Pavers · Brand Comparison
Paver brand comparison — six brands, honestly ranked for Arizona.
This is the working comparison across every paver brand we regularly install in the Valley. Each brand gets a dedicated review page (linked below). Here's the head-to-head at a glance.
The honest version: The paver brand matters less than the base underneath. Every brand on this page can produce a 30+ year hardscape installed correctly. Cheaper bids from any brand usually skip the base or the sand — the paver on top is not the failure point.
01
Belgard (Oldcastle / CRH)
- Verdict: Install. Default for premium builds.
- Best at: Color retention in 115°F sun, tightest tolerances, premium finish (Mega-Arbel, Dimensions, Old World Paver).
- Weak at: Highest material cost, 4–6 week lead times on premium lines.
- Installed cost: $18–$28/sq ft premium, $14–$22 standard.
02
Pavestone (Quikrete)
- Verdict: Install (case-by-case). Excellent value-tier.
- Best at: Big-box + contractor-yard availability, Holland Stone / Plaza Stone workhorses.
- Weak at: Premium finish quality doesn't match Belgard.
- Installed cost: $12–$18/sq ft.
03
Acker-Stone
- Verdict: Install (case-by-case). Regional Southwest.
- Best at: Desert-tone color palette, Mission and Centurion series on driveways.
- Weak at: Thinner East Valley distribution, limited premium texture.
- Installed cost: $14–$20/sq ft.
04
Phoenix Paver Manufacturing
- Verdict: Install (case-by-case). Local advantage on large projects.
- Best at: Large-project pricing (10–15% below national), no freight delays, Sonoran color palette.
- Weak at: Fewer premium texture and large-format options.
- Installed cost: $12–$18/sq ft.
05
AZ Best Block
- Verdict: Install (case-by-case). Bundle-with-wall play.
- Best at: Matched color across wall block, cap, and pavers from one plant.
- Weak at: Premium finish quality vs Belgard.
- Installed cost: $12–$16/sq ft.
06
Artistic Paver Mfg
- Verdict: Install (pool-specific). Premium coping and pool deck.
- Best at: Factory-cast bullnose coping, cooler surface (marble + shell aggregate), Mediterranean palette.
- Weak at: Overkill for driveways and non-pool patios.
- Installed cost: $18–$28/sq ft deck, $28–$42/linear ft coping.
07
The install spec — same for every brand
- 2–3" ABC base for patios and walkways, 4–6" ABC for driveways.
- 1" clean sand bed, screeded and left undisturbed.
- Polymeric joint sand — always, every install.
- NEVER 1/4-minus, NEVER regular sand.
- 3-year AE workmanship warranty regardless of paver brand.
FAQ
Common questions.
For premium finish and color retention: Belgard leads. For value-tier and matched wall/paver bundles: Pavestone, AZ Best Block, or Phoenix Paver Manufacturing. For desert-toned regional palette: Acker-Stone. For pool coping and pool decks: Artistic Paver. Every brand on this list can produce a 30+ year hardscape if installed on the correct base — the paver brand matters less than the installer's base spec.
Belgard is our default for premium builds — through-body color, dense manufacturing, and Valley distribution that means we're never waiting on a pallet. Pavestone is our default for value-tier and matched projects. Artistic is our default for pool coping. Phoenix Paver and AZ Best Block come in on large projects where their local pricing beats national brands by 10–15%, or when the design calls for their specific color palette or matched wall block.
Yes, but less than you'd think — and less than the base underneath. Every reputable manufacturer (Belgard, Pavestone, Acker-Stone, Phoenix Paver, AZ Best Block, Artistic) makes a paver that will last 30+ years installed correctly. The failures we tear out are almost always base-related: 1/4-minus instead of ABC, no sand bed, regular sand instead of polymeric. Fix the base spec and the paver brand becomes a design and cost decision, not a durability one.
Installed cost per sq ft, standard patio job: Belgard premium lines $18–$28, Belgard standard $14–$22, Pavestone $12–$18, Acker-Stone $14–$20, Phoenix Paver $12–$18, AZ Best Block $12–$16, Artistic Paver pool deck $18–$28, Artistic coping $28–$42 per linear foot. Add $4–$8/sq ft for driveways (thicker base). Ranges are for AE's standard install spec — cheaper bids usually skip base or sand.
All six offer lifetime limited structural warranty on the paver units — that's industry-standard. The differences are (1) whether the warranty is registered in your name and transferable at sale, (2) installer-program backing (Belgard Authorized Contractor is the strongest), and (3) the workmanship warranty from the installer. AE backs every install with a 3-year workmanship warranty on base, joint sand, and settlement, regardless of brand. Always get both warranties in writing.
Ready to compare paver brands on your actual project?
AE will price all six brands head-to-head for your job, mock up a paver panel on-site, and give you the honest recommendation — one accountable team.
Start My Project PlanYour home investment — protected
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."
Individual brand reviews
Belgard vs Pavestone vs Acker-Stone
Deep dive on the three national brands.
Phoenix Paver Manufacturing
Local paver brand review.
AZ Best Block
Concrete masonry + paver bundle.
Artistic Pavers
Premium pool coping.
Why polymeric sand
Joint stability that lasts decades.
Open-graded base
The new-school paver base spec.
Buyer's guide
How to choose the best pavers (avoid these mistakes).
What actually separates a good paver from a bad one in AZ — color rundown, ASTM freeze-thaw specs, thickness, and the buyer traps to avoid.
Homeowner FAQ
More paver brand questions?
Head-to-head pricing, warranty specifics, and on-site panel mock-ups — in the Hardscape section of the Homeowner FAQ.