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Different Ways and Materials Used for Paving a Driveway

Many people tend to disregard their driveways or parking lots. However, what they fail to understand is that this is the first area of the property that most people notice first as they approach.

Therefore, when it comes time to install or redo a driveway, it is very important to pay close attention to its design and materials being used for its construction.

A well designed and built driveway will complement the style of the house as well as that of the surrounding landscape giving the home or building a welcoming appearance and additional value.

To enhance the aesthetic appeal of your house, the materials chosen for the paving of the driveway play an important role. The materials used would also determine the overall cost, durability as well as the future maintenance and upkeep of the driveway.

Following are some options in paving materials for the construction of that new driveway:

Exposed Aggregate:

Exposed aggregate is also known as exposed aggregate concrete.  It is considered the king of driveway material.

This type of paving material is composed of a prepared concrete slab with a top layer of decorative aggregates such as river stone, granite, quartz, limestone or other manufactured materials such as recycled colored glass, seashells, or other interesting materials.

An exposed aggregate paving job is achieved by preparing the area for a concrete base, then a concrete based is poured to a determined thickness, then a layer of preselected aggregates is loosely thrown or added to the top of the freshly poured concrete.  This thin layer of aggregates is carefully compressed into the slab.  Following, the top of the concrete is carefully washed and brushed exposing the beautiful aggregate.

The exposed aggregate driveway is highly durable and even skid-resistant. On the maintenance side, it requires little maintenance. It would just need to be resealed after a few years to retain the overall look and keep any staining away.

Concrete:

Concrete is a mix of cement, sand and crushed stone.  This is the most versatile material to use when paving a driveway, walkway, patio or entertainment area.

The many reasons that concrete is a preferred material is because it is very strong, durable and requires little maintenance.

In order to obtain a long-lasting concrete paved area, the projects start with a well-prepared sub-base.  This is the surface where the concrete mix will be poured on.  Depending on the area and type of soil, this base is composed of crushed stone that is compacted to make a strong base.

A well-prepared cement driveway or patio can last for a very long time, especially when it is properly sealed and maintained.

In comparison to other paving materials, concrete is a bit costly but its list of benefits can outweigh the cost difference.

If you are looking a more aesthetically pleasing look in your concrete, there are concrete dyes and overlays designed to give a concrete surface a distinct and inviting look.  Obviously, this will drive the total cost of the project a bit higher, but the result is a much more beautiful and lower maintenance surface.

Bluestone Pavers:

This is another great option for designing and creating your next driveway or patio.

Bluestone (natural stone) is a type of sandstone that can be used for the creation of extremely classy and elegant patios and driveways for your home.

The bluestone pavers come in a variety of shape and size options. This is because the bluestone can be crushed into fine gravel, left in the shapes of larger slabs or can even be cut into tiles of different shapes and intricate designs to accentuate the overall look.

The best feature of the Bluestone pavers is that it is highly durable and can be customized in the manner you would want to design your driveway.

This material can be found with a beautiful splash of color. It starts as a deep blue but tends to fade away with time to a lighter shade of gray. This happens due to constant exposure to sunlight. However, both the shades appear equally enticing.

Bluestone can also be combined with other paving materials to achieve the desired look.

Clay Brick Pavers:

This is a traditional form of paving material and has been in use since ages. The basic material used for creating the clay brick pavers is clay that is formed into different shapes and is baked in a kiln. The brick pavers are then laid out on a mortar base or sand base to give shape to the driveway. The great features of the clay brick pavers are that they are rich in color, texture, and character. Moreover, they can also be laid out in different shapes and patterns to enhance the overall look.