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Concrete vs Pavers — Melbourne Driveway Comparison

By Antonio PrimeScape  |  April 2026  |  63 five-star reviews

The most common question we get from Melbourne homeowners replacing their driveway is: concrete or pavers? Both are excellent choices — but they suit different situations. Here's an honest comparison.

Cost Comparison

Concrete is typically cheaper upfront: $60–$120/m² for a standard driveway vs $85–$150/m² for brick pavers. For a 40m² driveway, that's a difference of roughly $1,000–$3,000. However, pavers tend to add more to property value, so the gap narrows when you factor in resale.

Durability

Both last 25–40 years with proper installation. Concrete is a single monolithic slab, so it's slightly more resistant to heavy loads. Pavers are flexible — individual bricks can shift slightly under movement without cracking, which actually gives them an advantage on reactive clay soils common in Melbourne's south-east.

Repairs

This is where pavers clearly win. A cracked concrete driveway is expensive to fix properly — patching is ugly and visible. A damaged paver can be lifted and replaced individually with minimal trace. If you have tree roots nearby, pavers are the smarter long-term choice.

Appearance

Both can look excellent. Exposed aggregate concrete is particularly attractive and popular. Pavers offer more variety in patterns, textures, and colours. For most homeowners doing a premium renovation, pavers are the preferred choice purely for aesthetics.

Maintenance

Concrete requires very little — occasional pressure wash. Pavers need occasional weeding of joints and every 5–10 years the joints may need topping up with fresh sand. Neither requires significant ongoing cost.

Our Recommendation

If budget is tight: go exposed aggregate concrete. If you want to maximise property value and you have trees nearby: go pavers. If you're in a heritage area or your home has existing brick work: match with clay brick pavers every time.

Get a free written quote from Antonio for both options so you can compare properly before deciding.