Want a New Driveway Installed? Here Are Five Materials You Should Consider
If you’ve decided you’d like (or need) to have a new driveway installed, one of the most important elements to think about is the material. Driveways sustain a lot of heavy wear, so no matter what style you choose, it must be made of something that’s going to last.
In this short article, you’ll learn about the five most popular choices!
Image Credit: Pexels
- Asphalt
Asphalt is one of the best driveway materials you can possibly go for. It’s both affordable and quick to install and set, and the material is specifically designed to be crack-resistant (which you’ll appreciate when the cold weather hits).
An asphalt driveway also has a simple, minimalist appearance that fits in great with a wide variety of architectural styles.
- Gravel
Gravel driveways always look great, and they’re one of the best options if you’re on a lower budget.
Given how loose the overall structure is, they’re particularly good at draining away water, so if you live in an area that’s prone to flooding, gravel can be especially ideal.
Naturally, the stones do tend to shift around a bit and need to be raked back into place every now and then, but the plus side is you won’t require costly repairs.
- Concrete
Concrete driveways are very versatile. The basic material can be shaped and formed into whatever type of driveway you want (it can even be designed to look like brick), and there are a number of different colors you could go for, too.
Concrete also lasts a very long time and is one of the most crack-resistant materials you can use, and if cracks do form, they can be repaired relatively easily.
- Stone or Brick Paving
If you want a hard-wearing driveway with a classy appearance, you can’t go wrong with stone or brick paving. This is one of the more expensive options you could choose, but given the impressive finish, it may be worth it if you’re trying to level up your curb appeal.
What’s more, this sort of style is easy to repair, as if one tile or brick gets broken, you can replace it without disrupting the rest.
- Resin-Bound Gravel
It’s easy to see why resin-bound gravel is so popular these days. It has the rustic appeal of gravel but is bound within a special matrix to give a smoother look, and the mixture is designed to be very hard-wearing.
Similar to regular gravel, this type of driveway also has great water-draining properties, and it comes in many different colors and finishes to suit the look you’re after.
Wrapping Up
Ultimately, you can’t go wrong with any of the five types of driveway materials listed above. Your choice will be determined by what sort of look you want to go for and how much you’re willing to pay.
There are options for every budget and every aesthetic goal, though, so start by getting a quote from a reputable driveway installer and go from there; remember, having the right professionals to do the job is easily the most important aspect. Good luck!
