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Plain broom-finished poured concrete usually costs less to install than a paver patio of the same footprint, but the gap narrows or disappears once the concrete is stamped or colored, built to freeze-thaw specifications, and judged over its whole life of sealing, patching and repairs.
Laying pavers over an existing concrete slab is a good idea only when the slab is solid, still sheds water away from the house, and has room to rise without crowding a door threshold; a cracked, heaving or water-holding slab should come out so the pavers can sit on a proper compacted base.
A well-built paver patio usually adds resale value and recovers much of its cost, but the return is strongest when the patio suits the house and neighborhood, drains away from the foundation, and is still in sound condition when buyers walk it.
