Basic Types of Driveway Materials

Home owners today have a variety of choices when building a driveway. The top choices for driveway construction are asphalt, concrete and gravel. But tar and chip as well as brick are also great alternatives. However, there are pros and cons for each of the materials. Therefore, before beginning your project each should be considered.

Asphalt

Asphalt driveways are usually cheaper to install than concrete driveways. But asphalt driveways do require more maintenance. They should be sealed every three to five years. Asphalt can, however, last up to 30 years when properly installed and maintained.

Concrete

Concrete is the most durable driveway to install. A concrete driveway can last even longer than asphalt when properly installed. Concrete will crack over time. It is more prone to do so in climates that have freezing and thawing cycles. Therefore the home owner should consider this when making an installation decision, as it is usually more costly to repair a concrete crack.

Gravel

Gravel is the most versatile of the driveway material. Gravel driveways can have their own unique appearance. This is accomplished by selecting different shades of stones. The colors can include reds, blues and gray depending on the aggregate used. It typically is less expensive initially to install than usually asphalt or concrete. But depending on the usage the driveway gets it may need to be replenished every three to five years to keep it looking tiptop.

Tar and Chip

Tar and chip driveways can be more attractive than other driveways. They are typically built with gravel and tar mixture. This type of driveway tends to be more natural in appearance and blends in better with many different types of landscaping. This is because the tar and chip drive way can have a unique appearance by the color and various size of the gravel selected.

Brick

Brick driveways can bring an elegant dimension to any house façade. They do tend to be very costly to install and require annual maintenance by the homeowner. Bricks when properly set with mortar or sand do provide a durable driveway surface.