Asphalt Driveways

How To Choose the Best Material For a Driveway

Sooner or later, you'll have to replace your driveway. A lot of people take their driveway for granted until it's time to replace their driveway. Suddenly, the contractor bombards them with all these options for a new driveway, leaving the person to wonder what they should replace their driveway with.

There are several options for a driveway, however, and, if you make the right choice, you might end up with a driveway that was far better than the old one. Ideally, that's what we're looking for.

The most common material that is used for a driveway is asphalt. Asphalt is tough to beat. It is fairly economical, and widely available. If you have an asphalt driveway, you might want to stick with asphalt for simplicity's sake. A lot of people like to "edge" their asphalt driveway with rocks, bricks, etc. "Edging" the asphalt driveway improves its appearance, but, some people want more.

Another popular option for driveways is stamped concrete. While it is possible to pave a stamped concrete driveway yourself, I recommend that you have a professional pave it, because stamped concrete driveways have to have joints in order to prevent the stamped concrete driveway from cracking. It is important that you choose a contractor that is very familiar with paving stamped concrete driveways, because I've heard too many horror stories.

Finally, we come to the "paver" type of driveway. Paver-type driveways are very expensive, but very distinctive. Today, you have a choice of materials you can use for the paver, such as regular pavers, bricks, and various types of stones. Before deciding to do this, it is vital you do your homework: find a contractor that is very familiar with installing the type of paver you want for your driveway. A paver-type driveway that isn't done properly is a nightmare. Make sure the driveway is done right the first time, because it will cost you more money to correct someone else's mistake.