If you’re shopping pavers in Metro Detroit, two names will come up almost every time: Fendt and Unilock. Both are top-tier brands, both meet ASTM C936 (the U.S. standard for interlocking concrete pavers), and both will outlast a poured concrete driveway by a wide margin. So how do you choose?
As an ICPI-certified contractor that installs both brands across Novi, Clinton Township, and the surrounding area, here’s our honest take.
The Quick Answer
Fendt is the smarter pick for most Michigan homeowners because the pavers are made 20 miles up the road in Farmington Hills, engineered specifically for our freeze-thaw cycles, and easier to color-match for future repairs. Unilock is the right call if you want a specific design or product line that Fendt doesn’t make — and Unilock’s catalog is bigger.
Quick Comparison
| Spec | Fendt | Unilock |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1924, Farmington, MI | 1972, Ontario, Canada |
| Where It’s Made | Farmington Hills, MI | Plants across Canada and northeastern/midwestern U.S. |
| Catalog Size | Mid-sized, focused | Large, frequently updated |
| ASTM C936 Compliance | Guaranteed to exceed | Meets / exceeds |
| Price (per sq. ft.) | Generally lower | Generally higher (especially premium lines) |
Where Fendt Wins
- Made for Michigan, in Michigan. Fendt has been pressing pavers in Farmington Hills since 1924. Every product they sell has been tested in the same soil, the same humidity, and the same winter cycles your project will face. Unilock is excellent at engineering for cold climates broadly, but their nearest plant to us is hours away.
- Easier color matching for future repairs. If a section of your Fendt driveway needs replacement in fifteen years, the same product line will likely still be in production at the same plant, with the same color batch process. Unilock’s larger catalog rotates faster and pulls from multiple plants, which can complicate matches.
- Better price-per-square-foot for similar quality. Fendt’s smaller, more focused catalog means lower overhead and prices that typically run below comparable Unilock products — without sacrificing the ASTM C936 strength rating that matters most in this climate.
- Wider color blend selection at similar price points. Fendt’s Spectrum Collection and custom color projects give you more palette flexibility than Unilock’s standard offerings, particularly for Old World tumbled lines.
Where Unilock Wins
- Bigger catalog, more design options. Unilock invented the modern concrete paver in North America, and their R&D budget shows. If you’ve fallen in love with a specific Unilock line — Richcliff, Beacon Hill, Umbriano, U-Cara — Fendt doesn’t have an exact equivalent.
- Premium architectural slabs. Unilock’s larger-format architectural slab lines (think Town Hall, Promenade) hit a more contemporary, design-forward look that Fendt’s catalog isn’t really aimed at. If you’re building a modern home in Bloomfield or Birmingham and want crisp, oversized pavers, Unilock has more options.
- Lifetime guarantee. Unilock offers a lifetime guarantee on most products. Fendt’s residential warranty covers structural integrity per ASTM specifications but isn’t marketed as ‘lifetime.’ In practice, both warranties are honored when a real defect appears — but Unilock’s marketing is stronger here.
How to Choose
If you want a workhorse driveway, patio, or walkway that’s going to look great for thirty years and you’re okay choosing from a focused catalog, go with Fendt. The local-manufacturing advantage is real, the price is better, and the quality is in the same league.
If a specific Unilock design has caught your eye and you can’t find a Fendt equivalent, go with Unilock. Don’t compromise the look you want over a small price difference — pavers are an installation you live with for decades.
Either way, what matters most is the install. Both brands will fail prematurely if the base prep is wrong, the joint sand is cheap, or the edge restraint is missing. Hire an ICPI-certified contractor and you’ll get the lifespan you paid for.
See Both Brands in Person
All Brick Design installs both Fendt and Unilock across Metro Detroit. Schedule a free estimate at our Novi (22755 Heslip Dr) or Clinton Township (33620 Lipke St) location and we’ll bring physical samples of both brands so you can compare them in your own light, on your own property. Call (833) 23-BRICK or visit allbrick.com/contact-us.
