If you’re tackling a home project that involves the construction of a patio or pathway, you may face the challenge of choosing pavers that will best fit the design you’re envisioning. It could prove to be challenging if you’ve never dabbled in construction before. While you can always consult the contractor you’ve hired, it’s still worth understanding what pavers are and the kind that will be best for your home.
At this point, you may be wondering what the difference is between thick and thin pavers. You may also be confused about the best use cases for either product, along with the costs associated with each one. This guide will shed light on the nuances of thick and thin pavers so you can arrive at the best decision.
When to use thick pavers
Thick pavers typically measure at two and three-eights of an inch to three and a half inches in terms of thickness. More often than not, they are used in new construction. If you’re building a home and need to choose pavers for your hardscaping, it’s recommended to use thick pavers.
For projects like constructing a pool to your existing home and pavers need to be installed for the decking surface, thick pavers will also most likely be used. If you plan on building a new patio in your backyard, thick pavers will also be installed. For projects like remodelling your garage with pavers, the current cement will be expelled, only to be replaced with thick pavers that will be placed over the base material.
Thick pavers are ideal for outdoor projects like patios, pool decks, and driveways that do not have poured concrete surface underneath. For these areas where there are heavy foot and vehicle traffic, the pavers have to be thick enough so that they won’t crack under the massive weight.
When to use thin pavers
On the other hand, thin pavers are usually used when remodelling existing decks, patios, pavements, and front entries. They are ideal for any non-vehicular projects that remodel an existing concrete slab. It should be noted that slight pavers are not viewed as pavers, but tiles. In terms of size, they are usually measured at three-quarters of an inch to an inch and a quarter.
Even though thin pavers are about half the thickness of regular pavers, they don’t necessarily cost less. In fact, they are similar in pricing because thick pavers are usually more favoured compared to their thin counterparts. Thin pavers are then produced less frequently since there is also less demand. When paver manufacturers have to produce thin pavers, they have to shut the system down to switch shape molds and adjust various settings, resulting in the loss of valuable production time. Because of this, thin pavers tend to be pricey. The inefficiency involved in producing them drives the increased cost, and the burden is shouldered by the customers.
The type of thickness of the pavers you choose for your project will ultimately depend on the type of project and where it will be used. If you need paving services in Cornwall, get in touch with us to see how we can help.