Concrete Pavers Guide

If you have a home improvement project that you want to DIY or hire a contractor to install, you will need to buy the materials that will be needed for the installation. If budget is a concern for you, you’ll want to do what you can to save money on the materials. This brief ‘slabs for sale’ guide will give you a basic overview of the kinds of slabs available, where you can find them, and how you can get deals.

Types of Slabs

Ultimately, the type of slab you want will depend on the project that you are creating. If you are going for outdoor projects, such as patios, driveways, and the like, you’ll want to go with stone, rock, and concrete slabs. (Note that there are many different kinds of ‘stone,’ from sandstone to marble and more.) If you are looking for slabs for an indoor installation, such as for a countertop or tabletop, you can look for wood or stone slabs. Granite slabs, for instance, are quite popular for these applications.

For outdoor slabs, the particular kind of slab you will use will depend on the project. Let’s assume, for example, that you’re building a patio. You will probably want to go with harder options for your patio slabs, such as concrete or hard stone.

If you are looking for indoor slabs, you will either choose between wood or stone, of course ultimately depending on the type of project you are doing. For a countertop, you may want to go for granite; for a sink, bathtub, or other area, you could go with soapstone.

Wood slabs come in a variety of types, from redwood to walnut and everything in between. The dimensions and thicknesses of these slabs vary widely, so you should be sure about the specs of your ideal slab before you go out searching, as there is no ‘standard’ size given that they can becut to order.

Note as well that within each category of slab there is variation in color, size, texture, and general features. Thus, you’ll want to pick your material first, and then figure out which particular slab you want for the project.

Where to Find Slabs for Sale

One of the reasons why slabs are so expensive is that they are heavy and hard to transport. Thus, you will want to minimize the distance the material is transported for it to reach your home. In some circumstances, such as with stone paving slabs, you have little control over this, as the nearest quarry may be far away. As a result, you’ll pay more for the slab due to the shipping charges involved in its transport.

That said, don’t just rely on local options for slabs, though that may be the cheapest option in most circumstances. Your first shot is mason supply yards and other materials yards. You can check out home improvement stores like Home Depot and Lowe’s, but it’s very unlikely you’ll find a great deal there due to the markup.

After exhausting local supplies, check online for slab wholesalers. Even if they are far away, you may save more overall even though they have to be transported if you can buy cheap slabs in the first place.

In addition, keep your eyes peeled on sites like Freecycle and Craiglist. Homeowner will sometimes have extra slabs that they don’t need; perhaps they bought too many or are removing an old installation. Whatever the reason, they may be willing to let the slabs go for a low price or even for free. Of course, before committing to any purchase or transfer of goods, personally inspect the material. You don’t want to be stuck with something that doesn’t meet your specifications, even if it is ‘free.’ If you’re looking for the best, cheapest option, this is by far the one. However, you won’t get the guarantees and peace of mind that you would with regular companies; you also might not get the exact type and amount of slabs that you want. Still, it’s a good risk to take, as you could save a TON of money this way. I highly recommend this above the other options.

Slabs Prices Estimate

Note that the following discussion can’t take into account regional and quarry differences in the quality and quantity of material available. If the slab you select is lower quality, you’ll pay less money; if there’s less of the material available, and thus quite rare, you’ll pay more. Since so much is subject to regional variations, we can only give you a general discussion of the costs. These are prices that you’d pay from a typical supplier, so if you find them at the low end or below this range, you know you’re getting a good deal.

As you might expect, stone slabs are much more expensive than concrete and wood slabs. This is because this stone is cut from the earth and shaped according to your specifications. Granite, as one example, is a very popular but expensive material, so if you can find granite slabs for sale, you’ll save a ton of money on your project.

The price you’ll pay for these materials will vary greatly, so we can only give you a basic price for each of these materials. Limestone slabs are very, very cheap – usually around $5 – $10 per square foot. Marble slabs will run you around $10 to $20 per square foot. Soapstone will run you around $1000 for a sink, or $20 per square foot for a slab. Granite slabs will cost you, as most slabs do, per square foot, a number that will usually hover around $30 to $40, though you will usually pay around $50 to $60 per square foot for the installation. Slate slabs will cost around $10 -$20 per square foot.

Wood slabs will vary depending on the size, quality of wood, and type of wood, but you can expect to pay on the order of $100-$300 per slab.

Concrete slabs are by far the cheapest option for you. You can either make them yourself (very cheap) or buy them and have them delivered. You will usually pay around $4-$8 per square foot for this material.

The Verdict

Overall, it’s hard to give an exact price, given the huge number of variable involved, but we hope at least you have an idea of the ‘order of magnitude’ of prices you may pay. Note that these don’t often include shipping costs, as this will depend on your location relative to the company or supplier.

Using paving slabs for your next project – walkway, driveway, patio, and more – is a great idea, but the material is indeed expensive. The labor costs are expensive enough, so if you can get paving slabs cheap, you’ll benefit greatly. Here are some basic tips for getting the cheap materials that you need:

1. Before beginning your search, narrow down what kind of paving slabs you want in terms of size, color, quality, material, etc. This will help you focus in on the slabs that are most appropriate for both your project and budget. However, keep an open mind – if you find a great deal, you may want to be more flexible.
2. Before you look outside, consider if there are any paving slabs that you own that you can cannibalize. In addition, perhaps friends and family have cheap concrete paving slabs that they would be willing to part with. Keep your eyes and ears open constantly for picking up cheap materials that neighbors, friends, and family don’t want – you never know when you’ll want to use that material in the future.
3. Next, move your search to local mason supply yards and homeowner supply stores. You’re more likely to get lucky with mason supply yards, however, as you may be able to make a deal with a local store rather than a chain. Call all the yards in your area and ask for quotes on the number of cheap patio slabs that you need. If you look hard enough, you may be able to negotiate and use leverage to get a great price. Some may even let you get them for a steal if they are chipped or defective in some way. If your project is small, or you only need them for functional reasons, you may benefit. Also keep an eye out for deals for ‘seconds.’
4. If you’ve exhausted the local options, consider going global – in other words, try the internet. First, start with websites like craigslist, Freecycle, and any other classified advertisements on the internet. (You could also supplement this with looking at local newspaper ads as well, though you’re probably going to have more luck online these days.) Some people will be offering their paving slabs for free, as long as you come and remove them yourself. Others will be offering cheap concrete paving slabs, but they’ll certainly be cheaper than the normal routes even though you have to pay.
5. Of course, always be careful when dealing with other individuals online. You never know when there may be a scam involved, so always get everything in writing. In addition, the quality and condition of the slabs may be questionable, so always check them out first before agreeing to take or buy them. Pictures can be deceiving, as the particular color and quality of the bricks can look different in an image than in real life. Still, even with all these risks, finding your materials online may be the cheapest way to find them.
6. You can also check companies online that sell paving slabs, but unless you can find a great deal, this is not recommended. It could help you find more dealers in the area, though, so it’s at least worth a shot.

If you have any other ideas, leave them in the comments!