Which Driveway Surface Is Best For Your Home?
Has the time come to replace your driveway, but you're unsure about what type of material to use? Here is what you need to know about three different materials.
Asphalt
An asphalt driveway is going to be the cheapest material you can use for a driveway when it comes to the initial cost. However, asphalt will require the most maintenance over the years to keep it in good condition. For example, you'll need to resurface the asphalt periodically to prevent cracks from spidering.
Concrete
A concrete driveway is going to be in the middle of these three materials for the initial cost, and it is going to require the least amount of maintenance over time. Winter weather is going to be the biggest problem in terms of maintenance because salt can easily degrade concrete over time. It doesn't matter if you do not put salt on your driveway, because your vehicle will bring salt to the driveway after driving on salted roads.
Concrete also gives you the option to use stamped and colored concrete. This allows you to put a pattern or unique color on the surface so that the concrete resembles the look of natural stone from a distance. You are able to pick the pattern that you want to use, and can even simulate the look of brick pavers by using multiple colors.
Pavers
Brick pavers are going to be the most expensive material and can require a lot of maintenance as well. That is because weeds can easily grow between the bricks, so you'll need to spray the driveway with chemicals to keep the weeds under control.
The brick pavers can also settle over time, but thankfully, the bricks will not crack. This allows you to repair the driveway by removing the pavers, improving the base, and putting them back into place. This keeps the maintenance cost low since the work that is involved to fix the driveway is mainly the labor hours.
For example, if you get a stain from your vehicle on the brick pavers, a possible solution is to simply lift the bricks out of the ground and flip them over. The underside of the pavers will look brand new and the damaged side will be hidden away.
Still undecided about what type of material you want to use for your driveway? Reach out to a contractor in your area that can help you review more pros and cons of each material.