If you’re planning a new patio or a retaining wall in Shippensburg, chances are you’ve heard a lot of opinions about pavers versus concrete versus natural stone. And if you’ve ever spent a little too much time Googling “best patio material,” you’re not alone.
At ProLawn, we hear it all the time – questions about maintenance, cost, lifespan, and what will actually look good five years down the road. So we figured it’s time to clear the air and lay it all out.
What Is Hardscaping, and Why It Matters in Shippensburg
Hardscaping covers all the permanent, non-plant features in your landscape – think patios, retaining walls, walkways, driveways, and pool decks. It’s the solid stuff that anchors your yard, shapes your space, and gives everything else a place to shine. You’ll find these hard surfaces in outdoor spaces of all sizes, from compact courtyards to expansive backyard designs.
In Shippensburg and the surrounding counties, where we work as a professional patio installer, hard surfaces take a beating. Freeze-thaw cycles wreak havoc on anything built without the right base. Our hills and slopes mean drainage and weight distribution matter more than people realize. And materials that might look great in Florida won’t survive a central PA winter without cracking in half.
That’s why choosing the right surface isn’t just about style: it’s about whether that style is still intact in a few years!
Meet the Most Common Types of Pavers and Hardscape Materials
Let’s break down the real-world pros and cons from someone who installs – and repairs – all of them.
Concrete Pavers: Durable, Stylish, and Easy to Love
Concrete pavers are one of the most popular choices for good reason. They’re made to last, they come in just about every shape and color under the sun, and if installed with the right base and polymeric sand, they won’t budge through years of freeze-thaw abuse.
“Pavers give you a little forgiveness. Natural stone doesn’t. You mess up the base on pavers, maybe you see a little shifting. You mess it up on stone, the whole thing’s toast.”
When properly installed, concrete pavers offer:
- Long-term durability with low maintenance
- A clean, consistent look with lots of design options
- Easier repair – just lift and reset a few individual pavers if needed
If you’re building a new patio or walkway and want something that looks sharp but won’t turn into a project every spring, concrete pavers are hard to beat. They also come in numerous shapes and patterns to fit every patio design or style preference.
Brick Pavers: A Classic Look with Timeless Elegance
Brick pavers – usually made from clay bricks – bring a kind of historic charm that just fits with older homes, colonial-style facades, and shaded garden paths. But they’re a bit finickier to work with.
“Every brick is a little different,” says our team lead and ProLawn owner Marvin. “Some are thicker, some thinner, and you can’t always get your lines perfect unless you take the time.”
That said, when installed right, brick pavers can:
- Make a space feel like a downtown courtyard
- Withstand moderate traffic like walkways and patios
- Deliver a rich, lived-in texture you don’t get from poured concrete
They’re less common than concrete pavers but well worth it if you’re going for that old-town, classic look. And when used around pool decks or in outdoor areas, they add charm and structure.
Natural Stone, Paving Stones, and Flagstone Pavers: Premium Appeal
Your natural stone product – whether it’s flagstone, bluestone, or cobblestone pavers – delivers on visual impact. It blends into the environment with earthy tones and irregular edges. But it also comes with a higher price tag and more installation headaches.
“Stone’s beautiful, but it has to be built right,” says Marvin “You get a frost heave under natural stone that’s not been done right, and that patio’s ruined.”
Pros:
- Unmatched natural look and texture
- Higher-end curb appeal
- Works beautifully in water feature areas and quiet garden zones
If you’re building a backyard oasis with a waterfall or quiet fountain, natural stone is a great choice. Just know it takes skilled hands to get it right and keep it looking right.
Stamped Concrete and Concrete Slabs
Stamped concrete looks good on day one – maybe even year one – but it’s not without risks. If not sealed correctly or poured on the right day with the right tools, it cracks. And unlike pavers, you can’t just pop out a section and redo it.
Plain concrete slabs are the lowest-maintenance option by far. No joints, no polymeric sand, no pattern: just a flat surface you can hose down.
Stamped concrete:
- Can mimic the look of stone or brick
- Needs sealing to keep color intact
- Will eventually crack – it’s not a question of if, but when
Concrete slabs:
- Super easy to clean
- Great for budget-conscious installs
- Look industrial unless paired with creative landscaping
Paver patios remain the sweet spot for homeowners who want style and longevity without constant upkeep. If you prefer something more refined, porcelain pavers and travertine pavers are worth considering for their texture, slip resistance, and upscale finish.
What About Walls? Precast vs. Veneer and Retaining Wall Block
Retaining walls aren’t just about keeping soil in place, they’re foundational to how your yard looks and works. ProLawn installs both precast retaining wall blocks and veneer walls, depending on the project.
Precast wall blocks are made to flex a bit, which makes them perfect for Shippensburg’s shifting seasons. They’re easier to install, more forgiving, and they look clean and intentional.
Veneer walls? They look stunning but have zero room for movement. They require deeper footers, better drainage, and a lot more precision. If a veneer wall shifts even slightly, cracks form – and repairs sometimes mean starting over.
Hardscaping Shippensburg: What Lasts the Longest and Requires the Least Maintenance?
If you want to set it and forget it, a brushed concrete slab wins. Just know you’re sacrificing looks for ease.
Pavers – when installed properly with a compacted base and polymeric sand between the joints – can last decades. Yes, you may need to blow leaves or pressure wash occasionally, but they won’t crack like concrete.
Natural stone lasts a long time too, but only if installed flawlessly. It’s less forgiving, more expensive, and takes higher skill.
There is no such thing as a zero-maintenance patio. “People come in asking for ‘no maintenance,’” Marvin says. “That’s like asking for a kitchen you never have to clean.”
Common Questions from Shippensburg Homeowners
How much does hardscaping cost per hour?
It depends on the material and complexity, but expect professional work to reflect skilled labor rates. Truthfully, most hardscapers in Shippensburg will quote the job rather than do time and material or labor rates.
What’s the best paver material for pool decks?
Concrete is great for pool decks, but pavers can work well too.
Can I avoid weed growth between the joints of my patio pavers?
With quality polymeric sand and proper install, weed growth is minimal. Cheap jobs often skip this step – and it shows.
Is a concrete patio a good idea?
It works if you want something low-cost with little maintenance. But don’t expect it to hold visual appeal over time without a little TLC.
Is it cheaper to pour concrete or lay pavers?
Upfront? Concrete. Long-term? Pavers may be more cost-effective since they’re easier to fix and don’t require full replacement if damaged.
Patio Design with a Purpose: Create Your Outdoor Haven
A patio does a lot: it’s where your grill lives, where your kids hang out barefoot, and where you go to relax after a long week.
Whether it’s a fire pit ringed with clay bricks, or a paved spot for evening meals under string lights, your patio should be a place you want to be.
ProLawn’s Hardscaping Advice from the Field
Marvin’s team has rebuilt more patios than we care to count. Most of the time, the failures come down to one thing – poor base prep.
“Anybody can lay a paver. But if the base is wrong, it all goes bad fast,” he says. Complex patterns can be tricky to the un-trained, too. Outdoor projects like these often use interlocking pavers in a random pattern to balance structure with natural beauty.
What makes a paver patio last:
- A well-compacted base layer
- Polymeric sand properly swept and watered in
- Individual pavers installed with care and leveled as a unit
Ready to Build a Better Outdoor Space? Give Us a Call!
If you’re looking to build something that looks great and stays that way, ProLawn can help. We install paver patios, driveways, walkways, and retaining walls throughout Shippensburg, Carlisle, Newville, and nearby towns. We do landscaping in Carlisle and Shippensburg, too!
Visit our gallery or get in touch for a free patio consultation. Getting a new patio is a lot closer than you think!
