While driveways don’t seem to be a big deal, they are actually more important than we give them credit for. They really can make or break a house. If you are looking for a new home, you’ll notice that the driveways really can complete the look of a house. It’s one of the first things that your subconscious mind will take note of as you pull up. Sunken driveways and driveways full of cracks and potholes will not give a good impression to the home. There are many different types to choose from, from asphalt driveways to concrete to brick. Let’s look at a few and see which one might suit you best.
- Tar and Chip Driveway
This type of driveway has really good traction being that the surface is made up of a bunch of tiny stones. Because of this, the driveways tends to have a rough surface which is great in rainy and snowy areas. It’s perfect when things like oil leaks happen because you can just use the stones that are that to cover the oil leaks like sand usually does. Tar and chip looks a lot like gravel but it is a lot stronger and easier to take care of. Little maintenance is required besides replacing some stones every now and again. - Asphalt Driveway
An asphalt driveway is a great alternative if you don’t want concrete. They look incredibly similar when customized but are a lot less expensive and more flexible. Rock, sand and asphalt cement are usually what asphalt is made. Typically, asphalt is black but there are other colors and patterns available also. Asphalt driveways do need a solid foundation in order to be built correctly. A bad or unstable foundation can affect the durability of the asphalt. One of the great things about asphalt is that the flexibility allows them to resist ice and its expanding property which would normally cause cracks and damage in regular concrete. - Rubber Driveway
this kind doesn’t sound very appealing but a rubber driveway can actually be very attractive. It’s always environmentally friendly. Rubber driveways are usually made out of old tires that are thrown into landfills. It’s extremely affordable and comes in great colors and patterns. You’d never know they were old tires. Rubber tires aren’t just used for driveways, they can be made into patios, sidewalks and gardens to. Rubber is more slip resistant than asphalt because it is water resistant and absorbs more shock than other materials. - Flagstone Driveway
This one is a lot more familiar to us as it is one of the most common types of driveways. It does take a lot more time and money to install this time of driveway but the end result is a beautiful finish. However, flagstone is not nearly as expensive as it used to be because of the advances that have been made in stone cutting, make it a lot more available to the general public. You can get different lengths, heights and finish to make a customized look for your driveway. - Grass Driveway
This idea can sound very odd to many people because it’s not a very common idea. Grass is supposed to be stayed off of, not driven over, right? Well, not so, in this case. Grass driveways provide traction for cars because they are usually built with some sort of paving as well. It helps the driveway to blend better with the landscape than other types of materials do and still offers a solid driveway. - Sandstone Driveway
This is one of the most popular stone driveways in the whole world. It gives a very natural feel to the driveway and to the home. It is pretty resistant to weather and can be cut very easily. The wide range of colors that it comes in makes it fairly simple to match your driveway to your home. Landscapers will tell you that sandstone is an excellent addition to your landscape and home because of how it correlates with the region where it is quarried.
There are many more options to the kinds of driveways that you can get for your home. These are just a few to get you thinking outside the box. They don’t all have to be gravel or concrete, there’s so much more available to you.