and courtyards because it is a cheaper and more durable alternative than, say, asphalt. Whilst tar may initially seem to be cheaper, it is far less durable than paving, and when tar starts to crack due to weathering it needs to be replaced in its entirety. In other words, you cannot simply replace the damaged portions like you can with paving which is composed of individual bricks; you have to replace the entire tarred area. This means that paving is the cheaper option in the long run.
Poured concrete is also more durable than tar but it is not as attractive as paving. In any case, pavers are made from concrete so there is no reason not to choose paving over poured concrete. Naturally, nobody wants to pay more than they have to for paving but there is enough of a range of pavers on the market to accommodate just about every budget, meaning that you will not have to settle for the rather unattractive poured concrete if you do not want to.
Pavers come in a variety of shapes, colours, textures and sizes which will obviously influence paving prices and the more decorative or 'fancy' the paver the pricier it is likely to be. Nevertheless, you can offset costs somewhat by laying cheaper paving in less noticeable areas and saving the more expensive, ornamental paving for more high-profile exteriors.
Paving prices may also vary from supplier to supplier. Therefore, if you are intending to lay the paving yourself it is wise to shop around. You may find that if you visit a supplier in an industrial area you will find that the pavers cost less per square metre than if you were to get them from a 'boutique' hardware store in an upmarket area. Remember to include the larger chains of building material suppliers in your search; however, as they are often able to buy building materials more cheaply and in bulk from their suppliers and can afford to pass this saving on to their customers.
On the other hand, if you are going to get a contractor to lay paving for you then you need to factor the cost of labour into the paving price. It is a good idea to get quotes from a few different paving contractors and compare them. The quotes should be properly broken down into labour and materials so that you can see what you will be paying for each individual aspect of the job. If you have done prior research by looking at paving prices on the internet, for instance, then you may even be able to ascertain whether the contractor has been able to obtain the pavers they will be laying for you at a good price or not.
If you find that the pavers that a contractor is quoting you on happen to be more expensive than the paving prices you have found in your research, then it may be possible to make a deal with the contractor where you purchase the pavers and they simply lay them. The chances of this happening are slight though, as any contractor worth their salt has taken the time to get the best quality pavers for you at the lowest prices.
Poured concrete is also more durable than tar but it is not as attractive as paving. In any case, pavers are made from concrete so there is no reason not to choose paving over poured concrete. Naturally, nobody wants to pay more than they have to for paving but there is enough of a range of pavers on the market to accommodate just about every budget, meaning that you will not have to settle for the rather unattractive poured concrete if you do not want to.
Pavers come in a variety of shapes, colours, textures and sizes which will obviously influence paving prices and the more decorative or 'fancy' the paver the pricier it is likely to be. Nevertheless, you can offset costs somewhat by laying cheaper paving in less noticeable areas and saving the more expensive, ornamental paving for more high-profile exteriors.
Paving prices may also vary from supplier to supplier. Therefore, if you are intending to lay the paving yourself it is wise to shop around. You may find that if you visit a supplier in an industrial area you will find that the pavers cost less per square metre than if you were to get them from a 'boutique' hardware store in an upmarket area. Remember to include the larger chains of building material suppliers in your search; however, as they are often able to buy building materials more cheaply and in bulk from their suppliers and can afford to pass this saving on to their customers.
On the other hand, if you are going to get a contractor to lay paving for you then you need to factor the cost of labour into the paving price. It is a good idea to get quotes from a few different paving contractors and compare them. The quotes should be properly broken down into labour and materials so that you can see what you will be paying for each individual aspect of the job. If you have done prior research by looking at paving prices on the internet, for instance, then you may even be able to ascertain whether the contractor has been able to obtain the pavers they will be laying for you at a good price or not.
If you find that the pavers that a contractor is quoting you on happen to be more expensive than the paving prices you have found in your research, then it may be possible to make a deal with the contractor where you purchase the pavers and they simply lay them. The chances of this happening are slight though, as any contractor worth their salt has taken the time to get the best quality pavers for you at the lowest prices.