Driveway Paving and MaterialsDriveway paving can range from the simple to the complex...from the inexpensive to the most costly. There are many different types of driveway materials. Some may be better for certain projects than others. It may be a matter of matching the right style or feel to the rest of your landscape. Upkeep and maintenance is another factor.Sometimes it might be personal preference. Often it is the cost which will effect your decision on which driveway paving to use, since driveway pricing of materials can vary greatly. Here are the basic driveway materials to choose from. Please also see Paving Costs for detailed pricing!
There are various types of loose stone to choose for your driveway. This type of stone is relatively inexpensive compared to all the other driveway materials. It can erode away but can also be easily replaced. A driveway edging should be used to keep it neat and in place, so that it doesn't travel into the lawn or planting beds. Snow removal can be difficult with this stone. It can be a little difficult to walk on. Loose stone is very natural looking in casual settings. You might also consider tar and chip driveways or decomposed granite. Asphalt Driveways See asphalt driveways and asphalt driveway sealers Asphalt is another relatively inexpensive material. It is a simple and functional choice. Although you can use edging with it if you want to, it is not a necessity. In addition, you can dress it up by adding other materials. I sometimes edge asphalt driveways with tumbled pavers. I will line the driveway with two rows of the pavers. They can be laid parallel or perpendicular to the driveway edge. Sometimes I also add a circle of pavers in the asphalt, near the front walk as a welcoming element. You can also use travertine pavers with asphalt. Any of these ideas can be used to add another type of material and texture to the asphalt. You can use just one of these ideas, or combine some of them. Tar and Chip Driveways
Tar and chip driveways are a more rustic type of paving material. It is created by mixing both stone and asphalt together. You can choose various colored stones, such as brown or tan. If you are looking for a contractor in your state who installs tar and chip driveways, visit my directory of Tar and Chip Contractors. Concrete Hmm...what can I say about concrete. Ok. I don't like it for a driveway. Here is why. It can crack, and matching the concrete color during a repair is difficult. It is much more expensive than asphalt. I don't really see the advantage of using it. Stamped Concrete Driveway I feel the same way about a stamped concrete driveway as using concrete. In addition, it has another disadvantage. If you choose a design that mimics natural looking stone, your construction joints must go through this design. Take a look at some pictures of stamped concrete driveways. Look at the last photo on the page to see what I mean! You have a better chance for that nor occurring if you use a geometric pattern. At least in this type of installation, the construction joints can blend in with other necessary ones. Driveway Pavers Many people like to create a driveway completely out of pavers. I have done this for clients. However I would If paving the entire driveway with pavers, consider all of the different patterns for a driveway paver design. Designs such as herringbone provide interest. Take a look also at the fish scale design...this is a lot of fun when used on large expanses, such as driveways. You can go to my page on concrete pavers to read more about using this material. There is a lot of information there on the driveway paver. You can also go to driveway pavers to read about using this material creatively for a driveway. Brick Paver Driveway Brick can be laid dry or in concrete. It's fine to lay brick dry, as it's less expensive and very forgiving if there is any movement. Make sure the brick you select is rated with a high enough strength for vehicular traffic. Once again, I am partial to the herringbone pattern, but there are other nice brick designs too. The brick driveway can also have a double soldier course, or border. As with the tumbled pavers, you can also add a circle design to a prominent place. Travertine Pavers These are made from the natural stone, travertine, and cut into regular shapes, or pavers. They are easy to lay and are generally strong enough for driveways, but again, check the strength of the type you are using to make sure. Travertine Pavers come in lovely natural colors and various shapes. You can also use a travertine circle design with this type of driveway paving.You might find my page on travertine pavers interesting. There is a lot of information there. Cobblestone Driveway A cobblestone driveway is made out of granite block, known as Belgian Block. This will create a look similar to the old European cobbled streets. Very nice! Also very expensive. You might consider doing a granite block driveway apron at the driveway entry. It can be 15 to 20 feet long, and as wide or wider than the rest of the driveway. This adds additional interest to the driveway paving.
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It works well with all types of residences. 
