Masonry & Pavers

Buying surplus masonry & pavers: what to know

Pallets do not divide evenly into patios, so part pallets of pavers, wall block and brick are constant surplus. Concrete products are effectively immortal in storage, and hauling them is most of their cost, so buying nearby is the entire discount.

Check before you buy

• Count pieces and do the coverage math

  the pallet tag states square feet per layer. For a patch or path a part pallet is perfect; for a whole patio, short is a color-matching problem.

• Check color across the stack, not the top layer

  concrete pavers vary by run like everything else. Pull pieces from the middle and compare: blending lots works if you plan it, not if it surprises you.

• Squeeze every bag of cement or concrete mix

  a bag that has gone hard took on moisture and is now a very heavy rock. Soft and powdery throughout or leave it.

• Inspect natural stone for existing cracks

  a flagstone with a hairline splits along it the first winter water freezes inside. Tap it; cracked stone sounds dead.

Rather have it installed? The directory has local concrete & masonry pros you can message directly, and the cost guide shows what jobs like yours run locally.

Also browse: Landscape · Tile & Stone · Lumber