Do Wooden Pavers Get as Hot as Concrete? The Surprising Truth for Your Outdoor Comfort

Whether it's your patio, garden path, or poolside area, the materials you choose can drastically affect your comfort. One question we hear a lot is:

“Do wooden pavers get as hot as concrete?”

The short answer: Absolutely not.

And if you’ve ever stepped barefoot onto a concrete surface that’s been soaking up the midday sun, you already understand why this is such an important consideration. But let’s dig into the why behind it—because the difference goes far beyond just comfort.

Understanding Heat Absorption: Concrete vs. Wood

Concrete is a dense, non-porous material that absorbs and retains heat very efficiently. When exposed to direct sunlight, especially during summer, it can reach temperatures well above the surrounding air—often 50°C (120°F) or more. That’s hot enough to burn bare skin or paws within seconds.

Wooden pavers, on the other hand, are naturally more insulating. Wood is a porous material, meaning it doesn't absorb and store heat the same way concrete does. In fact, the air pockets within wood act as a barrier to heat transfer. As a result, wooden pavers remain significantly cooler underfoot—even in direct sunlight.

Why This Matters for Outdoor Comfort

When designing an outdoor space, we often focus on visual appeal, layout, and functionality—but surface temperature is just as critical, especially in regions that experience intense summer heat. The type of paving material you choose can significantly impact how comfortable your outdoor area feels during the warmest months of the year. Let’s take a deeper look at how wooden pavers outshine concrete when it comes to creating a cool, livable, and inviting outdoor environment.

Barefoot-Friendly Surfaces

Imagine stepping outside on a sunny afternoon to enjoy your patio—only to leap back inside because the ground is scorching. Concrete surfaces absorb and radiate heat quickly, becoming painful or even dangerous to walk on with bare feet. On a hot day, concrete can reach temperatures of 50–65°C (120–150°F), which is hot enough to cause burns in less than a minute. Read more about Cool Pavement here.

Wooden pavers, on the other hand, remain much cooler underfoot. Wood’s natural insulating properties prevent it from retaining heat in the same way. This makes wooden surfaces not only more comfortable but also much safer for children, the elderly, or anyone spending time barefoot outdoors.

Additionally, for families with swimming pools or hot tubs, choosing wooden pavers for the surrounding area means you won’t need to worry about heat radiating off the ground and turning a relaxing swim into a foot-burning sprint.

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Pet Comfort

For pet owners, surface temperature isn't just a convenience—it’s a health consideration. Dogs and cats have highly sensitive paw pads, and they can suffer burns just as quickly as humans when exposed to superheated surfaces.

Concrete patios, driveways, and walkways can become dangerously hot in the summer sun. Wooden pavers, thanks to their lower heat retention, provide a far more paw-friendly surface. Your pets can roam freely, rest comfortably, and enjoy outdoor spaces without discomfort or risk of injury. This is especially important in pet-friendly households or facilities like dog parks, kennels, or equestrian centers.

Sustainability and Aesthetics

The benefits of wooden pavers extend beyond their thermal performance—they also contribute to a more environmentally conscious and visually appealing landscape.

Aesthetics:
Wood brings a warm, organic charm that harmonizes beautifully with gardens, trees, stonework, and natural surroundings. Whether you prefer a rustic, contemporary, or minimalist design, wooden pavers offer versatile options in color, texture, and layout. They age gracefully, often developing a lovely silver-gray patina over time.

Sustainability:
When responsibly sourced, wood is a renewable material that supports sustainable forestry practices. Unlike concrete, which involves high carbon emissions during production, wooden pavers can actually contribute to carbon sequestration—storing carbon dioxide rather than releasing it. Some manufacturers also use reclaimed or upcycled wood, reducing environmental impact even further.

Furthermore, the permeable design of many wooden paver systems allows rainwater to pass through to the ground below, helping to reduce runoff, improve drainage, and replenish groundwater—a major benefit in cities prone to flooding or water management issues.

Thermal Expansion and Longevity

Outdoor surfaces are constantly exposed to the elements. One of the lesser-known issues with concrete is its susceptibility to thermal expansion and contraction. As concrete heats up, it expands, and when it cools down, it contracts. Over time, this cycle creates internal stress that can lead to unsightly cracks, surface flaking (spalling), and eventual structural breakdown. These issues can be costly to repair and often require complete replacement of sections.

Wood behaves very differently. Thanks to its cellular structure, wood accommodates temperature changes more flexibly. It can expand and contract, but does so more gradually and evenly, reducing the risk of cracking or structural failure. With proper treatment and care, Black Locust pavers can last for decades while retaining their strength and beauty.

Many modern wooden paver systems are designed with modularity in mind. If a piece does wear out or become damaged, it can be replaced individually, without needing to tear up large areas like you would with concrete.

Wood vs. Concrete: A Temperature Showdown

When designing outdoor spaces—whether it's a backyard patio, a horse stable walkway or in stalls, a pool deck, or a playground—material choice plays a much larger role than just aesthetics. It directly impacts safety, comfort, and even the usability of the space during the hotter months. One of the biggest differentiators? Surface temperature.

Let’s take a closer look at how concrete and wooden pavers compare when exposed to high heat:

Material

Typical Surface Temperature on a Hot Day (30–35°C / 86–95°F Air Temp)

Safe for Bare Feet, Paws, and Hooves?

Concrete

40–60°C (104–140°F)

🚫 Often too hot to touch or walk on

Wooden Pavers

30–40°C (86–104°F)

✅ Significantly cooler and safer

🔥 Why Does Concrete Get So Hot?

Concrete is a dense, man-made material composed of cement, sand, and gravel. These materials are excellent thermal conductors, meaning they not only absorb solar radiation quickly but also retain and radiate that heat long after the sun has moved on. As a result, concrete surfaces can become dangerously hot during summer—hot enough to:

• Burn human skin in less than 60 seconds
  
  
• Cause discomfort or injury to pets
  
  
• Radiate heat back into the environment, raising the ambient temperature
  
  

This phenomenon is part of what’s known as the urban heat island effect, where concrete and asphalt-heavy areas become significantly warmer than surrounding natural landscapes.

🌲 Why Wood Stays Cooler: The Science Behind It

Wood is a natural insulator. Unlike concrete, it has a cellular structure filled with tiny air pockets that make it poor at conducting heat. Instead of absorbing and holding onto energy, wood tends to reflect more solar radiation and dissipate heat more gradually.

This means that even under direct sunlight, wooden pavers:

• Stay noticeably cooler to the touch
  
  
• Reach lower peak surface temperatures
  
  
• Cool down faster after the sun sets
  
  
• Are gentler on skin, paws, and hooves
  
  

In practical terms, this translates to a cooler, safer, and more pleasant outdoor surface—even during peak summer heat.

👣 The Human Factor: Walking Barefoot on a Summer Day

Have you ever tried walking across a concrete driveway barefoot in July? If you have, you already know it doesn’t take long before you’re hopping from one foot to the other, looking for shade or grass. The pain and potential injury come from that stored heat radiating directly into your skin.

Wooden pavers don’t hold onto that same level of heat. Their insulating properties mean your feet can stay comfortable longer. That’s a huge win for:

• Children playing outdoors
  
  
• Poolside lounging without flip-flops
  
  
• Elderly people with thinner skin
  
  
• Families who love spending time barefoot on summer evenings
  
  

🐾 Animal Welfare: A Safer Surface for Pets and Horses

For animals, heat sensitivity is even more critical. Dogs and cats have highly sensitive paw pads, and horses—particularly those kept in stables with paved walkways—are affected by hot surfaces that can lead to stress, discomfort, or injury.

Concrete risks for animals include:

• Burned paws
  
  
• Overheated body temperature (as they absorb heat through contact)
  
  
• Slipping on smooth, hot, dry surfaces
  
  

Wooden pavers offer a better solution:

• Cooler temperatures reduce burn risk
  
  
• Natural texture improves traction
  
  
• Gentle on hooves, paws, and joints
  
  
• Better for animal welfare in equestrian or pet-friendly environments
  
  

This is one reason why more vets, dog trainers, and stable owners are switching to wood-based paver systems for high-traffic outdoor areas.

🧱 Design & Performance Considerations

Beyond just comfort, the thermal performance of your outdoor surface also affects:

1. Surface Longevity

• Concrete expands and contracts with heat cycles, leading to cracks and structural stress over time.
  
  
• Wood is more flexible and handles thermal movement with greater ease.
  
  
  

2. Ambient Temperature Regulation & the Urban Heat Island Effect

One of the most important — and often overlooked — benefits of cooler surface materials like wood is their ability to moderate local temperatures.

When large areas of a landscape are covered in heat-absorbing materials like concrete or asphalt, it creates what scientists call the urban heat island effect. These materials trap solar radiation during the day and release it slowly at night, raising local air temperatures by several degrees. This contributes to hotter cities, increased energy usage (especially for air conditioning), and even higher rates of heat-related illness.

Wooden pavers, with their lower heat absorption and faster cooling, help counteract this phenomenon. They reduce the surface temperature of patios, courtyards, walkways, and rest areas — which in turn keeps the surrounding air cooler. This not only improves outdoor comfort for people and animals, but also supports broader environmental goals such as:

• Improved microclimates in urban zones
  
  
• Reduced reliance on artificial cooling
  
  
• Better public health outcomes
  
  
• A more sustainable, climate-resilient urban design
  
  

🌍 Eco-Bonus: Wood’s Environmental Edge

If sustainability matters to you, it’s worth knowing that:

• Concrete production is one of the largest global sources of CO₂ emissions
  
  
• Responsibly sourced wood, on the other hand, can be carbon-negative, meaning it stores more carbon than it emits
  
  
• Wooden pavers can be part of permeable paving systems, which help rainwater soak into the ground instead of running off into sewers
  
  

That’s not just good for your feet—it’s good for the planet.

✅ Bottom Line: Wooden Pavers Win the Heat Test

When it comes to surface temperature, wooden pavers clearly outperform concrete in comfort, safety, and usability. Whether you're a homeowner, pet parent, landscaper, or barn operator, the benefits are undeniable:

• Cooler surface temperature
  
  
• Safe and enjoyable barefoot experience
  
  
• Pet and horse-friendly design
  
  
• Better performance under thermal stress
  
  
• Beautiful natural look
  
  
• Eco-conscious material choice
  
  

A Natural Fit for Modern Living

At Proflow Permeable Pavers, we believe outdoor spaces should do more than look good — they should feel good, function beautifully, and work in harmony with the environment.

That’s why we’ve designed a wood-based paver system that delivers more than just surface-level beauty. Our pavers offer a combination of natural cooling, permeability, and sustainability — all wrapped in a product that’s durable, modular, and easy to maintain.

Unlike traditional paving materials that trap heat and disrupt natural water flow, our wood pavers help you build spaces that stay cooler underfoot, absorb and filter rainwater, and blend seamlessly into natural surroundings. Whether you’re designing a barn walkway, a bike-friendly urban rest area, or a backyard retreat, Proflow pavers are a smart, forward-thinking choice.

Every installation becomes a small statement — that comfort, care for animals, and environmental responsibility are not afterthoughts, but part of good design.

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