Methods of Driveway Paving

Whether you have an old driveway or need to put in a new one, it may be time to look at methods of driveway paving. Your home is a big investment, so you want a driveway that adds style and enhances the beauty of your home as well as being strong and functional. Decide how much maintenance you are willing to accept and choose the best style for your home.

Concrete

Have a concrete drive poured or do-it-yourself and save money. Concrete driveways are quick to put in and fairly inexpensive even if you hire a contractor. The basic structure is made with wooden forms outlining the driveway and concrete is then poured into the form. The wet concrete is leveled and allowed to dry. The disadvantage to using concrete can be cracks here and there and weeds between the joints.

Bricks/Pavers

If you are looking for a drive that is aesthetically pleasing consider bricks or pavers. Although a concrete drive is purely functional, pavers and bricks are perfect for accenting the exterior lines of your home and give the landscaping a polished look.

This is another project you can easily do yourself, however, you need to expect a physical workout if you do-it-yourself. In comparison to concrete drives, pavers or bricks add a beautiful aesthetic look to your home. Home improvement centers and building material suppliers can offer decent prices for pavers and bricks. However, these types of materials are normally more expensive to use than other methods for driveway paving.

Choose from several sizes, textures and colors to match exterior home decor. Consider lighting needs next to the driveway while designing the new drive. The disadvantages to using these types of building materials are the physical labor for installation and weed maintenance.

Asphalt

Using asphalt paving offers many benefits that other materials do not. It is far cheaper to pave a drive with asphalt than concrete, bricks or pavers. Installation is quicker and asphalt drives are long lasting for the money.

This is not typically the type of drive to put in for the do-it-yourselfer. It can be hot and messy work that is best left up to a professional contractor.

Paving a drive with asphalt is a simple process of laying down a subsurface made from gravel and paving with a petroleum-based binder and aggregate. There may be the occasional weed to be pulled in minor surface cracks.