Patios & Paving · 4 min read
Block paving vs slabs: which should you choose?
Format matters more than most people expect — for drainage, for repairs and for how the space reads.
Block paving
- Individual units flex slightly with ground movement
- Easy to lift and relay for access to services
- Permeable options available for driveways
- Strong choice for vehicle loading and narrow paths
- More joints, so more weed maintenance
Large-format slabs
- Fewer joints, calmer appearance, easier to keep clean
- Make small spaces read as larger
- Require a rigid, well-built base
- Harder to lift once bedded
Practical guidance
For a driveway or a heavily trafficked side return, block paving is usually the sensible choice. For a seating terrace outside the back of the house, large-format paving almost always looks better and needs less upkeep.