A driveway can say a lot about a home and its owner. As one of the significant parts of your home’s exterior, this is one of the parts that will catch the eyes of passersby and neighbors. Thus, the effort that you pour into the design and creation of your will be reflected in the impressed and fixated looks of people who visit your home. While you are still in the process of building your dream home, your driveway can be an effective extension of it. Read on to know what types of the driveway are great for a newly built property. Driveway Manchester Pro say when it comes to durability and aesthetic appeal, this is the driveway of choice among many homeowners.
Aggregate Driveway
We’ll start with one of the most affordable options among the driveway types – the aggregate or stone and gravel driveway. It is one of the most popular ideas for driveways by homeowners not just because of affordable prices, but for other reasons as well. It also requires minimal maintenance because it only needs occasional filling and spreading to reduce rutting and bumps. Weeds may grow in some areas, but it’s nothing a weed killer application can’t handle. It also helps step up your security because they make loud noises when vehicles or people pass over them.
Tarmac or Asphalt Driveway
Another affordable option is the use of asphalt or bitumen for your driveway. Compared with the aggregate driveway, this has a better aesthetic appeal and coherence, which makes it easier to drive over. It is a great option while sticking to your limited budget. Its dark coloration gives it the illusion of being an extension of the main road. Improvised drainage should be installed at the sides of the driveway for easy rainwater dispersal and regular washing should be done on the driveway to avoid the development of potholes created from the reaction of oils and chemicals with the asphalt.
Pattern Imprinted Concrete Driveway
When it comes to durability and aesthetic appeal, this is the driveway of choice among many homeowners. Also known as stamped or decorative concrete, it has many designs, patterns, and colors you can choose from to match your home interior and exterior wall colors. It has a strong and solid surface that can handle heavy loads, which makes it great for outdoor parking and for accommodating vehicles of visitors and guests. It is also a low-maintenance driveway and has great traction, making it a good choice for sloping driveways. While this driveway does last a long time, it is still susceptible to weathering and cracks. However, professional driveway installation companies and contractors can improve their features by adding drainage and expansion joint installations.
Paving Stone Driveway
Durability and elegance are the key features of this driveway type. However, it is the costliest type among the driveway types we have discussed here. This is also a very versatile type of driveway, as it goes well with classical architecture, blends well with different landscaping projects, and blends in harmoniously with stone walkways, driveway islands, xeriscapes, and fountains. By selecting permeable paving stone materials, you also reduce or eliminate the need for installing drainage systems at the side of the driveway. When it comes with its downsides, paving stone driveways are impermeable and will be prone to runoff during storms. This can contribute to surface water pollution and soil erosion. Paving stone is also slippery when wet, so it is not recommended for sloping driveways.
We have so far discussed the most popular driveway types chosen by various homeowners. This should help evoke your creativity with your design ideas and help you explore other driveway type options. Also, it would be good to share your driveway design concepts with your home builders or contractor as they can provide valuable inputs on how you can get the best materials for your preferred driveway.
