Poured concrete comes about through the placement of liquid concrete in a wood pre-built form. Poured concrete contents? Cement, which is mixed with water, sand and gravel…shaped. As this mixture of cement, water, sand and gravel is poured into your form.

You’ll want to strengthen your poured concrete. How do you do this?

To strengthen your poured concrete, you can use steel rods in your form. These steel rods are rebar.

Why use rebar?

Poured concrete – with rebar – is stronger than poured concrete without rebar.

Rebar provides reinforcement. Thus, rebar reduces the likelihood of a cracked concrete surface in the future.

The curing process of poured concrete – I.e: hardening – can take several days. In some cases, up to a few weeks. The amount of time it takes to cure your poured concrete is dependent upon several conditions. One of those conditions being, the weather.

Once your poured concrete has been cured, the form is then removed. The concrete structure you end up with is ready for its role in your hardscaping project.

I’m thinking about going with poured concrete, while pavers are still an idea that I am considering…

At the onset, selecting pavers for your backyard hardscaping project would be a bigger hit to your wallet than poured concrete would be. Short term. Over time, the higher up-front cost you will incur by going with pavers over poured concrete can be weighed against the lower maintenance costs you will incur, by using pavers. In comparison to poured concrete.

The lower costs you will benefit from by going with pavers is due to the fact that pavers are more durable than poured concrete. Pavers are able to incur more wear-and-tear. Pavers hold up better with extreme changes in temperature.

For example…

In parts of the country which are prone to freeze-thaw cycles – I.e.: the Midwest and the Notheast – pavers will be able to aptly withstand those stark changes in temperature. More so than poured concrete. Which makes where you live one factor to consider when choosing between poured concrete and pavers.

Concrete is prone to crack. And stain.

Cracks or stains in your concrete – in most cases – can be repaired. However, when concrete does crack, a full replacement of your concrete surface is a possibility. And, if so, an expensive one at that.

Whereas with pavers, if you do incur surface damage, you will be able to replace the damaged individual paver. Or, the pavers.

Factors to consider as you embark upon your next backyard project. Thinking About Becoming a Real Estate Developer?