The driveway is one of the most important external features of your house because it is the first thing that most visitors will notice. There are different styles and material options available though what you finally pick will depend on your budget, the look that you want to achieve in your house and your personal preferences. Here are some of the most common options for homes in Castle Rock CO:
Concrete: you can use pigments or acid staining for visual effect and you can also get it to resemble stone. It can be what is called exposed aggregate so that the top layer of gravel covers the concrete. We will consider concrete in greater detail later in this article.
Asphalt: asphalt or bitumen can also be used to achieve a variety of visual effects. It is generally long-lasting and easy to maintain. We will compare asphalt to concrete in detail later in this article.
Gravel or crushed stone: this is not a bad alternative if you don’t mind a rough surface on your driveway. It is not expensive but requires a lot more maintenance since it scatters easily.
Grass/dirt: easily the cheapest option but not particularly attractive. It may be okay in the dry weather but how about wet conditions?
Since the two most common options are concrete and asphalt, we will examine these options in a little more detail.
People generally choose asphalt over concrete on cost considerations. Asphalt is a superior choice in cold conditions because snow melts quickly on asphalt particularly if your driveway is exposed to sun. You can also spread salt on asphalt without harming the asphalt. People complain that asphalt driveways tend to sink by the garage. This generally happens because of faulty construction in which the garage does not have a concrete apron and the asphalt slowly sinks because it has no support. If you are using asphalt, to ensure that you builder lays down a concrete apron in the correct place. You can also get a substance called asphalt concrete to that is a mix of rock, sand and oils. You can get a smooth looking surface but you need to be sure that it is strong enough to last.
Concrete, although it is more expensive, is generally regarded as a better choice. In the first place it is a hard material and does not sustained surface marks easily. In the second place it is much stronger than asphalt which makes it ideal for parking vehicles like campers or boats. However, you should be careful because each contractor uses his own mix for concrete and it is easy to cut corners. The signs of an inferior concrete mix can show up as early as the first year itself. You need to ensure that they are using the proper quality of concrete and, if necessary, obtain written guarantees to that effect.
Although these driveway options can be used for most properties, some are better than others for your specific location, neighborhood or HOA. Be sure to check out what is best for your area, or if you are considering building a driveway in Evergreen Colorado or Conifer CO.
