Driveway

For the homeowner who truly takes pride in a property’s appearance to all visitors, it is unwise to take a selective approach to home improvement projects.  As an example, if the goal is an all-around beautiful home, attention needs to be paid equally to the interiors as to the exteriors.   One point of contention is the driveway leading up to a house.  Whether it’s a small area of ground to cover or more of a long and winding path, the driveway certainly counts.  Here are some ideas for a driveway makeover.

Replacing Concrete with Blacktop Asphalt

There is nothing unusual about a concrete driveway.  In fact, it may be the most common type among homes across the country.  As the concrete begins to erode and crumble, one natural solution which occurs to homeowners is to pave over the area with asphalt, creating a blacktop surface.  It may come as a relief that this process is performed everyday on highways and smaller roads.  Concrete is an incredibly solid foundation on which to base a new driveway.

However, blacktop asphalt is a less sturdy material than concrete.  To make the job work from scratch, a thick layer of gravel is typically installed.  Concrete will work just as well, but the contactor must prepare for the periodic splitting which occurs in blacktop.  With the right sort of fitting, plus regular maintenance, this makeover will be cost-effective and last a long time.  Make sure that the concrete foundation is entirely free of debris before the job begins.  In fact, it will clue you in to a suspect contractor if the job is about to begin without this step being carefully managed.

On the other hand, a simpler and more attractive option – all things told – could be to reapply concrete to the surface.  A layer just a few millimeters could make such a project less intense and even be handled by the DIY homeowner.  Afterwards, to make the driveway a truly beautiful spot, hire a contractor to enhance the concrete overlay with colored or patterned materials.  A work of art will emerge, one that will last for a very log time indeed.

Creating the Effects of Brick and Stone with Asphalt

While asphalt could be trumped by an artfully handled concrete slab, it can also outdo surfaces like brick and stone in the hands of the true professional.  Undoubtedly, homeowners have been awed by the sight of a gorgeous cobblestone pathway in the course of driving up to a quaint bed-and-breakfast or some other elegant home.  It will come as a surprise to many that the same surface in question might have actually been asphalt.

Immediately, it is obvious that manipulated asphalt is not even in the same price category as cobblestone or brick driveways, though its look will be in many ways the equal of the real thing.  In terms of the problems associated with more exotic stone surfaces, asphalt offers a less galling alternative.  The broken pieces and visible seams do not come with properly handled asphalt, while the typical problems with color loss and structural concerns can be corrected without costing the homeowner a significant amount of money.

In general, this asphalt surface will keep out the water and elements which can add to erosion of the surface, such as plants or other insect materials.  With a proper blend of concrete and other polymers on the asphalt’s surface, the life of the driveway will extend far greater than traditional materials.  Of course, there is no substitute to the real thing for homeowners who are sticklers for detail.  Colored and enhanced asphalt can represent the next best thing at a much lower price, however.

Clearing a Lane and Switching to Gravel

Many are familiar with the rustle of gravel under a car’s wheels, a soothing sound which accompanies a finely laid gravel driveway system.  Truly, the best way to start a gravel driveway is to start from scratch.  The excavation process may appear prohibitive to many homeowners, but at the end of the job it might be worth it.  If getting into the sublevels of the property is not intimidating, this project could even be handled by a more ambitious DIY type of homeowner.

Once the area is clear, scalping stone is used to lay the foundation for a gravel driveway.  Immediately, this cost-saving option will be a relief for most homeowners anticipating a gigantic expense.  At this juncture, it is important to determine what to do about the point at which the drive will meet parts of the garden or landscaping.  Edging stones should be used to separate the two areas.  After all of these steps are taken care of, the fine gravel can be laid down, followed by the accents and designs homeowners may want to apply.

Gravel driveways are attractive because of the great flexibility homeowners have in terms of design.  The shingles alone used on a gravel drive can differentiate an excellent design from a less attractive pretender.  Stone slabs can be used to connect the drive to the rest of the home, as in the walkways which can be somewhat difficult to maintain.

Gravel driveways look great accompanied by a wooden decked area – however, any wood used outdoors will need regular timber treatment.

Choosing Sandstone

Finally, a driveway makeover could truly come together by using one of the finest materials available: sandstone.  A porous yet highly durable type of rock which is found in river beds and the ocean floor, sandstone has the advantage of being cut by hand in each and every case.  For an original look, engineered materials simply don’t compete.  In terms of colors, there are many options for homeowners hoping to coordinate with a specific design out in front.  Contractors working with sandstone can let these natural effects work for any driveway, while the accents laid out at the edges of the drive can separate a typical property from a highly unique one.

Whichever type of material and design a homeowner might choose, the revamping of a driveway surface can make an enormous difference in the look of a house.  As with any renovation project, the key parts of the project often will be confronted during the research and preparations, so budget this time accordingly.