Concrete paver are made from a very dry mix of gravel, sand, cement, and a coloring agent. The ingredients are moved with conveyor belts and placed into molds. A vibrating press compresses the concrete into the mold, causing the small amount of water within the mixture to set the cement. The concrete paver is then set aside to air dry. Then, it is packaged and shipped.
Both pavers and concrete can create an appealing and inviting area to your home’s front, garden, or driveway. Although both pavers and concrete can help you to achieve your goal, there are some significant differences between the two materials.
The ingredients used are exactly the same as traditional concrete paver with only slight changes to the amounts of each ingredient. The machinery that presses and molds the stones creates a stone that’s two to three times stronger than regular concrete.
Ingredients used are:
Sharp sand
Small stone chips (about 1/8” or 3 mm in size)
Cement powder
Water
Pigment
Additives to help with curing, de-molding, and reducing efflorescence
Typically, the load strength of a surface produced from poured concrete is approximately 2,000 pounds per square inch. To meet industry standards, interlocking concrete paver must withstand a minimum of 8,000 pounds per square inch – that’s at least four times stronger than a poured concrete surface – though they generally exceed this minimum requirement to a large degree.
