[HaphazardGarden]

I have the dubious distinction of being an engineer by trade (retired now). Of course, that means I have to research EVERYTHING. I plan on installing a small paver patio and I'm beginning my research into the various pavers available. Would anyone care to enlighten me on the relative merits of various pavers? For example, why are Belgard pavers so much less expensive than EP Henry pavers? Is it simply a matter of marketing and/or supply vs demand?

I would appreciate any information or direction that the members would care to share with me.

Of course, the obvious solution is to have some one recommend what they have used in the past for the area, but where would be my fun? I have to have something to fill my time.

TIA

Edited to add:
Aha! I see I've already committed my first faux pas and placed my request in the wrong forum. Please accept my humble apologies and would the moderator please move my question to the Homeowner Help section?

(Can you believe it? An engineer who actually admits when he's wrong?)

[Lanelle]

Shipping costs greatly affect the pricing of pavers. It may be that there is a Belgard manufacturer near you but EPHenry pavers have to be shipped from quite a distance. Where are you located?

[HaphazardGarden]

I'm located in SE PA.

[Pelican]

I don't know either of the products you mention, but there are some general areas to look at in quality pavers. First, compressed concrete pavers are more durable than any other type. Most manufacturers of quality pavers will specify the strength of this compression, higher is better. Most pavers intended for pedestrian traffic are 2 to 2 1/2" thick. Other things to look for are consistency in the dimensions of the pavers, on all 3 planes, consistency in the color and texture, and overall appearance. Tumbled products are more costly due to the extra handling involved in the tumbling process.

As with most other products, you generally get what you pay for when it comes to pavers.

[Belgard Greg]

As a matter of fact, Belgard does have a plant in SE PA~ (Easton, PA). When comparing merits of various pavers, it is important to remember that almost all pavers have to meet the same ASTM standards for strength, freeze/thaw resistance, and shape. Other than that it is a matter of details. For instance, Belgard pavers are almost all three color blends and are colored straight thru the paver. EP Henry pavers are mostly two color blends and they only color the top of the paver. Also, EP Henry has an aggressive marketing position, which drives up demand, which drives up price. Feel free to contact me if you have any other questions.

[HaphazardGarden]

Thanks for you comments Greg. I thought the marketing/"brand awareness" played a role in the price of the various pavers.