Our home’s driveway is something we often overlook. But, a paved driveway can bring a lot of benefits to your home! Aside from being more aesthetic, it provides a smooth and durable surface for your car. It’s no wonder why many homeowners invest in a concrete driveway.
There are a number of options for paving your driveway. From asphalt and brick to basalt and concrete, each material has its own pros and cons. But how do you choose the best option for your home?
Our answer: go for concrete!
Reasons to Choose a Concrete Driveway
Concrete is a popular material for driveway pavement. It is versatile, durable, low-maintenance, and just outright worth the money. There are many advantages to a concrete driveway – so let’s take a look at each one:
1. Durable
A properly installed concrete driveway usually lasts for around 30 years. When cared for properly, it can even last upwards of 50 years! Concrete driveways are strong and durable, standing up to the heaviest vehicles you are likely to drive. Concrete is also less likely to crack over time, even in various climates.
2. Customisable
Concrete is no longer just the plain grey finish from before. Nowadays, you can customise your concrete driveway with different designs and colours. There is a wide range of decorative concrete to choose from, many of which copy the same aesthetic of more expensive materials like brick or cobblestone.
3. Better Reaction to Heat and Light
Concrete absorbs relatively less heat from the sun. This makes the surface much cooler than an asphalt driveway, especially during the summer. At the same time, concrete driveways require less lighting because the concrete surface reflects the light. This makes concrete driveways more energy efficient.
4. Higher Load-Bearing Capacity
Another advantage of concrete driveways is that they can handle heavy loads and vehicles well. Concrete is a non-flexible material. So even trucks or heavy loads won’t flex or deform your driveway if the need for these arises. You can be reassured that no matter your vehicle, your driveway can handle it!
5. Low Maintenance
Although your driveway can have a long life even with virtually no maintenance, minimal maintenance practices go a long way. We recommend cleaning your driveway every now and then with a hose and brush. Keep your driveway in tiptop shape by also getting it sealed once a year.
6. No Surface Issues
Unlike other materials for paving driveways, concrete is less susceptible to surface issues like dissolutions. For example, a newly installed asphalt driveway releases evaporative oils. This is even more so concerning in warmer climates. By choosing concrete, you are minimising your risk to these types of issues.
7. Environmentally Friendly
Concrete is a mixture of renewable materials such as cement, sand, and rocks. After 30 to 50 years of use, you can recycle concrete to produce new driveways entirely! Concrete driveways also cost less overall energy in production and installation.
Overall, concrete is a very popular material for driveways – and for good reason! Even professional pavers recommend concrete for its multiple benefits. In fact, concrete driveways increase property value for homeowners. Get your own concrete driveway with the top concreters in Tweed Heads. Contact us today!
