Concrete driveways complement the designs of many homes and are known for the durability and strength that they offer – just the sort of advantages that people need from their driveway. It can add value to your property and can make it look attractive – whether as a resale or a rental property. Whether it comes to versatility or functionality, driveways made of concrete make homes look better as compared to those made of stone or asphalt materials. Find out about some of the top benefits of concrete driveways.
Highly Functional
Most parking lots, roadways and bridges today are made of concrete. Whether it comes to structural integrity or strength, the functionality of concrete cannot be debated. It is a very strong and dense material, which makes ideal to support a lot of loads. When concrete is poured properly into driveways, there are no risks of cracking for a very long time. The material can withstand the regular passing of even larger vehicles such as large SUVs or subcompact cars with ease. As concrete tends to reflect light, you need less lighting to illuminate the space at night.
Improving Curb Appeal
These come in many designs, colors and finishes – such as flat slab finishes and slate gray colors. You can get them dyed in any possible color, which can help you make an attractive addition to the exterior of your home. Concrete can also be textured and polished to make more flexible designs. In case you like the appearance of stone or brick paver sealer driveways but do not want to pay the high price, it is best to opt for Concrete pavers. These are shaped concrete bricks or tiles that can make your home exterior look more elegant and unique. You can find pavers in various shapes, colors and sizes. Other than looking visually attractive, pavers do not crack very easily unlike full slab concrete driveways. This can be explained by the fact that pavers are 3 times stronger than poured concrete. Also, a paver can be repaired more easily than a slab concrete even if it develops cracks.
Versatility
These types of driveways are versatile in design, and it is possible to pattern stamp concrete to make it similar to various patterns such as:
- Bricks
- Cobblestone
- Tile
As you can also stain concrete in various colors, it is easy to improve the curb appeal of your driveway by adding warmth and character to the exterior of your home. You can dye your concrete driveway in just about any color, which can make it an interesting addition for your home.
Cost-effective
Although the initial expense of setting up a concrete driveway can be quite high, the cost of maintenance over its lifetime can be very low. Thus, the overall cost can be lower for you in the long term. You do not need to replace it often or go for repairs every now and then. Even when there are cracks on the surface in a few areas, as it commonly happens after some years of continued use, the cost of repairs gets quite low.
Easy to Maintain
It is quite easy to maintain concrete driveways. You can use a mild soap and warm water to wash off most types of marks, grimes, dirt, stains etc from them. For stains that are tougher to get rid of, you will need a dry granular cleaner to scrub and clean the driveway. In case you prefer a polished driveway, you might need to apply a topical sealant every day to keep the finish protected. You might also need buffing to restore the lost shine and luster.
