Pavers

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This comprehensive study examines the US paver industry by product, market, and material. Historical data (2010, 2015, and 2020) and forecasts for 2025 and 2030 are presented for paver demand in current US dollars (including inflation) and in units.

For the purposes of this study, paver units are defined as having dimensions of 3-5/8 inches by 2-1/4 inches by 7-5/8 inches. These are known in the industry as “standard brick units”. Paver unit demand is given in standard brick unit size, although it is important to note that pavers are generally laid with the largest face exposed, unlike bricks, which are typically laid with the long narrow face exposed (i.e., the height of the brick face is less than the depth of the brick in the wall).

The dimensions given are actual dimensions. Nominal dimensions are slightly larger, generally to the next full inch, and include an allowance for mortar between each unit.

Pavers are categorized by two types:

• standard design
• permeable design, allowing water to pass easily between the units and seep into the ground

Pavers are made primarily from concrete although they are also made from alternative materials such as porcelain and recycled plastics. Both types are included in this report.

The market scope of the study consists of the following types:

• residential markets (conventional single-family houses, multifamily structures such as apartments, and manufactured housing)
• commercial markets (institutional buildings; office, trade, and lodging structures; industrial facilities; and other commercial facilities such as airport and bus terminals, recreational buildings, police stations, fire stations, and prisons)
• nonbuilding markets, including transportation infrastructure such as highways and streets; and utilities, including sewer and water supply, power, and telecommunications infrastructure

Residential and commercial markets include both new construction and renovation.

Demand for pavers is also segmented by the following US geographic regions:

• Northeast
• Midwest
• South
• West

Demand by Market

Paver demand is expected to grow 2.6% per year through 2025 to $1.7 billion. Average growth in unit terms through 2025 will be slow due in part to a high base in 2020, because of a relatively strong residential market in that year. Annual increases will vary through the forecast:

• In 2021 and 2022, growth is expected to be strong as new housing completions rise and improvement and repair spending increases.
• It will decline from highs in the later part of the forecast period as the market becomes sated, as people who have recently replaced these products will not need to do so again in the short term. In addition, new housing is expected to contract from the highs earlier in the period.

Pavers rely more on renovation applications for a large share of demand than do bricks and blocks. Also unlike other brick and block products, pavers are routinely installed by homeowners, making the DIY distribution channel (e.g., big-box home centers such as Lowe’s and Home Depot) an important contributor to demand.

Residential markets account for the majority of paver demand, with the bulk of use for the construction of patios and walkways. Pavers are available in a variety of colors and materials and are sold in home improvement stores, nurseries, and other businesses that offer yard and landscaping products.

The commercial market made up 24% of paver demand in 2020, a share that is expected to increase slightly through 2025. Gains will be driven by rising intensity of use of pavers as builders and building owners become more interested in the aesthetics and potential LEED credits pavers offer, and incorporate them into existing buildings.

Use of pavers in municipal areas such as pedestrian plazas has grown due to interest in their aesthetics, ease of repair, and effective management of runoff water. In addition, rising costs of other paving methods such as asphalt and poured concrete will make pavers more appealing in nonbuilding applications by reducing the price difference between pavers and other paving options.

Applications

Applications for which pavers can be used include:

• walkways
• patios
• driveways
• parking lots

Patios and walkways are the most popular applications for pavers, as they are smaller areas than driveways and parking lots, making pavers a more affordable paving option:

• Patio and walkway pavers are most frequently installed in residential buildings, especially single-family homes, to boost curb appeal.
• They are also used for outdoor spaces in offices, buildings, restaurants, and parks, though the often larger scale of nonresidential patios and walkways limits use of pavers in these applications. Additionally, because pavers tend to move on their own if they are not installed over concrete, they can be more costly to maintain than other paving materials.

The high cost of paving driveways and parking lots – often much larger areas than patios and walkways – restricts use of pavers in these applications, especially in commercial buildings, where lower cost paving materials such as asphalt and ready-mix concrete are typically preferred. Nevertheless:

• Concrete pavers are sometimes used in residential driveways, particularly in high-end homes, because they are more durable than ready-pour concrete and can provide a uniform appearance.
• Concrete pavers that mimic alternative materials such as clay brick or natural stone (both excluded from the scope of this study) are also occasionally used in driveway and parking lot applications for residences, lodging buildings, and other locations where maintaining a historical aesthetic is important.

Demand by Type

While most pavers are of a standard design, some are permeable types that are shaped to leave small gaps between each unit when the units are laid flush with one another. These permeable pavers allow water to pass easily between the units and seep into the ground, instead of creating pools on the surface or significant runoff channels.

Permeable pavers are perceived as a green building product because of their favorable rainwater management properties; as a result, such products are eligible to earn LEED credits in this category.

While permeable pavers have historically made up a very small portion of the paver market, their share in various applications is expected to increase as interest in paving products that help manage rainwater grows. Permeable paver demand is expected to reach $107 million in 2025, rising at a faster pace than standard pavers.