When you think about driveways they aren’t typically the most exciting feature of many homes. Traditional concrete or asphalt is your usual affair, sitting in front of most of the homes we see today. There’s nothing really wrong with these options, as they are fairly reliable and offer a long-lasting driveway solution for many homeowners. However, you’re probably getting sick of seeing the same old thing day in and day out. That’s where driveway pavers come into play.
Just like their traditional counterpart, pavers are a long-lasting and durable — but far more beautiful and unique. There are a bunch of different styles, colors, and designs to choose from to give you more freedom so that you can create the perfect pathway to your home. Pavers are a great way to add incredible curb appeal while also receiving some functional value as well.
What Kind Of Pavers Can You Use?
Well, there are actually a few different paver materials you can install for your own style and feel. Most pavers are made using either brick, concrete, or cobblestone — each with their own benefits.
If we were to judge these materials based on durability and longevity, cobblestone takes the gold and it’s difficult to beat. These pavers can last nearly a hundred years, so if you’re looking for something that will outlive you, go with cobblestone. Brick, unfortunately, has the shortest lifespan. While it looks incredible, it will only last you a few decades (which still isn’t too shabby). Concrete is smack dab in the middle of these two, lasting somewhere between 30-70 years, depending on wear and tear.
Why Pavers Are The Best Material
Aside from the absolute stunning appeal that these driveways offer your property, pavers have a bunch of benefits that make them your ideal driveway solution. So, what are these benefits, and why are pavers the best material in our opinion?
Lots of Colors
Pavers offer a lot of freedom for you to choose from. Not only with the different materials (cobblestone, brick, and cement), but with the many different colors.
Traditional driveway materials have a tendency to discolor and over time if they are not tended to, and you’re original look and feel is lost from weathering and wear. Pavers come in a wide variety of colors depending on where you get them. Some example palettes include Tan, Grey, Basalt, Burgundy Red, Burnt Clay, Summer Wheat, Midnight Sky, Pebble Taupe, Belgian Blue, and Autumn Sunset.
To keep your colors rich and vibrant, there are plenty of sustaining treatments you can utilize to preserve your aesthetic.
Permeable Material
Perhaps one of the most fascinating and functional aspects of pavers is how they are able to drain water and keep ice at bay. Pavers are, well, essentially individual stones that are put together in a specific pattern to make up your driveway. Because of this, there are natural gaps between the pavers that allow water to return to the soil.
This does a few things. It will give your vegetation that surrounds the driveway a drink because as water goes into the soil it extends to the surrounding plantings. It also reduces any possible strain on storm drain systems because water runoff is far less than traditional driveways. Perhaps the most beneficial part for us Northerners is that it reduces ice buildup. Because water is running downward and not staying on the surface, when it’s cold outside there is far less water to freeze — leaving you with less ice, and fewer slips and falls.
These are especially helpful in areas where municipalities limit the amount of private property that can be covered in nonpermeable material.
Won’t Crack Under Pressure
OK, we’re not really concerned with pressure here. But up in Minnesota, we do have to worry about harsh weather that can do significant damage to your driveway. Pavers are a great alternative to regular old poured concrete because if cracks do occur (which they won’t unless you’re using concrete pavers), they are super easy to repair. All you have to do is repair individual pavers instead of dealing with an entire area of concrete. To make sure that you’re getting the very best pavers possible, it’s all about the base. Getting a professional to lay your pavers is almost a must so that you aren’t running into problems down the road.
Far Less and Easier Maintenance
You would think that having pavers would be difficult to maintain, but it’s actually the opposite. When properly installed, there shouldn’t be any soil directly below your pavers. What does this do? Well, with no soil there is no home for pesky weeds to sprout up. New and improved stabilizer methods ensure that your joints remain stable, solid, and won’t blow away (like sand used to).
Also, any time you do need to perform any sort of maintenance or get under your pavers for whatever reason — it’s pretty darn simple. Sections of pavers can easily be removed or repaired, unlike traditional asphalt.
Compliment The Rest of Your Landscaping
If you’re looking to really boost your home’s curb appeal, driveway pavers are a fantastic option. But even better, these are a great foundation for adding pavers to the rest of your property. Pavers can be used in walkways, patios, or even certain landscape features to add a unique look and feel with various colors and styles.
Or, if you already have paver features then adding the same aesthetic to your driveway is a must. If you’re looking for a hand, feel free to contact us. We’d love to help.