How To Compare Different Paving Options
Comparing Different Paving Options for Your Home’s Exterior
Paving is a great way to improve the exterior of your house and increase its curb appeal. While stone paving is one of the most popular options, permeable paving, concrete, and asphalt are also popular options. Paving can be used to create beautiful patios, driveways, and outdoor seating areas that will transform your home and help outdoor entertaining. When choosing a material, you’ll want to carefully consider the climate of the area you’re in, as areas with heavy rainfall will need a granite paver rather than gravel, as gravel is more easily washed away and you may find yourself with a ruined driveway. You’ll also want to consider each material’s ability for driveway drainage. The material will also need to be able to withstand pressure, as you will likely be paving a driveway or outdoor seating area that will have to be able to hold furniture and outdoor appliances. Below, we’ll cover some of the most popular paving options for your home’s exterior.
Permeable Paving
Permeable paving is great if you live in an area with heavy rainfall and will need to consider drainage. The permeable paving systems are porous but are just as strong as more traditional concrete or asphalt paving, and they help you to manage stormwater and decrease your risk for flooding.
Brick Paving
A brick paver patio is a wonderful option if it fits the style of your home and the landscaping you have. They aren’t too versatile in terms of design, but a brick patio is a tried and true classic that many homeowners are looking for. The material is also very durable, and many designers find that this offsets the initial installation costs, which can get somewhat pricey.
Concrete Paving
Concrete paving is aesthetically pleasing and comes in a wide variety of shapes and patterns. They provide great traction when they’re wet, and repair can be quite simple since individual pavers can be taken out and replaced. However, the cons of concrete paving are that weeds will grow in between the cracks as well as that the individual pavers can move from weather conditions and general settling. Yet, as long as you or a professional has properly learned how to remove concrete sealer to reapply it, the material will be able to withstand long term use.
Asphalt Paving
Asphalt paving is a popular alternative to concrete because they’re less expensive to install. The paving will need to be sealed every few years to ensure that it lasts as long as possible, and it is slightly more prone to cracking than concrete is. It’s also known to get quite hot during the long summer months. However, if these are maintained properly, the driveway can last you up to twenty years.
Choosing the perfect paving option is an exciting step in crafting the perfect outdoor space. Paying mind to the climate, rainfall, and durability considerations of the material, you’ll undoubtedly be able to craft an outdoor space that’ll be wonderful for entertaining and last you many years to come!
Matt Lee is the owner of the Innovative Building Materials blog and a content writer for the building materials industry. He is focused on helping fellow homeowners, contractors, and architects discover materials and methods of construction that save money, improve energy efficiency, and increase property value.
Stamped Concrete
If you want more out of a patio, walkway, or driveway then you definitely want to check out stamped concrete options. Professional concrete stampers turn the mundane surface into something beautiful.
How do pros make this happen? Let us explain…
We’ve all seen the HGTV shows about a craftsman turning a common item into a work of art. A carpenter heads to the flea market then flips a barstool into a rustic chandelier. He uses the right skills and tools to make this magic happen. Turning an ordinary concrete patio, walkway, or driveway into a textured surface that catches the neighbor’s jealous eye is the same process.
A stamped concrete artist has the skills and the tools to make the transformation possible. They don’t learn this overnight of course. Talent like that comes from years and sometimes decades of learning on the job. We’ve been in the construction business for 150 combined years here at G&B Construction. There is little we have not seen when it comes to concrete work of all kinds.
That kind of experience is what you want if you are considering a stamped concrete addition to your property. You don’t want a rookie doing your concrete work by your pool, do you?
Most homeowners prefer a company that has been around for a long time. Sometimes they want a company that their neighbors have used and have referred them to.
It’s kind of like going to a salon or barber shop. You want some solid recommendations before putting your head on the chopping block. You want to have trust in the good folks shaping your hair. Pros have the right skills and tools to make us look our best. You want the same type of professionals working on your patio, walkway, or driveway. You are going to have to look at those areas every time you enter and leave your house.
So you might be wondering what kinds of colors and patterns are available with stamped concrete? The options are limited to your imagination (and budget of course). Here are a few styles you can get with stamped concrete:
- Tile for traditionalists
- Brick for lovers of this timeless material
- Abstract for you modern art lovers
Along with these elegant options comes the basic benefit of working with concrete. It is one of the most durable surfaces ever made. It can last 25-50 years when done by professionals. You can have something beautiful and tough at the same time!
Don’t get us wrong. There is not a thing wrong with a normal concrete walkway, patio, or driveway. We love the look of a newly poured driveway on a home that a newlywed couple built starting out. Or a 30-year-old patio pressure washed to look all spiffy for an anniversary party for the grandparents at their original homestead. If loving concrete is wrong, we don’t want to be right – as the old song says.
We know that concrete stamping is a tremendous technique that puts an amazing spin on a common product. An antique bar stool looks nice the way it is found. It has history. Just like a ponytail is just fine for most ladies. But when the barstool is turned into a conversation piece by coming out of its normal shell, that’s exciting. Or your friend comes out of the salon with a fresh perm, that’s cause for some gushing.
We believe the same happens when a home or business adds some art to their concrete surfaces with stamping. It is an affordable and practical way to upgrade the aesthetics of hard surfaces. Is concrete stamping on your radar? Let’s talk about it today! Call us at 215-919-6600 or send us a message!