Comparisons
Concrete vs Paver Blocks for Footpaths
Technical comparison covering performance, manufacturing, durability, installation and other relevant criteria for concrete vs paver blocks for footpaths.
| Criteria | CONCRETE | PAVER BLOCKS |
|---|---|---|
| Usage | Not popular. |
Popular product, proven in performance through wide usage over decades. |
| Availability | Widely available. |
Widely available with large established body of producers. |
|
Quality Standards |
No local quality standards |
IS 15658 Specification for Precast Concrete Blocks for Paving, issued by Bureau of Indian Standards, available since 2006. |
| Aesthetics | None. |
Many colours, finishes and laying patterns available. |
| Application |
Limited application for low traffic areas such as swimming pool decks, pathways, private driveways, etc. Not suitable for high wear and tear public footpaths. |
Suitable for large variety of applications, from low traffic pathways to public footpaths, parking lots and heavy-duty usage such as Smart Cities, ports, and container terminals. |
| Mfg. Process |
Cast and cured at site leading to poor quality control of the concrete. |
Machine made, robust, finished product, fully cured in a factory, leading to superior and consistent product quality. |
| Site Laying | Requires skilled workmanship. | Done by widely available, semi-skilled labour. |
| Site Curing |
Improper curing after laying at site leads to defects which cannot be rectified (such as footprints of pedestrians/ animals walking on wet concrete before it is cured). |
Footpath can be opened for use immediately after laying without holding up for curing; any product or defects can be easily rectified immediately after laying or later. |
|
Quality Testing |
Difficult to check quality of concrete after it is cast at site. |
Paver Blocks can be tested easily at any time even after laying. |
| Abrasion |
Top colour layer thickness is 2mm which wears off in high traffic applications, such as public footpaths. |
Top colour layer thickness is 6-10mm giving a much longer life for high traffic applications. |
|
Underground Utilities |
Cannot be accessed after laying without replacing the surface. |
Can be easily accessed for maintenance, with same blocks being re-used afterwards. |
| Durability |
Prone to cracks which cannot be repaired without replacing the surface. |
High durability; blocks if cracked can be replaced individually at any time. |
| Rain Effect |
No ground water percolation; leads to water runoff into drains. |
Percolation to base and subbase through joints, which can be increased substantially using Permeable Paving. |
|
Monsoon Laying |
Cannot be carried out during monsoon; surface gets damaged even if it rains within 8-10 hours of stamping |
Can be laid even during the monsoon season |
| Cost | Higher cost for given area | Lower Cost for given area |
