Belgard vs Unilock vs Techo Bloc: Which Paver Is Right for You?

The Big Three Paver Brands in BC

If you are shopping for pavers in Abbotsford or the Fraser Valley, you are going to hear three names over and over: Belgard, Unilock, and Techo Bloc. All three manufacture high quality concrete pavers, and all three have product lines that hold up well in our climate. The differences come down to specific product aesthetics, price tiers, and a few technical details around surface treatments and colour retention. We have installed all three brands extensively and have strong opinions on where each one shines.

Belgard: Reliable and Widely Available

Belgard is the most common paver brand on the West Coast and the easiest to source in the Abbotsford area. Their Mega Arbel and Cambridge Cobble lines are workhorses that show up on a huge percentage of Fraser Valley patios. Pricing sits in the mid range, typically 4 to 7 dollars per square foot for materials. Colour options are solid but lean toward traditional earth tones. Belgard pavers perform well through our freeze thaw cycles and the product availability means you can always get matching pieces for repairs or extensions years later.

Where Belgard falls behind is in the premium contemporary category. Their slab style products do not match the refined look of Techo Bloc or Unilock at the top end.

Unilock: Premium Surface Technology

Unilock positions itself in the mid to high range and backs it up with surface technology that sets them apart. Their EnduraColour surface on products like Beacon Hill Flagstone and Umbriano provides better fade resistance and stain protection than most competitors. Materials run 6 to 10 dollars per square foot. Unilock also offers some of the best large format slabs on the market, which gives a clean contemporary feel to patios in newer Abbotsford subdivisions. One downside is that certain specialty products have longer lead times than Belgard or Techo Bloc.

Techo Bloc: The Design Forward Choice

Techo Bloc is the premium option and they lean into it. Their Blu 60 Smooth, Industria, and Para slabs offer a modern aesthetic that is hard to replicate with other brands. Materials run 8 to 14 dollars per square foot. Colour consistency is excellent and the surface textures feel more like natural stone than pressed concrete. For Abbotsford homeowners building an outdoor living space that doubles as entertaining area, Techo Bloc delivers a look that genuinely stands out. The tradeoff is cost. A full patio in Techo Bloc can run 20 to 30 percent more than the same layout in Belgard.

Which Brand Handles BC Weather Best?

All three brands manufacture pavers rated for freeze thaw exposure, so you will not see one brand crumbling while another holds up in a Fraser Valley winter. The real performance differences show up in stain resistance and colour retention over time. Unilock's EnduraColour surface and Techo Bloc's Hydra Pressed technology both resist moss staining and UV fading better than standard Belgard finishes. If your patio sits in a shaded area that stays damp most of the year, the surface treatment is worth the extra cost. For sunny, well drained locations, Belgard performs equally well at a lower price point.