Material comparison
Decomposed granite vs. pavers — where each one actually belongs
DG is the cheapest surface on most Valley bids and pavers are one of the most expensive, so homeowners often frame them as competing options. They aren't. One is groundcover and the other is a usable hard surface, and the money you save spreading rock across a whole yard shows up later as heat, tracking, and replenishment.
The honest version: Use decomposed granite for beds, side yards, utility zones, and drainage. Use a set surface where people sit, eat, walk barefoot, or park. The mistake we're called to fix most often isn't choosing DG — it's covering the entire yard in it and then having nowhere comfortable to be.
- AZ ROC 211530 · 347738 · 341002 · 340966
- Arizona-built since 2005
- President, Southwest Hardscapes Association
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Side by side
| Attribute | Decomposed granite | Concrete pavers |
|---|---|---|
| Installed planning range | $2 – $5 / sq ft as groundcover over a permeable weed barrier | $14 – $28 / sq ft on AE's standard spec; $18 – $32 driveway-rated |
| What it is | Crushed granite fines, commonly 1/4" or 3/8" minus, spread and compacted over a permeable barrier. | Manufactured concrete units set on a compacted ABC base, a 1" bedding sand course, and polymeric joint sand. |
| Best use | Planting beds, side yards, utility zones, drainage fields, informal paths, and areas away from seating. | Patios, pool decks, entries, courtyards, driveways — anywhere furniture, traffic, and bare feet live. |
| Heat behavior | Rock and gravel store heat during the day and release it into the evening. The desert burn study's highest of six materials was porous rock at 170°F on a 120°F afternoon. | No verified per-product measurement. Color, exposure, and shade drive comfort more than the unit itself. |
| Comfort underfoot | Loose fines track into shoes, pools, and houses. Not a bare-foot or furniture surface. | Stable, level, furniture-friendly, and cleanable. The surface people actually use. |
| Maintenance | Rakes out of place, migrates downhill, thins over time, and needs periodic replenishment. Weeds seed on top of the barrier. | Rinse, occasional joint-sand top-up, and reset of any settled area. No annual replenishment. |
| Drainage | Permeable by nature — useful in swales and around downspout discharge when the grade is planned. | Graded to shed water to a planned destination; permeable paver systems are a separate spec. |
| Repairs | Re-spread and re-compact, or add fresh material to the thin spots. | Individual units lift and reset, with matching from the same production line or attic stock. |
| ADA and mobility | Loose surfaces are harder for walkers, wheelchairs, and strollers; stabilized DG is a separate detail. | Firm, stable, and predictable for wheels and canes when installed level. |
Phoenix-metro planning ranges for AE's standard install spec — not quotes. Quantity, depth, access, demolition, grade work, and site conditions decide the final number in the signed proposal.
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Choose decomposed granite when
- The area is a planting bed, side yard, utility zone, or drainage field.
- You want a permeable surface in a swale or around downspout discharge.
- The path is informal and away from the main seating and dining zones.
- Budget matters and the surface does not need to hold furniture or vehicles.
- You accept periodic replenishment as part of owning the surface.
Want a number for your own property?
Tell us the space and we'll come back with a real range for your site — no pressure, no "call for pricing."
03
Choose pavers when
- Furniture, dining, traffic, or vehicles will use the surface.
- Bare feet and pool traffic are part of the picture.
- You want a firm, stable route for strollers, walkers, and wheelchairs.
- You want unit repairability — lift, reset, and match rather than patch.
- You would rather pay once at $14–$28 / sq ft than replenish a loose surface indefinitely.
04
Heat and comfort, honestly
- Rock and gravel store heat all day and release it into the evening — the reason an all-gravel yard stays warm after sundown.
- The desert burn study we cite measured porous rock at 170°F on a 120°F afternoon, the highest of the six materials it tested.
- We have no verified per-product surface temperature for concrete pavers, travertine, or porcelain, and we do not publish one.
- Lighter and more reflective beats darker and denser: Phoenix's cool-pavement pilot found up to about a 16°F midday difference against adjacent dark asphalt.
- Shade beats every material swap. Plan ramadas, sails, and canopy trees before you argue about surfaces.
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Using both well in one yard
- Set surface where people live: patio, dining zone, pool deck, entry, and main routes.
- DG in beds, behind planting, in side yards, and in the utility and equipment zones.
- Keep mass rock pulled back from seating so evening heat release isn't sitting next to the furniture.
- Plan grade and drainage across both surfaces at once, not one at a time.
- Use plant material and shade to break up the rock field instead of extending it.
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The base spec under a paver field
- 2–3" ABC base for patios and walkways; 4–6" ABC for driveways, plus additional ABC for build-up or higher traffic.
- 1" bedding sand course, screeded and left undisturbed.
- Polymeric joint sand on every install.
- Quarter minus is never used under pavers — it is a turf base material.
- Edge restraint suited to the adjacent condition, including where the field meets a DG area.
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How AE handles it
We map the yard by how it's used before we price a surface, then document depth, barrier, base spec, edge conditions, and drainage in the written proposal. Installs carry the AE workmanship warranty; material and manufacturer coverage varies by product and is controlled by those terms.
FAQ
Common questions.
Decomposed granite plans at roughly $2–$5 per square foot installed as groundcover, while concrete pavers plan at $14–$28 per square foot installed and $18–$32 for driveway-rated work. That is a real difference, but they are not interchangeable surfaces — DG is groundcover and pavers are a usable hard surface for furniture, traffic, and bare feet. The right comparison is how much of the yard should be hard surface, not which one replaces the other.
Rock and gravel store heat during the day and radiate it after sundown, which is why a wall-to-wall gravel yard can feel hot long after the sun is gone. The one directly comparable published figure we found is 170°F on porous rock in a desert burn study conducted at 120°F air temperature — the highest of the six materials tested there. We design mass rock into drainage fields and utility zones, and keep it pulled back from seating areas.
You can, but it will not behave like one. Loose fines shift under furniture legs, track into the house and pool, migrate downhill, and thin out where people walk most. For an informal path, a firepit surround away from the main seating zone, or a garden route, DG is a reasonable low-cost surface. For a dining or lounge patio, a set surface holds up far better.
It needs replenishment rather than replacement. Fines compact, migrate with wind and water, and thin out in traffic lanes, so most Valley yards need fresh material periodically to keep the depth and color even. Pavers on a correctly built base do not have an equivalent recurring material cost — you top up joint sand and reset any settled area.
Decomposed granite is permeable, which is useful in swales, around downspout discharge, and in planting beds where water should soak in. A standard paver field is graded to shed water to a planned destination instead. If permeability is a goal on a hard surface, that is a specific permeable paver system with its own base and joint spec, written into the scope.
It depends on the zone. DG tracks indoors on paws and shoes, and loose fines are harder for strollers and wheelchairs than a firm surface. It also stores heat, so test it with your hand before bare feet or paws use it in the afternoon. Where children and pets spend real time, a set surface, shade, or a pet-appropriate turf system usually serves better.
Not directly on top of it. Loose fines are not a structural base. The DG is removed, the subgrade prepared, and the AE spec built up from there — 2–3 inches of ABC for patios and walkways, 4–6 inches for driveways, a 1-inch bedding sand course, and polymeric joint sand. Quarter minus is never used under pavers.
Deciding how much of the yard should be hard surface?
Send photos and rough dimensions and we'll map which zones deserve a set surface and which are better left as groundcover — with both priced on the same plan.
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Why this is an investment, not a cost.
An AE backyard is engineered to add daily livability and long-term home value. We publish honest ranges and build to code with a licensed and bonded Arizona crew. AE provides project-specific workmanship and manufacturer-warranty information in the signed agreement. Website summaries are for planning only.
- Licensed, bonded & insured in Arizona. ROC 340966 (R-62) · ROC 341002 (R-3) · ROC 347738 (KA-5) · ROC 211530 (CR-21). Most Arizona contracting work valued at $1,000 or more — or requiring a permit — must be performed by a properly licensed contractor, subject to statutory exemptions. Verify the legal entity, license status, and classification with the Arizona Registrar of Contractors.
- Real ranges, itemized scope. You see materials, finishes, equipment models, and a line-item budget before you sign — not a one-line "pool — $90,000."
Next step
Plan your investment with a designer.
Five minutes, a real range, and no sales pressure. Or vet any Arizona contractor (us included) before you spend a dollar.
Homeowner FAQ
More surface questions?
Heat, drainage, maintenance, and base-spec questions are answered in the Hardscape section of the Homeowner FAQ.