Clay pavers or concrete slabs in the garden

Name: Vandersanden
Address: 16 Stocks Bridge Way, Compass Point Business Park, St Ives, Cambridgeshire, PE27 5JL, UK
Telephone: +44 (0)1954268075

Clay pavers or concrete slabs are a good choice for a driveway, garden path, or terrace. Concrete is generally cheaper, but it discolours quickly and gets dirty. Clay pavers are colourfast and less prone to green deposits. Clay is also a natural product, and pavers can last for more than a hundred years.

Last updated on Aug. 18, 2026

Concrete is a mixture of cement, sand, and gravel. Concrete garden slabs are available in a range of sizes and shapes. There is a wide range of colours, nuances, and surface structures. In many cases, they mimic the colours and nuances of ceramics, clay pavers, and natural stone. Concrete usually has a sleek, modern appearance. It is generally inexpensive, but can become more expensive if you opt for surface layers and coatings.

As most concrete products are porous, dirt, algae, and moss can easily adhere to them, resulting in green deposits quite quickly. Fallen leaves can also cause stubborn stains. In addition, the colour of concrete can fade quickly if it is not coated. Concrete slabs are not very resistant to road salt and can develop a white stain known as lime efflorescence.

Clay paving is made from clay. These clay pavers are available in convenient rectangular and square shapes, such as the popular Waal, DF, and Kei sizes. Their practical shapes make them ideal for creating a wide range of patterns and layouts. Pavers are available in a range of natural, enduring colours that develop during kiln firing. The extremely high temperatures used during firing make the pavers exceptionally strong. You can even use them to pave a driveway. They absorb virtually no water, helping to prevent green deposits

The ecological side of a paver

On average, clay pavers are more expensive than concrete, but they have a lifespan of around 135 years, making them a sound investment. Pavers have a high residual value and are much sought-after on the secondhand market. In addition, they take on an authentic natural appearance over time, making them the perfect fit for the green of your garden. Clay pavers are suitable for any garden design, from modern to country. 

Clay pavers are a truly authentic Dutch product made from natural materials. Our Dutch forefathers were constructing streets and buildings from brick as far back as the fourteenth century. There is hardly a village or town in the Netherlands where you won’t come across clay pavers or bricks. This gives clay pavers their familiar look. Our major rivers constantly supply us with new clay. River clay is therefore a renewable raw material. What’s more, its extraction helps create new nature areas in the floodplains. Since clay pavers have a lifespan of more than one hundred years, they can rightly be classed as sustainable construction materials. Ceramic garden slabs are mostly imported from southern Europe and are less easy to reuse. This makes them less sustainable than clay pavers.