We have already discussed gravel driveways, along with their advantages and disadvantages. I am quite impressed with all of the superb feedback you guys have provided! Hearing about firsthand encounters is always so useful for those that are thinking about a similar project.
Next up on the driveway substance listing is concrete. My expectation is that those of you with this type of driveway can join the dialogue and tell us what you consider it.
Mark pinkerton – vi360 photography
Concrete Driveway Basics
Price: $4 to $8 per square foot, depending on site conditions and prep. Durability: 30 years or longer with appropriate care. Care: Sweeping and pressure washing when needed. Chemicals could be needed to remove oil or chemical marks. Additional options: Driveways may be stained different colors or poured into eye-catching patterns.
Huettl Landscape Architecture
Changes in weather will lead to concrete to expand and contract, so it is usually laid in big square slabs to decrease the incidence of cracking. Here’s a great illustration of a more innovative approach to the thought. These slabs are offset from each other rather than meeting in the corners.
Elements Landscape Inc
I like the way this circle delivers a place for landscaping at the middle of the driveway. It calms the feel of the hard surface and makes it feel less barren.
Portal Design Inc
Occasionally concrete can leave a home feeling chilly, but this beautiful modern home looks warm and inviting with the help of wealthy surrounding colors.
Allen Construction
Now that you’ve seen a few examples, let’s consider the advantages and disadvantages of concrete.
Advantages
1. Care and endurance. Cracks generally don’t happen for a long long time, and potholes are nearly nonexistent. Concrete also lasts longer than every driveway substance. The pesky task you will strike is stain removal, which we’ll touch on later.
Christian Gladu Design
2. Temperature control. Due to its light color, concrete stays cool enough for bare toes in summer.
Jeffrey Gordon Smith Landscape Architecture
3. Aesthetics. This home looks great with the light driveway leading to the garage. It fits the house nicely and goes well with the lengthy pattern of windows.
HartmanBaldwin Design/Build
4. Color options. A huge draw for concrete is that it can be stained in an array of colors, including warmth and character to the home’s exterior.
5. Snow removal. I know, the only kind of snow that you want to hear about in this time of year is the kind that comes in a cone in the county fair. But it’s true: Shoveling snow from concrete is a lot easier than eliminating it from weeds or gravel.
Dan Nelson
Cons
1. Resurfacing isn’t an alternative. Over time, your driveway may crack and will begin to appear unsightly, but this will not occur for several years if poured properly. The only way to fix this is to remove the old driveway and put a new one in its place.
AMS Landscape Design Studios, Inc..
2. Large driveways can be pricey. If you’ve got a driveway which spans across a huge lawn, you may be better off having a asphalt or a gravel driveway, even though the upkeep on the two of these substances is a bit more than it is with concrete.
Justin Loe Architects
3. Surface stains. Since concrete is normally a light color, it is more susceptible to oil stains and tire marks. Removing these marks can be time consuming and generally calls for a particular stain remover.
Inform us : Do you possess an irregular concrete driveway? Please share a photograph below.
More:
Gravel Driveways: Crunching the Advantages and Disadvantages