Driveways

The driveway is a critical part of any home. It’s one of the first things guests will see, and it’s the most natural entrance onto your property. There are several options you have when it comes to driveway materials, and each has different qualities. Stone & gravel driveways may not be nearly as popular as asphalt or concrete, but they have their place and advantages as well. If you’re thinking about building a new driveway, here are some things to note about these two materials.

Gravel Driveways
Gravel driveways can refer to crushed gravel driveways or crushed stone driveways, a higher end installation. Crushed gravel isn’t the most elegant driveway material out there, but it is the cheapest. For this reason, gravel driveways are most commonly found in rural areas, as homeowners who have extremely long driveways (rarely found in the city) and a strict home improvement budget may have few other options. Another nice trait of gravel driveways is that they can always be paved over later with a material of your choice.

Other than their low installation cost, they are also the easiest to maintain. Naturally, you don’t have to worry about driveway cracks. Gravel driveways are designed to shed water, but you’ll need to ensure that you have proper yard drainage before installation. If you live in the northern United States and constantly need a functional driveway, keep in mind snow removal from a gravel driveway is extremely difficult.

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Stone Driveways
Stone driveways can also mean a number of different things. Stone driveways can refer to concrete stones, brick stones, and natural stones. The most common “stone driveway” is, of course, natural stone, but even different natural stones can have several kinds of colors and textures. Of the different kinds of stones you can choose, a natural stone driveway will probably be the most elegant, but also the most expensive and the hardest to maintain. Some natural stones are rare and cost-prohibitive to many homeowners. Again, you’ll have to ensure proper drainage in your yard and cold, moist climates will decrease the lifetime of this costly driveway with heavy freeze/thaw cycles.

Driveway Edging
Whichever driveway material you choose, driveway edging will make it better. It can spruce up an otherwise dirty, bland gravel driveway. For stone driveways, it can help keep the stone pavers in place and reduce the incidence of cracks and costly repairs. Driveway edging can be made from stone, metal, or even wood. It can be made from the same material as your driveway or contrasting colors and textures may add a more conscious decorative element to your driveway.

Driveways have become a style statement for homeowners and greatly enhance the “curb appeal” of a home. And there isn’t a better or more versatile driveway material then concrete. Concrete is available in a wide variety of textures and colors to give your driveway a unique look in the neighborhood or community.

Concrete can be put into various styles and patterns for you home of office. Concrete coloring has become the rage … here are a few of the most popular choices:

 

• Colored concrete
  Colors are either mixed or dusted over concrete once the concrete is laid – giving you a multitude of choices and looks for your driveway.
• Exposed aggregate finish
  Colorful pebbles are planted in regular concrete at the finishing point; after the top layer of cement is washed and the pebbles become exposed, providing a colorful pebbled concrete driveway.
• Broom finish
  If you want to provide your family with a non-slip texture to your concrete driveway, a broom finished is the best choice to accomplish that.

 

If you are looking for a reliable lawn care company give Advantage Lawn Care & Landscaping a call today at 866-787-LAWN and get more options for your yard, your budget, your life!