Deciding on a new concrete driveway takes a little forethought and planning, so it is prudent to take a considered approach as to which style is going to be best for your property. You might be looking to use concrete block paving or pattern-imprinted concrete, or perhaps you are considering aggregate or textured finish designs. There really is a great variety out there these days, but you need to weigh up the pros and cons of the different styles.
CONCRETE PAVERS
The plus side of any concrete style has to be its durability, as concrete lasts a lot longer than other driveway materials such as tarmac or gravel. This is the case for concrete block paving where there are many different materials, colours and textures on the market to suit any design and personal preference. The advantage of this style of concrete driveway is that if you need to gain access to any drains or underground piping, you can easily lift up the blocks and put them back with minimal fuss and effort.
Concrete pavers are also relatively easy to maintain, and you can choose the pattern, colour and shape to suit the aesthetics of your design. They are very hardwearing, and keeping them clean and free of dirt, through sweeping and washing down, will have them looking really good for many years.
You can mix and match the designs to suit your property, and if there is a problem with one or two of the pavers later on, perhaps from wear and tear, then it is relatively inexpensive to remove the damaged pavers and replace them without you having to resurface the whole driveway.
On the less positive side, there could be an issue around the installation of pavers, particularly if the correct sub base has not been used. When areas on a driveway show signs of sinking or moving, it is generally not down to the materials used, but what the pavers have been laid on. To ensure this will not be the case, you need to use the services of a professional concrete driveway installation firm, who will also know how to allow for proper drainage and “run off” for rainwater so the area does not become waterlogged.
TEXTURED CONCRETE STYLES
If you have a larger area that needs to be covered quickly, then poured concrete with a textured brushed or imprinted finish is a really great way to do this. A layer of concrete is poured over the appropriate base, a colour is applied, and then whilst the concrete is still wet, a patterned finish is applied to create the required effect.
On the plus side, this gives you a durable driveway quickly, one that will last for a number of years and that can be purpose designed to match the look of your home or office building. This style is aesthetically pleasing, great to walk on (it will remain cool even on the hottest days), and you can stain the concrete with a colour that suits your requirements.
However, if you need to gain access to drains or pipework underneath the drive, then this might not be the appropriate style for you to have across the entire surface of your drive. You should also check with the installation team with regards to how often the sealant used to protect the colour that you have chosen needs to be reapplied, as this can wear off on areas that are subject to heavy traffic.
Overall, today’s concrete styles for driveways really do make the most of your kerbside appeal, so have a look around and speak to your local installer today.