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

By Riaad, Owner & Project Manager · ICPI Certified Installer · Last updated April 19, 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 interlock driveway 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do driveways need thicker pavers than patios?

Yes. Driveways and any surface that sees a vehicle need 80 mm pavers, while 60 mm pavers are for patios, walkways, and pool surrounds with pedestrian traffic only. Both Unilock and Techo-Bloc offer full lines at each thickness. Where a patio transitions into a driveway, pick the 60 mm and 80 mm pair from the same manufacturer so colour and texture match.

Are Techo-Bloc pavers more expensive than Unilock?

At the entry level, no; both brands price their standard lines similarly. The differences show up in premium lines: Unilock EnduraColor Plus and Ultima typically run 15 to 25 percent above standard lines, while Techo-Bloc Industria, Blu, and Borealis run 15 to 30 percent above. On an installed 2026 Ontario driveway, paver choice can swing the total price by 15 to 30 percent.

What does the lifetime warranty on Unilock and Techo-Bloc pavers cover?

Both manufacturers offer a lifetime transferable warranty against manufacturing defects, meaning the structural integrity of the paver itself. It does not cover installation workmanship, efflorescence, which is a natural mineral bloom that fades on its own, or colour fade on value lines. Premium lines add explicit fade protection, which is why sunny driveways and south-facing pool decks often justify the upgrade.

Which paver lines suit a modern home versus a traditional one?

For contemporary large-format looks, Techo-Bloc Industria, Para, and Blu 60 lead, with Unilock Artline and Umbriano as strong alternatives. For classic tumbled stone, Unilock Brussels Block, Copthorne, and Richcliff have been the Hamilton and Ancaster reference for decades, with Techo-Bloc Aberdeen and Villagio as close matches. Always confirm with full-size samples in natural light, since catalogue swatches are not a reliable guide.

Do Unilock and Techo-Bloc both make permeable pavers?

Yes. Unilock offers Eco-Line and Eco-Priora, and Techo-Bloc offers Aquastorm, all with spacer nubs and wide joints filled with open-graded stone. Permeable installs need a deeper open-graded aggregate reservoir under the pavers, often 12 to 18 inches, instead of a standard dense-graded base. They suit Ontario homes with lot coverage restrictions, stormwater requirements, or poor backyard drainage.