Techo-Bloc Blu 60 is a 60 mm (2 3/8-inch) concrete slab made for patios, walkways and pool decks, not driveways. It comes in smooth, slate and polished finishes, sits in the middle of Techo-Bloc’s price range, and carries Techo-Bloc’s transferable lifetime product warranty, which covers the slab itself but not the installation.
At Rock Solid Landscape we install Techo-Bloc exclusively for pavers and walls, and Blu 60 is the product we use most. This guide covers what Blu 60 is, where it fits, what the warranty does and doesn’t cover, and what actually moves the price of a Blu 60 patio, so you can compare quotes with your eyes open.
Key Takeaways
- Blu 60 is 60 mm thick and meant for foot traffic. Driveways call for Blu 80.
- Choose between smooth, slate and polished finishes. Slate adds texture and traction.
- Techo-Bloc’s lifetime warranty covers the product, not the labor, and not a base that settles.
- The base and installation are where patios fail, so the installer’s workmanship warranty matters as much as the block.
- Features such as border courses, walls, fire pits and kitchens move the price more than the slab does.
What is Techo-Bloc Blu 60?
Blu 60 is a family of concrete slabs from Techo-Bloc, a manufacturer of pavers, slabs and wall systems. The 60 in the name is the thickness: 60 millimeters, or 2 3/8 inches. According to Techo-Bloc’s product pages, it comes in several finishes:
- Smooth: a clean, modern surface.
- Slate: lightly textured, with more natural variation and more traction underfoot.
- Polished: a polished face that shows the aggregate for a speckled look.
- HD²: Techo-Bloc’s enhanced version of some finishes, marketed for extra strength, durability and color.
Sizes include a modular 60 mm set (roughly 13 x 6.5, 13 x 13 and 13 x 19.5 inches), a 6 x 13 format, and Blu Grande at about 19.5 x 32.5 inches. Colors vary by finish and include greys like Shale Grey, Greyed Nickel and Champlain Grey, browns like Chestnut Brown and Chocolate Brown, and Onyx Black, Beige Cream and Caffè Crema. Not every color comes in every finish, so check availability before you fall in love with one.
In our experience, Blu 60 is a well-made slab that is not Techo-Bloc’s cheapest option and not its most expensive. It has a lot of color and texture choices, which is a big part of why we use it so often.
Can Blu 60 go in a driveway?
No. Techo-Bloc rates Blu 60 for pedestrian use: patios, walkways, pool decks and similar areas. For a driveway or any surface that carries vehicles, it points to Blu 80, the same look at 80 mm (3 1/8 inches) thick. If you want a driveway and patio that match, ask your installer to plan both from the start so the colors and finishes line up.
How does Blu 60 hold up through a Northwest Ohio winter?
Techo-Bloc states that its products meet the applicable ASTM and CSA standards, and its residential warranty specifically covers abnormal surface deterioration caused by rock salt (sodium chloride) used for de-icing pavers, slabs and steps. So the slab itself is built for the freeze and thaw we get here.
What decides whether a patio stays flat through winter is mostly what is underneath it. Water that can’t drain, a base that wasn’t compacted properly, or a grade that sends runoff toward the patio will move slabs no matter how good they are. That is why a good installer spends the first site visit shooting grade and elevation and looking at drainage before anyone talks about colors.
Two winter notes straight from Techo-Bloc’s warranty documents: damage from compaction or snow removal equipment is not covered, and Techo-Bloc recommends plows and blowers have proper spacing, bumpers and rubber blade guards. If someone plows your patio, tell them. For fall prep, see our notes on cleaning and sealing pavers before winter.
What does the Techo-Bloc lifetime warranty actually cover?
Techo-Bloc’s residential limited warranty is transferable and runs for life from the date of delivery. It covers two things: the structural integrity of the product, and abnormal surface deterioration caused by rock salt de-icing. It is honored with proof of purchase, such as an invoice or delivery slip.
The exclusions are where homeowners get surprised. The warranty does not cover:
- Damage caused by movement or settling of the base underneath the product.
- Damage from design or installation that doesn’t follow local codes, industry standards, or CMHA or Techo-Bloc guidelines.
- Chipping or breakage from impact, abrasion or overloading.
- Efflorescence, polymeric haze or construction residue.
- Damage from compaction or snow removal equipment.
- Normal color variation, or complaints about color, size or texture once the product is installed.
And when a claim is approved, Techo-Bloc replaces the affected units only. Its responsibility is limited to the cost of the product, not the cost of removing and reinstalling it, and replacement pieces may not match the original color exactly.
Put simply, the manufacturer stands behind the block and the installer has to stand behind everything else. When you compare quotes, ask each contractor what their workmanship warranty covers and for how long. Ours is 10 years on workmanship, plus one year on plants, on top of Techo-Bloc’s product warranty. That split is also why we don’t install customer-supplied block: we can’t warranty material when we don’t know where it came from.
What makes a Blu 60 patio cost more or less?
We don’t price patios over the phone, and we’d be wary of anyone who does without seeing the site. But the things that move the number are predictable:
- Size and shape. More square footage and more cuts mean more material and labor.
- Site prep. Grade changes, excavation and drainage work happen before a single slab goes down.
- Border courses. A soldier or sailor course around the edge adds a finished look and adds cost.
- Walls. Seat walls, and retaining walls where the yard slopes, are one of the most common reasons a budget grows.
- Fire pits and outdoor kitchens. Each is its own project inside the project.
In our experience, most jobs get more expensive for one reason: features get added after the first plan. That isn’t a bad thing. It just helps to know where the number comes from before the first drawing.
Blu 60 or a big-box paver: what are you actually paying for?
A Blu 60 patio installed by a contractor will cost more than a big-box block or a poured concrete patio. We tell people that directly, and it’s usually why we lose a job when we lose one. If the lowest number is what matters most, a big-box block or concrete may be the right call.
What the extra money buys is less about the slab and more about everything around it: a manufacturer warranty backed by proof of purchase, an installer who knows that product well, a color and finish selection you can see in person, and a workmanship warranty on the base and installation. Decide which of those matter to you, then compare quotes on those points, not just on the total.
How should you choose a Blu 60 color and finish?
See it in person, at full size, next to the other materials you’re using. Techo-Bloc itself says printed and digital color samples are approximate and recommends making the final color choice from real product. Each color is a blend of lighter and darker tones, so one slab never tells the whole story.
A few practical points:
- Dark colors show efflorescence more. Techo-Bloc names Onyx Black and Chocolate Brown specifically. It is harmless and cleans off, but you will notice it sooner.
- Slate adds traction. Worth considering around pools and on walkways that see wet leaves.
- Blend from several pallets. Techo-Bloc recommends pulling from at least two pallets during installation so the color blends evenly across the patio.
- Match the walls early. If the project includes seat walls or steps, choose them alongside the slab. Our post on retaining wall design decisions covers what to settle before picking a block.
At our shop we keep a Techo-Bloc mix-and-match set in our design lab so homeowners can lay out colors, shapes and sizes at full size before anything is ordered. However you do it, lay it out before you sign.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Techo-Bloc Blu 60 be used for a driveway?
No. Blu 60 is 60 mm (2 3/8 inches) thick and Techo-Bloc designs it for pedestrian areas like patios, walkways and pool decks. For a driveway or anywhere vehicles drive, Techo-Bloc points to Blu 80, which is 80 mm thick.
How thick is Blu 60?
60 millimeters, or 2 3/8 inches. The number in the name is the thickness.
Does the Techo-Bloc lifetime warranty cover installation?
No. Techo-Bloc’s residential warranty covers the product itself and pays for replacement units only, not the labor to remove and reinstall them. It also excludes damage caused by a base that moves or settles and by installation that doesn’t follow industry or Techo-Bloc guidelines. Installation is covered, if at all, by your contractor’s workmanship warranty.
What is the white haze on my new pavers?
Usually efflorescence, a natural process in all concrete products, or polymeric haze left from joint sand. Techo-Bloc says neither affects the strength of the product, both can be cleaned, and neither is covered by the warranty. Efflorescence shows up most on dark colors like Onyx Black and Chocolate Brown.
Can I buy Blu 60 myself and hire someone to install it?
You can ask, but many contractors, us included, won’t install customer-supplied material. The manufacturer’s warranty requires proof of purchase, and a contractor can’t stand behind material when they don’t know where it came from or how it was stored.
Thinking about a Blu 60 patio in Northwest Ohio?
We design and build Techo-Bloc patios, walkways, walls and steps from our locations in Wauseon and Toledo. See how we handle Techo-Bloc patio installation in Wauseon and Toledo, or read how our design-build process and warranty work. Our most successful projects are booked the fall before, so if you want a patio by early summer, fall is the time to start.
Warranty details in this article summarize Techo-Bloc’s Residential Use Limited Warranty dated June 17, 2025, and product details come from techo-bloc.com. Terms and product lines change, so read the current documents from Techo-Bloc or your dealer before you buy.