Pavers and poured concrete both create hard, usable surfaces for patios and driveways. But they perform differently on Portland’s clay soil, handle rain differently, age differently, and cost differently to install and maintain over time. For details on how we install paver surfaces, see our paver installation page.
Here’s a straight comparison to help you decide which is the right fit for your property.
Durability on Portland’s Clay Soil
Pavers: Individual paver units sit on a compacted aggregate base with sand-filled joints. When the clay soil underneath expands and contracts seasonally (which it does on every Portland property), the paver surface flexes with it. Individual units shift slightly and resettle. The surface accommodates the movement without cracking. If one paver does crack or settle, you can pull it out and replace it without affecting the rest of the surface.
Concrete: A poured concrete slab is one continuous rigid surface. It can’t flex. When the clay underneath moves, the slab resists until the stress exceeds the concrete’s tensile strength, and then it cracks. Portland averages 20 to 30 freeze-thaw cycles per winter, and each cycle pushes moisture into existing micro-cracks, expanding them. Over 10 to 20 years, most concrete patios on Portland clay develop visible cracks that can’t be repaired invisibly. The slab still functions, but it looks worse every year.
Verdict: Pavers handle Portland’s soil movement better long-term. Concrete is rigid and cracks. Pavers are flexible and resettle.
Drainage
Pavers: Water runs off a standard paver surface the same way it runs off concrete, it follows the grade. But pavers offer two drainage advantages concrete doesn’t. First, a small amount of water does absorb through the joints, reducing total surface runoff. Second, permeable pavers (with wider aggregate-filled joints) can be specified for areas where on-site infiltration is needed, eliminating surface runoff entirely. For more on that option, see our post on permeable pavers.
Concrete: Poured concrete is fully impervious. Every drop of rain that hits it runs off. On a 400-square-foot patio, a 1-inch rainstorm generates about 250 gallons of runoff that needs to go somewhere. If the grade doesn’t direct it away from the house effectively, it pools against the foundation, floods adjacent beds, or erodes the lawn edge. Concrete can be scored or broom-finished for traction, but there’s no way to make it permeable.
Verdict: Pavers offer more drainage flexibility. Standard pavers perform similarly to concrete for surface runoff, but permeable pavers are an option that concrete can’t match. Both require proper grading and drainage regardless of surface type.
Cost
Pavers: $15 to $35 per square foot installed in Portland, depending on material, pattern, base depth, and drainage requirements. A 300-square-foot patio typically costs $5,000 to $10,000. For a full pricing breakdown, see our paver patio cost guide.
Concrete: $8 to $18 per square foot installed for a standard broom-finish slab. A 300-square-foot patio typically costs $2,500 to $5,500. Stamped or colored concrete closes the gap, running $12 to $25 per square foot.
Verdict: Concrete costs less upfront. Standard concrete is roughly half the cost of a comparable paver installation. Stamped concrete narrows the gap. Over a 20-to-30 year ownership period, the math shifts because concrete repairs and replacement are more expensive than paver maintenance (see Maintenance below).
Appearance and Design Options
Pavers: Available in dozens of colors, shapes, sizes, and textures. You can create patterns (herringbone, running bond, random), add borders in contrasting colors, mix materials, and integrate curves without special forming. The design flexibility is the primary reason homeowners in Lake Oswego, West Linn, and Eastmoreland choose pavers for patios and walkways where appearance matters.
Concrete: Standard concrete is gray and utilitarian. Stamped concrete can mimic stone, brick, or slate patterns, and integral color or stain adds a range of tones. But stamped concrete patterns fade over time as the surface wears, and the color requires periodic resealing to maintain. Once poured, concrete can’t be redesigned without demolition.
Verdict: Pavers offer more design options with better long-term color retention. Stamped concrete looks good initially but requires more maintenance to keep looking good.
Maintenance
Pavers: Polymeric sand in the joints needs to be replenished every 3 to 5 years as it wears and washes out. Weeds occasionally sprout in joints where the sand has thinned. Individual pavers that crack, stain, or settle can be pulled and replaced. A paver surface can be lifted, releveled, and relaid if the base settles unevenly in one area. The maintenance is real but manageable, and the surface is always repairable without a visible patch.
Concrete: Low maintenance in the short term. Sweep it, hose it off, done. But when damage occurs (cracks, spalling from freeze-thaw, settling), repairs are visible. Concrete patches never match the original surface in color or texture. Filling cracks prevents further damage but looks worse than the crack did. Stamped concrete requires resealing every 2 to 3 years ($1 to $2 per square foot) to maintain the color and protect the stamp pattern from wear.
Verdict: Concrete is lower maintenance day-to-day. Pavers are easier to repair when something goes wrong. Over a 20-year period on Portland clay, pavers require periodic joint sand replenishment while concrete requires crack management and potential section replacement.
Lifespan
Pavers: 25 to 50+ years with proper base preparation and normal maintenance. The pavers themselves don’t degrade. The base is what determines longevity, which is why excavation depth and compaction matter more than the paver brand. A well-installed paver patio on Portland clay, with proper drainage, should outlast the homeowner.
Concrete: 20 to 30 years before cracks, settlement, and surface degradation typically warrant replacement. Some slabs last longer, but on Portland’s clay soil with freeze-thaw cycling, 25 years is a realistic expectation for a standard 4-inch residential slab. Stamped concrete may show wear sooner in the stamp pattern and color even if the structural slab is still sound.
Verdict: Pavers last longer and age better. Concrete has a finite visual and structural lifespan on Portland clay.
Resale Value
Both add value. Pavers are generally perceived as a higher-end finish than standard concrete by home buyers. A paver patio or walkway in good condition signals that the homeowner invested in quality outdoor living space. A cracked concrete patio signals deferred maintenance. The visual condition at the time of sale matters more than the material itself.
Which Should You Choose?
Choose pavers if: Appearance matters, you want design flexibility, you’re planning to stay in the home long-term, or you’re replacing a cracked concrete slab and want something that handles Portland’s soil movement without repeating the same cracking problem.
Choose concrete if: Budget is the primary constraint, the surface is utilitarian (a side-yard pad, a utility area behind the garage), or the project is temporary and you plan to redesign the space within 10 years.
Consider stamped concrete if: You want the look of pavers at a lower price point and you’re willing to commit to periodic resealing. Just know that stamped concrete cracks the same way plain concrete does on Portland clay, and the stamp pattern makes cracks more visible, not less.
We install paver patios, walkways, and driveways across the Portland metro area. If you’re deciding between pavers and concrete, the free on-site consultation helps you compare the two options for your specific site, with accurate pricing for both.
Call (503) 847-9110 or request your free estimate online.
Learn More About Pavers
How Much Does a Paver Patio Cost in Portland? — 2026 pricing by project size, materials, and what drives cost.
5 Paver Patio Design Ideas for Portland Backyards — Patterns, materials, and layouts that work in the Pacific Northwest.
Why Drainage and Grading Matter for Paver Projects — What goes under the pavers and why it determines whether they last.
Backyard Drainage and Grading Guide — How to evaluate your yard and understand your drainage options.
