The driveway is an investment for many years. It’s not only the entrance to your home but also the first impression your guests and neighbors have when they visit. Therefore, it is worth making the effort to invest in durable materials that will not lose their properties or decorative aspects due to frequent use and the influence of weather conditions. So what materials to use when building a driveway so it enhances the accessibility, safety, and visual appeal of the property. The strength of the driveway depends on two factors: the material we choose for the surface and the precision of the construction works.
Brick
Brick is an attractive and sturdy material that radiates a feeling of warmth and elegance while giving your property a timeless look. The selection of shapes, patterns, and colors of the bricks is so rich that both the supporters of minimalism and lovers of effective, eye-catching colorful surfaces will find something for themselves.
There are many reasons to choose a brick driveway over a concrete driveway:
Durability
There are many practical advantages to choosing paving bricks for your driveway. Bricks are made of vibro-pressed concrete, which is characterized by very high resistance to all kinds of mechanical damage. The resistance to heavy loads results not only from the structure of individual elements but also due to the possibility of adjusting their thickness to the intended use. These types of surfaces can withstand the weight of vehicles for a long time – without cracking or damaging. In addition, they are weatherproof and will last for many years.
Easy Maintenance and Repairs
Brick pavers require very little maintenance and cleaning. A pressure washer is perfect for everyday cleaning, as it allows you to reach the smallest gaps and to wash large surfaces at the same time. It can easily remove sand, mud, stains or limescale. The jet of water from the pressure washer is also helpful in removing moss and algae growing on it.
A brick driveway is one of the types of driveways that’s easiest to repair. Over time a brick driveway can build up a large amount of car liquids, dirt or debris, or become uneven and develop all kinds of cracks and scratches. Sometimes a poorly arranged brick driveway does not have proper slope drainage, so it has to be disassembled and redone. Whatever the problem may be, any section of the driveway can be easily replaced to make it look new once again.
Flexibility
Brick paving is resistant to abrasion and demanding weather conditions, and therefore also frost-resistant. Brick pavers can keep up their interlocking structure by changing in accordance with the motion of the land underneath, which keeps it from splitting and cracking.
Driveways Styles – Concrete
Concrete driveway is versatile, durable, easy to maintain, and affordable in the long run, making it another popular choice for Chicago homeowners. The design of the concrete driveway can be simple and traditional or elegant and complex and range in colors and patterns. Concrete is certainly a material that meets all the relevant technical criteria as well.
High Durability
All surfaces exposed to significant loads are usually made of concrete materials, due to their high resistance to all adverse conditions and exceptional durability. Deciding to choose concrete for your driveway in a typical single-family house, where the surface load is usually not very high – guarantees great appearance and comfortable use for a long time.
High Aesthetics
Concrete doesn’t have to be boring. In fact, modern contractors have many creative design options that can make your concrete driveway look more attractive. A wide range of colors and shades from which we can choose, allow you to perfectly choose the type of concrete for the driveway to its surroundings. Concrete surfaces go nicely together with your landscaping and will match most structures on your property, which will give it great curb appeal while accenting the architecture of the home.
Cheap
The cost to install a concrete driveway fluctuates between $6 and $10 per square foot. Whereas, the price for a brick paving installation ranges between $10 and $25 per square foot. Installation costs also vary between types of driveways. Pouring concrete is typically cheaper than laying our bricks, as they require more time in laying each stone and filling the gaps.
Best Paving Contractor Chicago
Even though with concrete there is an initial cost saving over a brick driveway, a brick pavement is the best choice that will give more value to your property and will last for generations to come. A brick driveway is more sophisticated and modern.