Are Unilock and Techo-Bloc pavers the same quality?

Both are premium Canadian paver manufacturers and both meet or exceed CSA A231.2 standards for compressive strength (minimum 50 MPa) and freeze-thaw resistance. In practical terms, a correctly installed Unilock driveway and a correctly installed Techo-Bloc driveway will perform similarly for decades. Differences show up more in aesthetic range, specific premium lines, and available textures than in base paver durability.

Which paver is more expensive, Unilock or Techo-Bloc?

Entry-level lines from both manufacturers are in a similar price bracket. Premium lines differ: Unilock's EnduraColor and Ultima concrete reinforced pavers, and Techo-Bloc's Industria and Aberdeen lines, each carry a premium over standard pavers. For a typical Ontario residential project, material selection affects the installed price by 15–30% depending on which series you choose.

What is the warranty on Unilock and Techo-Bloc pavers?

Both manufacturers offer lifetime transferable warranties against manufacturing defects on their concrete pavers. The warranty covers structural integrity of the paver itself — not installation workmanship, not efflorescence, and not colour fading on value lines. Premium lines (Unilock EnduraColor Plus, Techo-Bloc pavers with integral colour) include protection against fade and surface wear.

Which paver is better for Ontario freeze-thaw?

Both brands are engineered for Canadian climate and both pass the aggressive freeze-thaw testing required for Canadian certification. What actually determines long-term performance in Hamilton, Burlington, or Oakville is the base preparation, not the brand of paver — 8 inches of well-compacted 3/4 clear stone under a residential driveway and proper edge restraint matter more than whether you chose Unilock or Techo-Bloc.

Can I mix Unilock and Techo-Bloc in the same project?

It is possible but usually not advisable. Thicknesses differ between some product lines (60 mm vs 80 mm), and colour palettes do not match across brands. If you need a border and field paver, pick them both from the same manufacturer to guarantee consistent colour, thickness, and finish. Mixing brands also complicates warranty claims if there is ever a manufacturing issue.

Do both Unilock and Techo-Bloc offer permeable pavers?

Yes. Unilock's Eco line and Techo-Bloc's Aquastorm line are both permeable systems that let water infiltrate through wide joints filled with open-graded stone. For Ontario homes with drainage restrictions, lot coverage caps, or stormwater requirements, permeable pavers are often the deciding factor — and both brands have strong options.

Which brand is easier to find replacement pavers for in Ontario?

Both brands are stocked widely across Ontario through landscape supply yards and dealers. Discontinued colours or textures can be hard to match after several years with either brand — we recommend saving 5–10% extra pavers from any new install in a dry, labelled location so future repairs use identical product.

Unilock vs Techo-Bloc: Which Paver System Is Best for Ontario? (2026)

April 19, 2026|By Seven Stones Landscape

We install both Unilock and Techo-Bloc on driveways, patios, pool surrounds, and walkways across Hamilton, Burlington, Oakville, and the Golden Horseshoe. Homeowners almost always ask the same question at the design meeting: which one is better? The honest answer is neither — but each has lines and textures where it clearly wins. This 2026 guide covers what's actually different and how to choose. If you already know what you want to build, see our interlock patio process or book a free quote.

The two companies

Unilock was founded in 1972 in Ontario and is one of the oldest residential paver manufacturers in North America. Their Ontario plants supply most of the GTA and Golden Horseshoe, and their flagship lines include EnduraColor, EnduraColor Plus, Series, and Ultima.

Techo-Bloc was founded in 1989 in Quebec and grew quickly on the strength of design-forward lines. Their flagship lines in the residential market include Industria, Blu, Aberdeen, and Borealis. Both companies manufacture in Canada and both are dominant players in the Ontario market.

Paver thickness & use

Paver thickness drives where a product can be used:

60 mm (2 3/8 in): patios, walkways, pool surrounds — pedestrian traffic only. Both brands offer broad 60 mm lines.
80 mm (3 1/8 in): driveways and any surface that will see a vehicle. Both brands have full 80 mm lines.
Mixed-use: many contemporary installs combine 60 mm patio pavers with 80 mm edges where the pavers transition to a driveway. Always pick the 60 and 80 mm pair from the same manufacturer so colour and texture match.

Durability & freeze-thaw

Every residential paver sold by either manufacturer in Ontario meets CSA A231.2, with minimum compressive strength of 50 MPa and tight freeze-thaw durability requirements. In the field, the overwhelming majority of paver failures in our region are caused by base and edge-restraint issues, not by the paver itself. Get the base right (8 inches of compacted 3/4 clear stone under a residential driveway, proper 1-inch bedding layer, rigid edge restraint) and either brand will perform for 25+ years.

Where the brands do differ is in premium surface technology:

Unilock EnduraColor / EnduraColor Plus: a concentrated top layer with colour-rich aggregates and UV-stable pigments. Resists fade noticeably better than value-line pavers.
Techo-Bloc Smart Surface / Ultra-X: surface treatments on premium lines that resist staining and make joint sand locking easier.

Colour, texture & finish

If you care about aesthetic fit to a specific architectural style, the texture choice usually decides which brand wins a project:

Contemporary large-format slabs: Techo-Bloc Industria, Para, and Blu 60 are hard to beat for a modern Oakville or Burlington build. Unilock Artline and Umbriano are strong alternatives with a slightly different finish.
Classic tumbled stone: Unilock Brussels Block, Copthorne, and Richcliff have been the reference in the Hamilton/Ancaster market for decades. Techo-Bloc Aberdeen and Villagio are close matches.
Wide-plank modern look: Techo-Bloc Industria Nuvola and Unilock Artline Century both work; the choice is about specific colour availability at time of order.
Driveway-appropriate textures: Unilock Brussels Block, Il Campo, and Series; Techo-Bloc Blu 80, Aberdeen, and Industria 80.

Because colours and finishes are updated every few years, the right move is to view full-size samples in natural light at a local supply yard before signing — swatches in a catalogue or on a phone screen are not a reliable guide.

Price differences

At the material level, entry-line pavers from both brands are priced similarly. Premium lines differ more:

Unilock EnduraColor Plus and Ultima typically command a 15–25% premium over standard lines.
Techo-Bloc Industria, Blu, and Borealis typically command a 15–30% premium over standard lines.
Large-format slabs (Industria, Artline) cost more per square foot than classic tumbled pavers, but labour is often faster because each unit covers more area.

For an installed 2026 Ontario residential driveway, expect paver choice to swing the total installed price by 15–30% depending on the line. For an exact number on your project, request a free quote.

Warranty & availability

Both manufacturers offer a lifetime transferable warranty on concrete pavers against manufacturing defects (structural integrity of the paver itself). The warranty does not cover installation, efflorescence (natural mineral bloom that fades on its own), or colour fade on value lines — premium lines include explicit fade protection.

Availability in Ontario is comparable — both brands are stocked by major landscape supply yards across the GTA, Hamilton, and the Niagara region. Lead times on specific colours or specialty large-format slabs can stretch 2–6 weeks in peak season; we factor lead time into every quote.

Permeable systems

For Ontario homes with lot coverage restrictions, stormwater requirements, or poor backyard drainage, permeable pavers often become the right answer. Both brands have strong lines:

Unilock Eco-Line / Eco-Priora: permeable systems with spacer nubs and wide joints filled with open-graded stone.
Techo-Bloc Aquastorm: a similar permeable system with a clean modern look.

Permeable installs need a deeper, open-graded aggregate reservoir under the pavers (often 12–18 inches), not the standard dense-graded base. If a permeable paver is on the table, confirm the base design with your contractor early — the base is where permeable either works or fails.

How to choose for your project

Three questions do most of the work:

What style of house are we matching? Modern large-format slabs → Techo-Bloc Industria / Unilock Artline. Classic tumbled → Unilock Brussels / Techo-Bloc Aberdeen.
Do I need the premium fade-resistant finish? Sunny driveways and south-facing pool decks benefit most from EnduraColor Plus or equivalent premium Techo-Bloc lines.
Are there stormwater or lot-coverage constraints? If yes, permeable options dominate the conversation and the colour/texture choice happens within the permeable line.

Book a Free Quote

FAQs

Do I have to use the manufacturer's own jointing sand?
No — any polymeric sand rated for the joint width you have will work. Use the correct width rating and follow install-temperature guidelines.

Will one brand outlast the other?
In our experience across Hamilton, Burlington, and Oakville, both brands go 25+ years when installed on a correct base. Base quality, not brand, drives long-term outcomes.

Can I get a mix of paver sizes?
Yes — most lines from both brands offer multi-size packs for a natural random pattern. This is typically included in the catalogue SKU.