What Material to Use for Your New Driveway?

When you are having home renovations done, there are some exterior features that may need your attention. The driveway to your garage may need to be repaved as it may get cracked, worn, or face other surface damage over years of use. A driveway can have a gravel surface, a concrete surface, brickwork or tarmac. There are a wide number of materials, both natural and man-made that can find use in a pathway or paved driveway.

In older homes and residences in the British Isles, the paving inside the grounds would be made of natural materials like cobblestone, granite or other stone finishes like rubble stone and ashlar masonry. These stone finishes have a natural appearance and are very durable.  Stone does not crack easily and is weather resistant and low maintenance. Nowadays stonework is not as popular as there are a wide variety of cheaper man-made alternatives available. However, to achieve the desired look of aged elegance to your home, stonework still works wonders for your home. Some towns in Britain and in Europe still preserve the quaint stonework paving in the village square that takes a visitor back to a more gentle time when towns looked like picture post cards. If you want to achieve the same traditional, charming and picturesque look you should opt for stonework in your driveway. Ask your builder for quotes.

Brickwork for a driveway is a good option as the bricks can be laid in different ways to achieve patterns and designs. Common designs that your builder might suggest include herringbone, basket weave and running bond. Bricks are available in different shapes and colours. Chemical constituents of the brick contribute the difference in colour. Shale, burnt clay and hard brick are used for paving in general. Brickwork can be laid over concrete slabs or stone.

Asphalt and concrete are common man-made paving materials. They are durable and weather resistant. Asphalt is a common material that is resistant to plastic deformation. The major concern while using asphalt is fatigue from over loading. For domestic use, this would not be a problem but most homes owners usually do not use asphalt for driveways as it is primarily used for highways. Concrete is made of cement, sand, gravel and water. Concrete is strong and can be textured to be skid resistant. However concrete does crack over time and is difficult to repair. When selecting the material for paving ask the expert advice of your builder for the best option for your driveway. Bristol residents can seek the advice of their local builders before repaving.