We are looking to put pavers or stamped concrete around above-ground pood in NJ. We have an estimate for pavers, and when we asked about stamped concrete the contractor said it would be the same price, which I found hard to understand. Does anyone know the price per sq. ft. for pavers versus the price per sq. ft. for stamped concrete? Prompt help would be appreciated. Thanks

In my part of the Northeast, stamped concrete goes for about $12-$18 per square foot and can be more costly than installing pavers.

At last conversation, the going rate in NJ, NY and PA were all around the $25 per sq. ft. mark. However, due to the on-coming fall, you may be able to get a discount due to work season will be declining in the next 2 months. In my area of the US I charge $13-16 per sq. ft. based on the complexity of the stamp and pattern design. Typicall, the raw materials for the concrete slab/walkway will be less than the cost of pavers, this is mainly due to the amount of prep materials needed for pavers. Also the labor is quite a bit more for pavers if they are being installed properly. In your area of the country the ground freezes to a greater depth than here in the mid-atlantic and so the substrate must be prepared and compacted to ensure that the freeze thaw cycle doesn't shift the pavers.

Costs associated between Stamped Concrete Versus pavers are relatively the same depending of course on the quantity of square footage, region, designs, etc. Stamped Concrete with a min 8% integral synthetic fiber and 15" o.c steel reinforcement and several coats of a hi grade acrylic sealant will ensure not only elegance and beauty but a much more structurally sound and maintainance free result than pavers. (pavers have many downfalls including weeds, ants, water intrusion, usually just a sand base, rarely a gravel base, etc etc.)
An excellent source for stamped concrete information on pros and cons of stamped concrete including cost comparisons, online calculators, etc can be found at www.concreteforever.com .....good luck!

Please look at a new product called Cobblesystems.com, I am a rep in central jersey. This is a very cost effective and beautiful product. hope you find some answers at the site. I am also the rep for the Roanoke VA area in the dealer section if you have any questions.

concreteforever is not a reputable company. Stamped concrete can make a great patio but this company is terrible to deal with. Please see www.concreteforever***.com for the real story on this company.

This site seems to be blocking the web address from my previous post. Try a search on concreteforever***.

OK, this site obviously doesn't like the name of the site I am trying to refer to. Concreteforever has several reviews on Judy's Book along with a few works of fiction by the owner, David Hunt, presumably tech101. They also have a long list of complaints filed with the BBB, none of which have been responded to.

If you want pricing from a few contractors as well as good articles visit: www.concreteideas.com
This is the site for decorative concrete and has plenty of ideas and information on concrete patios, concrete driveways, and pricing info as well.

quote:

Originally posted by HkyScrMom:
We are looking to put pavers or stamped concrete around above-ground pood in NJ. We have an estimate for pavers, and when we asked about stamped concrete the contractor said it would be the same price, which I found hard to understand. Does anyone know the price per sq. ft. for pavers versus the price per sq. ft. for stamped concrete? Prompt help would be appreciated. Thanks

It would really depend, if the pavers are being placed on top of concrete then it would be more expensive. But if they are putting it on top of tampered stone or sand then it could be the same price. But it is better if they can install the pavers ontop of concrete because then it will not move around as much.

Putting interlocking concrete pavers on concrete is a big miistake. They are designed to be set on a 1" sand setting bed (compacted base below) with sand vibrated into the tight joints. - That is the reason thay work so well with high loads like streets, airport taxiways and heavy industrial applications (ports, etc.)

When pavers are mortared to a concrete base, typically, from expansion and contraction, cracks open in the joints between the pavers, allowing water to get in and under them. When a freeze cycle occurs, the frozen trapped water pops the pavers loose from the base.

Current concrete prices in NJ are way up due to fuel and time to pour the stuff allowd by the concrete companies. Stamping concrete is expensive because of this.

If the pool is above ground you should consider doing a walk around wood/composit deck instead of a stone/cement type. Above ground pools do not last as long as a ingound type of pool Its a lot of money regardless of what surface you apply to something that will not last nearly as long. At least the wood would be cheeper to set and take away once the pool no longer becomes usable.
Also If you install a cement patio or stone patio around the pool it could effect your taxes. You should check with the local building department to see if you can even do this. There are local codes in this state that only allow for a set amount of ground coverage on a given size property.
IN addition Concretemasonry is correct. Pavers must be on a stone base not set onto cement.