Driveway Pavers Permeable Pavers for Driveways

Stone Driveway Paving

Most people overlook the driveway as an architectural part of the house. However, it is primarily the first part of your home that people encounter. 

A driveway should create harmony between the surrounding landscape and the style of your house. Therefore, whether it is rustic and rugged or smooth and sleek, the selected material should ensure that the driveway fits with the aesthetics of your property.

In addition, the chosen driveway pavers will also affect the driveway's durability, cost, and maintenance. 

With so many materials on the market, choosing the right paver for your driveway can be overwhelming. However, we have narrowed down some of the most common types to make your work easier.

Interlocking Pavers

Interlocking pavers are mainly made of concrete or cement. They are shaped so that they can interlock with similar pavers. This design also makes their installation easy, without the need for mortar. 

Once they have been installed, they resemble cobblestone pathways.
You should ensure the pavers are laid over a solid base during installation. 

This prevents them from shifting as well as cracks.

Since these pavers are made of concrete or cement, they are primarily gray. 

However, that should not limit your imagination. They can also be designed using various color combinations and patterns to create personalized and special effects.

Since they are porous, they are vulnerable to staining, especially after some years. 

Pressure washing can remove tire marks, oils, and other stains when this happens.

 One of their most significant advantages is durability. They can withstand the elements and traffic. They can also withstand freeze-thaw conditions.

Tar and Chip Driveways

If you want to redo your driveway and are looking for a durable and cost-friendly solution, you should consider tar and chip. These driveways are an affordable alternative to other materials like asphalt.

 It has a loose stone appearance, which provides good traction. However, unlike asphalt driveways, which are usually slick and smooth, tar and chip driveways tend to be rough.

Besides providing good traction, tar and chip driveways also have other advantages. For example, small oil leaks are usually covered by gravel and won't require expensive maintenance practices.

In addition, they are cheaper than asphalt driveways and are more durable.
Although it appears like a traditional gravel driveway, it is more robust, durable, and easier to manage. In addition, the installation process is quite simple. 

A gravel base is spread first, which is followed by hot tar. Next, stones are laid over the tar, and the surface is pressed using roller equipment.

Exposed Aggregate

Exposed aggregate is one of the most common driveway pavers and one of the hottest trends. It is available in various colors, shades, and sizes. It also creates an attractive and unique driveway, enhancing and adding value to your home.

Exposed aggregate allows you to create a non-slip sealed surface lasting more than ten years with little or no maintenance. The exposed aggregate surface is made through special concrete mixes. The special concrete mixes combine unique aggregates, which are seen exposed on the surface.

The surface finish reveals textured smooth pebbles and stones, which form part of the concrete surface. This differs from a smooth concrete finish, which usually displays concrete particles. In addition, exposed aggregate pavers help to eliminate the grey surface finish, which is very common in poured concrete finishes.

Asphalt Driveways

If you are looking for a cost-effective alternative to concrete driveways, you should install asphalt ones. They are more flexible and cheaper than concrete. In addition, their appearance can be customized to meet your preferred look. Asphalt is mainly made of sand, rock, and asphalt cement. Asphalt cement is a petroleum product.

The material is mainly black. This has led most people to believe there are no other colors or patterns available. When most people think of an asphalt driveway, what comes to mind is a black and flat surface. However, this is not the case. Similar to concrete, asphalt stamping can create beautiful and intricate patterns.
 This aesthetic touch can be enhanced further by mixing polymer dyes which give the asphalt surface different colors, hues, or tints.

Similar to concrete, asphalt should be laid on a solid foundation. 

A poorly laid or weak foundation can compromise its strength and durability. 

Due to their petroleum base, asphalt pavers are flexible, enabling them to withstand water's expansion and contraction.

 Due to their black color, they tend to retain quite a lot of heat, which can be problematic during summer but advantageous during the cold months. They are cost-effective, cheap to install, and require less maintenance. However, they tend to crack more than concrete.

Rubber Driveways

The whole idea of rubber driveways appears unimaginable. However, they are quickly gaining popularity among environmentally conscious property owners. 

Millions of worn-out tires are discarded every year. They end up filling landfills in different parts of the world. 

Due to the chemical composition of rubber, it takes many years to break down. 

Furthermore, trashed tires form a breeding ground for rats and mosquitoes.

They also leak toxins into water systems while generating methane gas, which contributes to global warming. 

Therefore, choosing a rubber driveway is an excellent way to prevent tires from filling our landfills and putting them to good use.

 In addition, rubber driveways are more affordable than those made of natural or traditional materials.

When it comes to rubber driveways, the aesthetic choices are only limited by your imagination. Rubbers are available in different colors, such as black, bright blue, dusty red, dirt brown, turf green, and subtle grey. 

Moreover, you can have your rubber driveway as a cobbled or tile formation. This adds intrigue and texture to durable and heavy-duty material. 

Since tires don't crack, even when exposed to extreme elements, they require minimal maintenance.

Bottom Line 

When it comes to choosing your driveway pavers, the materials are endless. From rubber driveways to custom brick driveways, the choice is all yours. Each type comes with its own characteristics, advantages, and drawbacks.