Not Home Depot, Not Lowes: Where To Buy Budget-Friendly Pavers

When you're doing an outdoor DIY project, it's easy to run to Lowe's or Home Depot and pick up the supplies you need. These stores are familiar and easily accessible, as you can find most of the items online and create a plan of what you need before you even go in. However, despite the ease, these big-box stores may not be the best when it comes to buying pavers. If you're looking for something unique and budget friendly, a better option may be to buy from a local supplier instead. 

Local suppliers are sometimes more expensive than big-box stores, or they can be similar in price, but still affordable with extra perks like supporting your local economy. Additionally, even if the pavers are similar in price, your local store may offer better options. For example, some people say the pavers are often thicker from local suppliers, despite being about the same price. Having thicker stones usually means they are less likely to accidentally break while setting them up or over time. They can also handle more weight, which is why you should pay attention to the thickness of your pavers when using them for things like your driveway. Overall, your local supplier will have better quality pavers.

If you're just looking for something budget-friendly, and you don't care much about the kinds of pavers you get, you might try sites like Facebook Marketplace, another unsuspecting place to get budget-friendly patio pavers for your next DIY. With options like this, though, you sometimes don't get enough pavers to fully finish a project. This is why finding a local supplier, though a bit more expensive, can be a better choice.

For the best benefits and widest selections, you want to check out places like local landscape yards and masonry suppliers. There may even be local stores specifically focused on selling pavers. Because they specialize in yard and landscaping materials in particular, they're more likely to have a wider range of options outside of the most commonly used paver materials like flagstone and fieldstone. Further, while saving you money is a huge perk of shopping locally, there are other benefits too. For example, big box stores often don't focus on hiring professionals. If you need help, people there may be unable to assist you, while local stores are likely to have more knowledgeable staff.

You can also check out surplus stores near you focused on outdoor materials, as it is more environmentally-friendly to use items that would otherwise be thrown away, and you may get them at a discount. The biggest downside of surplus options is that you're unlikely to find consistent kinds of pavers in these stores, as it depends on supply and demand.