Independent lab tests measured Lowcountry Paver products above 9000 PSI, exceeding the CMHA standard of 8000 PSI (ASTM C936 Standard Specification for Solid Interlocking Concrete Paving Units). This is approximately 2.5 to 3 times stronger than standard poured concrete, making our pavers resistant to the cracking and “spalling” often seen in Southern coastal driveways.
60mm pavers are the industry standard for driveways and structural sand-set installs, while 30mm pavers are designed specifically for “thin-set” overlays on existing concrete slabs. If you are paving over an old pool deck or patio, 30mm is ideal; for new driveways or stable structural paths, 60mm is required. If you need something ultra-durable, check out our 80mm options like our HydraPlank Permeable Paver.
High-density concrete pavers like Lowcountry Paver Hardscape Products are the most durable options for salt-air environments like Hilton Head and Charleston. Our pavers are engineered with a low absorption rate to prevent salt spray from penetrating the surface and causing internal erosion.
Yes, Lowcountry Pavers feature “through-body” color, meaning the pigment is blended throughout the entire stone. Unlike “face-mix” products that only have a thin veneer of color on the surface, our pavers maintain their aesthetic even if they are chipped or subjected to heavy wear.
Yes, our catalog includes dedicated Handicap (ADA) & Parking Pavers designed to meet accessibility guidelines for ramps, curb cuts, and detectable warning surfaces. These units are engineered to pair with our standard hardscape lines, so accessible pathways and parking areas can match the rest of your driveway or patio.
Yes, the textured, aggregate-exposed surface of a concrete paver provides more traction than smooth poured concrete or polished stone, even when wet. For pool decks and other high-splash areas, we also offer colors and finishes from our Cool Pool Color Collection, chosen with heat and glare in mind.
Absolutely. Concrete pavers are a popular choice for pool decks because they stay cooler underfoot than poured concrete or natural stone and provide a textured, slip-resistant surface. Our Cool Pool Color Collection was developed specifically with pool deck environments in mind, alongside our Lowcountry Traditional Colors and Coastal Color Collection for the rest of your outdoor space.
Each collection is curated for a different setting: Lowcountry Traditional Colors lean toward classic, earthy tones that suit driveways and walkways across the Southeast, the Coastal Color Collection features lighter, beach-inspired blends, and the Cool Pool Color Collection is chosen with pool decks and heat reflectivity in mind. Your Lowcountry Paver dealer or contractor can show you samples side by side before you commit to a full project.
Yes, our catalog includes coordinating wall and capstone products such as Hardeewall, Carolina Capstone, Heritage Capstone, and Charleston Edgestone and Flagstone, so retaining walls, seat walls, and planters can match the color and texture of your paver field. Pairing these products together gives a project a more finished, cohesive look than mixing materials from different manufacturers.
Our concrete pavers are manufactured to meet or exceed ASTM C936, the Standard Specification for Solid Interlocking Concrete Paving Units, and the strength requirements set by the Concrete Masonry & Hardscapes Association (CMHA). We recommend installation according to Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute (ICPI) guidelines to help your project qualify for our warranty coverage.
While many homeowners successfully complete small DIY projects like walkways or fire pit pads, a professional installation is highly recommended for driveways, pool decks, and structural patios.
The longevity of your hardscape depends entirely on the base preparation. A Lowcountry Paver “Preferred Installer” is skilled in ICPI-standard installation techniques, which include specific excavation depths, soil compaction, and drainage grading. Most importantly, a professional installation by a vetted contractor ensures your project meets the requirements for our 20-year structural warranty, giving you peace of mind that your investment is protected for decades.
You can find a vetted Lowcountry Paver Preferred Installer through our official contractor locator tool. These installers are skilled, insured, and committed to ICPI-standard base preparation techniques required for our 20-year warranty. We’ll be happy to get you in touch with our family of installers!
Polymeric sand, such as PolySweep®, contains water-activated binders that harden to create a weed-resistant and ant-proof barrier. Regular sand washes away in the first heavy rain, but polymeric sand stays “locked” in the joints, providing long-term structural stability.
You should wait at least 6 months after installation before applying any sealer. This allows the natural process of efflorescence (white salt deposits) to complete so that you don’t permanently trap white hazy minerals beneath the sealant layer.
In the high-UV environment of the Southeast, we recommend resealing your pavers every 3 to 5 years. Regular sealing protects the color from fading and creates a “stain-block” layer that makes cleaning a breeze.
For high-traffic driveways, we recommend our Lowcountry Traditional Color collection. These darker, multi-colored blends are engineered to naturally hide tire marks and oil drips. If you prefer a lighter palette (like our Coastal or Cool Pool collections), we highly recommend a professional-grade sealer to prevent staining. See the Traditional Color options here.
Most “fading” is actually efflorescence—a natural white mineral film that can rise to the surface of concrete products. It is not a manufacturing defect and does not mean the pigment is washing out. A simple cleaning with a professional efflorescence remover typically restores the original vibrant color – like this one.
In the humid, high-UV environment of the Southeast, organic growth like mold, moss, or algae is common, especially in shaded areas. To clean your pavers without compromising the surface or color, we recommend a mild solution of 10 parts water to 1 part liquid bleach.
Pro Tip: Avoid high-pressure power washing (over 1,500 PSI) directly on the joints, as this can dislodge your polymeric sand and destabilize the paver system.
Efflorescence is a natural, harmless white haze caused by mineral salts rising to the surface as moisture moves through concrete, and it is common on new pavers during the first year. It typically fades on its own with regular rain and foot traffic, but you can speed the process along with a mild efflorescence cleaner and a stiff (non-metal) brush; avoid sealing over it until it has fully stopped appearing.
One of the biggest advantages of interlocking pavers over poured concrete is that individual units can be lifted out and replaced without cutting or patching. Use a flathead screwdriver or paver puller to remove the damaged unit, replace or top off the bedding sand underneath, and set in a matching replacement paver before resweeping polymeric sand into the joints.
Permeable pavers, like our HydraEdge series, feature widened joints and a specialized open-graded stone base that allows rainwater to filter directly into the ground. This “infiltration” system eliminates standing water and prevents runoff pollution from entering our coastal waterways.
Most likely, if your project exceeds the 40%–45% impervious surface limit in defined by your local government, permeable pavers are often required. Because they allow water to filter through the surface, they are frequently credited as “pervious” area, helping you gain permit approval for larger patios and driveways. Find a rundown of your local rules and regulations here.
Standing water on a patio is usually caused by improper grading or a “clogged” jointing system. A professional install requires a 1%–2% slope away from the home. If your patio is level or “dished,” water will pool, which can lead to mold and base failure. Contact us and we’ll be happy to connect you with a preferred contractor who’s well equipped to solve your issue.
Our permeable lineup includes HydraEdge, HydraShed, HydraPlank, WaterShed, and King Street Cobble, each engineered with wide joint spacing so water passes through to an open-graded stone base instead of running off the surface. They’re available in styles that range from classic brick patterns to modern plank and cobble looks, so you don’t have to sacrifice curb appeal for performance.
Permeable pavers need a bit more upkeep than standard pavers because the open joints can gradually fill with fine sediment, leaves, and silt. We recommend vacuuming or sweeping the surface a couple of times a year and topping off the joint aggregate as needed to keep water moving through instead of pooling on top.
Many municipalities in the Southeast count permeable paving differently than solid concrete or asphalt when calculating impervious surface for stormwater permits and lot coverage limits. Because requirements vary by county and jurisdiction, we recommend confirming the specifics with your local building or stormwater department, and our contractor locator can connect you with an installer familiar with local codes.
In many cases, yes. Because permeable pavers let water soak through the surface and into an open-graded aggregate base rather than sheeting off toward a low point, they can reduce or eliminate the standing water problems that a French drain is typically installed to solve. A contractor can evaluate your site’s grading and soil to confirm whether permeable pavers alone will handle your drainage needs.
Permeable pavers like HydraShed and HydraPlank are manufactured for driveways and parking lots, not just light-traffic patios, and can be engineered to handle heavy commercial traffic. The key is a properly designed open-graded base beneath the pavers, since the base — not just the paver itself — carries the structural load.
A standard paver base uses compacted crusher run or similar dense-graded aggregate to create a solid, low-void foundation, while a permeable base is built from open-graded stone, like our Granite 89 or Dolomite 57, that leaves gaps for water to pass through and temporarily store underground. Because the base does the structural and drainage work, proper depth and compaction matter even more with permeable systems.
By letting rainfall soak into the ground instead of sheeting across your driveway or patio, permeable pavers can reduce localized flooding, standing water, and runoff into storm drains during the Southeast’s heavy summer storms and tropical systems. They won’t replace proper site grading and gutters, but they do take pressure off the rest of your drainage system when the Lowcountry gets a lot of rain at once.
The average cost of a professional paver driveway in the Lowcountry ranges from $12 to $35 per square foot. Total investment typically falls between $9,000 and $25,000, depending on the material choice, site stabilization requirements, and the complexity of the design.
Pavers have a higher initial cost due to the labor-intensive base preparation, but they offer a much lower long-term life-cycle cost. Unlike concrete slabs that crack permanently in our shifting soils, pavers are a flexible system that can be spot-repaired without leaving a “patchwork” look.
Well-maintained paver hardscaping is widely considered a strong curb-appeal investment, since it upgrades the look of a driveway, patio, or walkway in a way buyers notice immediately, and individual pavers can be repaired instead of replacing an entire slab. The exact return depends on your market and project scope, so treat it as a valuable long-term improvement rather than a guaranteed dollar-for-dollar payback.
Material is often the smaller half of the budget. Excavation depth, base material and compaction, drainage and grading work, edge restraints, cutting around curves or structures, and any polymeric sand or sealant all add labor and material cost, and site access or existing surface removal can move the number as well.
Buying from the manufacturer often means better pricing on larger quantities, more consistent color and strength across a full order, and access to our contractor locator and dealer network, without the markup a big-box retailer adds. It also gives you a direct line to us for warranty and product questions instead of going through a third-party retailer.
Yes, we work directly with contractors and dealers across the Southeast and offer volume-based pricing for larger residential and commercial projects. Reach out to our team at 866-468-3561 or [email protected] with your project scope so we can connect you with the right dealer or pricing tier.
Since Lowcountry Paver is part of Curry Family Brands, your project can often draw on sister companies like Southeast Rock & Material for base aggregate and CurryCrete Ready-Mix for any poured concrete footings or edging, alongside Curry Disposal for job site cleanup. Coordinating suppliers under one family of companies can simplify logistics and delivery scheduling compared to sourcing each material separately.
A vetted Lowcountry Paver Preferred Installer typically costs more upfront than an unlicensed crew or a DIY approach, because you’re paying for ICPI-standard base preparation and workmanship. That cost difference is usually what qualifies your project for our full warranty coverage, including the extended structural warranty on professionally installed driveways and patios, which can save significant money if a base or drainage issue shows up later.
Paver maintenance costs are generally lower and more predictable: periodic resealing and occasional resanding of the joints, plus the ability to swap out a single damaged unit instead of patching or replacing an entire slab. Poured concrete, by contrast, tends to require full-panel replacement or professional crack repair once it spalls or shifts, which is typically a larger expense than paver upkeep.
You can request a physical sample or a formal project quote directly through our website using the Get a Sample and Request a Quote options, or by calling us at 866-468-3561. Seeing and touching the actual color and texture before you order is the best way to make sure a paver fits your project and budget.
