How to Pick the Perfect Material for Your New Driveway
Picking the right material is the most important part of having a new driveway installed!
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The choice you make will affect how much damage it can withstand, as well as the maintenance and costs. You will need to take a close look at how you want to use your driveway and many other factors as well. Your budget will need to be taken into consideration, as well as weather conditions. Let’s take a look at how you can pick the best material for your driveway.
How Much Money Do You Have to Spend?
The first question you’ll need to ask is how much you can afford to spend on your new driveway. If you want a cheap option that will withstand any kind of conditions, asphalt is the way to go. It’s also low maintenance and looks relatively pleasant. You check out for places to get your supplies like Asphalt Industrial.
If you enjoy steady weather and are living in the country, then gravel could also be a good option. It drains very well, can be replenished, and requires very little maintenance. You will still need to be on the lookout for weeds, however, as they can grow through concrete. It’s also not the best material if you want to get some heavy work done.
What’s Your Biggest Goal?
You have to know what your main goal is for your driveway. If all you want is a driveway that looks good, then pavers are a great option. They’re expensive, however, and they’re not the best option for people who like to get some heavy work done in their driveway.
If that’s your case, your best bet would be to go with a concrete driveway. It can be stamped to look just like pavers and can deal with lots of traffic. You can also have it built so that it can maintain some of the stormwater-friendly qualities of pavers.
The benefits of a stormwater-friendly driveway are many, and this is something you’ll need to pay special attention to if you want to preserve the environment and your home’s structural integrity. Concrete can be made to be porous, which allows water to drain easily while limiting the number of pollutants and debris that end up in your yard and storm drain.
If you want something that’s heavy-duty and aesthetics is not a concern, then asphalt is the way to go. It’s very robust and easy to wash. Stains will also be less visible and you can have asphalt resurfaced every time you want to give your driveway a brand-new lease of life.
Maintenance
You also have to assess how much maintenance you can handle. Some people will not like the idea of having to constantly seal, resurface, and patch their driveway. If that’s your case, asphalt may not be the best option. One thing about asphalt, however, is that repairs are much cheaper than with concrete, even if concrete is more durable. But concrete is still the paving material that requires the least maintenance. It can be easily washed and doesn’t need to be resurfaced. It will maintain its appearance for years without additional treatments and can withstand freeze and thaw cycles very well if installed properly.
This is all you need to know if you want to find the best material for your driveway. Take your time and look at the pros and cons of every option before making your final choice.
