Home » Articles » Brick, Stone, Marble, and More: Comparing Paver Materials

The climate in Palm Beach County, FL, is beautiful, but it can be harsh on outdoor surfaces, so choosing the best paver material is essential for your new outdoor space. With various materials to choose from, such as brick, porcelain, clay, and natural stone, knowing the characteristics of each will help you make an informed decision. 

Brick and porcelain are popular choices among homeowners because they provide a clean, elegant appearance while withstanding South Florida’s humidity, sunlight, and afternoon thunderstorms. Keep reading to discover the main qualities and reasons homeowners prefer certain types of pavers.

Brick Paver Comparison

At Exotic Pavers, brick paver installations are a popular choice, whether it’s a new driveway, pool deck, walkway, or patio. Brick paver materials are popular for the following reasons:

Lower Cost than Premium Materials

Compared with luxury materials like clay and porcelain, brick is less expensive per square foot. As a result, it’s often a sought-after choice for large areas like driveways, pool decks, and extensive patio paver installations. Brick costs less upfront and still delivers long-lasting durability and a classic appearance.  

Bricks Can Withstand Vehicles

Brick is one of the best paver materials for driveways because it can withstand heavy loads, particularly when laid in a herringbone pattern. Bricks are very strong and can handle heavy vehicles, and their size and uniformity ideally complement the herringbone pattern. It allows these pavers to interlock tightly and distribute weight evenly. 

Bricks Maintain Value

Compared to other paver materials like cast concrete, travertine, or porcelain, brick pavers combine aesthetics, durability, and ease of maintenance that’s unrivaled. While concrete may crack under long-term wear and some stone pavers require careful maintenance, brick maintains its timeless appearance and curb appeal.

Comparing Porcelain Pavers

At Exotic Pavers, we often use porcelain for outdoor features in Palm Beach County, FL. It’s able to withstand the heat and humidity of South Florida while resisting stains and fading. Here are some comparisons of porcelain to other pavers:

Keeps Its Luxurious Appearance

Porcelain pavers can resemble natural stone, wood, or textured concrete without the color change, porosity, and paver maintenance requirements associated with other paver materials. Compared to other pavers like clay and marble, porcelain offers a similar luxurious look with more consistency and color stability. 

For example, a pool deck installed with porcelain will keep its consistent look and exquisite color even after years in Florida’s climate. In contrast, materials like concrete may start to show signs of cracking and fading.

Easy to Clean 

Porcelain is one of the best paver materials because it’s non-porous, meaning it doesn’t absorb liquids or other fluids, so you don’t need to seal it. In comparison, concrete and natural stone paver materials need to be sealed and cleaned periodically to prevent stains and mold from forming. If a natural stone patio by a pool isn’t sealed regularly, it may discolor or get mildew stains. 

How Marble Pavers Compare   

Marble is formed under intense heat and pressure, which makes it dense, so it can withstand the climate in South Florida while still keeping its original appearance. Compared to brick and porcelain, marble pavers can maintain a luxurious look, but they require more maintenance.   

Stays Cool in Hot Weather

Compared to other paver materials, marble reflects heat instead of absorbing it because it’s light in color, more reflective, and has a crystalline structure. Because of this, it’s more comfortable to walk on than brick or porcelain, so in the midday heat, it’s easier to walk barefoot on a marble pool deck. You may need shoes to walk on brick or porcelain, as these surfaces absorb the heat more easily. 

Connects Indoor and Outdoor Spaces

Marble is one of the best paver materials to use, particularly in high-end homes where it can be installed inside and outside a home to create a unified appearance. For example, extending the same marble paver materials from an inside living space onto a pool deck area through sliding glass doors creates an uninterrupted flow that’s more difficult to accomplish with brick pavers.

Comparing Brick, Porcelain, and Marble

Here’s a brief comparison of brick, porcelain, and marble:

Aspect	Brick Pavers	Porcelain Pavers	Marble Pavers
Maintenance	Low, bricks can easily be replaced	Low, no sealing required	Medium, no sealing required
Installation cost	Low to average	Average to high	Average to high
Slip resistance	High-traction paver material	High, with high-traction porcelain outdoor pavers	Although luxurious, marble can be slippery when wet unless you purchase Sand Blasted or Leathered finish
Temperature	Stays relatively cool	Average heat retention	Provides a cool surface
Best uses	Often used for pool decks, patio paver materials, driveways, and walkways	Outdoor spaces like patios and pool decks	Luxury patios and pool decks

Comparing Travertine, Clay, and Limestone

At Exotic Pavers, we also build patios, pool decks, and driveways with travertine, clay, and limestone. The table below compares these pavers across various aspects to help you choose the best paver material:

Aspect	Travertine	Clay	Limestone
Maintenance	Low to average	Low to average	Average
Installation cost	Average	Average to high	Average to high
Slip resistance	Slip-resistant with sealer and SharkGrip®  additive	Naturally slip-resistant	Good, particularly if the pavers have a textured finish
Temperature	Stays cool	Average	Stays cool
Best uses	Popular paver material for outdoor patios, pool decks, and outdoor living	Walkways, driveways, patios, pool decks	Patios, walkways, and pool surroundings

Trusted Paver Experts in Palm Beach County, FL

At Exotic Pavers, we bring 30 years of combined experience in outdoor living and hardscaping services to every project. Our paver installers can help you choose the best paver material based on your style, budget, and the aesthetics of your home in South Florida. See our reviews for transparency on our work ethic, and call to schedule your free estimate today.