Looking to revamp your driveway? The appearance of your driveway can add a lot of curb appeal and value to your property, so the materials that you use to pave it make a world of difference. The two most common options for this task are concrete and pavers. Many of us have heard of concrete for paving driveways, but you may be asking yourself, what are pavers? Pavers are small stone slabs or pieces that are compiled to create a layer of outdoor flooring; in this case, a driveway. They can also be used to create pathways or patios. While many people consider driveway pavers to be more attractive aesthetically, some of the myths surrounding the functionality and lifespan of pavers have deterred homeowners from going down this route. We’re going to take a look at some of the different elements of concrete driveways versus paver driveways, as well as debunk some of those myths surrounding pavers so that you can imagine your driveway as beautiful as ever and bring your dream to fruition. In this article, we’ll examine some key elements of driveway performance including maintenance, durability and strength, cost and value, as well as appearance. Note: when doing a driveway repair or installation, it’s imperative that you hire a professional. Regardless of whether you use concrete or pavers, the complexity of the job as well as the technical knowledge of laying a driveway can have devastating consequences for your property if not executed properly. Maintenance When it comes to maintenance, concrete driveways are typically thought to have less maintenance overall, but this can be untrue. If your concrete driveway can’t support the load, over time small cracks and breakage will occur. Furthermore, you’ll start to notice weeds and other unwanted plants that can pop up through the breaks in concrete, which makes for an unsightly driveway and deteriorates all the work that was done. Over time, this is inevitable. One benefit to pavers is that while impact can sometimes cause cracking, individual pavers can be replaced, which makes long-term maintenance much easier. Pavers also stand up very well to a variety of temperatures and weight loads. You may also experience weeds that pop up between the pavers, so a good weed killer is a great way to minimize and control this. Stains are also likely to appear on both types of materials, but are less noticeable on pavers due to their natural appearance and stone patterns. You can use power washing on concrete to try and remove the stains, but they are generally more noticeable on concrete than on pavers. Durability and Strength As we saw in maintenance, both concrete and pavers are likely to experience wear and tear, but concrete is more susceptible to disruptions from ground movements and temperature, and can be more difficult to sustain over time. This can also cause the ground to lose it’s stability and become unlevel over time. Pavers, on the other hand, are easier to replace and oftentimes are backed by the manufacturers or a warranty so that you don’t have to worry about removing and replacing parts where your pavers may have deteriorated. Also noted above, pavers have a higher resistance to weight and traffic over time. Pavers actually offer roughly triple the endurance of concrete when considering pound per square inch. This is a huge benefit as over time, vehicles and pedestrians will wear away at concrete, causing cracks, whereas pavers can withstand the pressure much better. Cost and Value Looking at upfront costs, concrete is going to be a bit easier on your wallet. That being said, the long-term cost of concrete ends up being more due to the maintenance and durability of the material. Pavers are more durable and while they may cost a bit more at the beginning, the maintenance of the pavers and the durability over time will bring your costs down in the long run. When considering value, pavers not only hold a lower long-term cost, but also add more value to your home. They are likely to attract homebuyers and add additional aesthetic to your curb appeal, which adds value to your investment. Concrete won’t hold this added benefit. Appearance We’ve mentioned that curb appeal can be increased through the use of pavers, but why would that be? Since there are many varieties of stones and colors, as well as designs, pavers offer much more versatility than a standard concrete driveway. You’re able to create accents, borders, as well as patterns throughout the pavers, which adds a huge aesthetic to your driveway and can also tie into other landscaping elements that will also enhance your curb appeal. Pavers will also add texture to your aesthetic, affecting the way the light accents your property. You can customize your pavers to look exactly as you wish, and working with a professional, you can integrate those ideas with your current landscaping. Over time, pavers won’t fade away or change in color, which helps to keep your design’s integrity as the years pass. Who would have thought that driveway design could be so creatively intuitive? Concrete doesn’t allow you to have these options; in fact, concrete is more likely to stain or crack with limited options for cleaning or repair. When your concrete becomes stained and cracked, your curb appeal will actually depreciate. If appearance is your pivot point, pavers are definitely the way to go. Which Option Is Right For Me? A driveway is one of the first things that people will notice when stepping up to your home. Making the decision between a concrete driveway and a paver driveway comes down to the factors that we’ve mentioned, including maintenance, durability and strength, cost and value, as well as appearance. Assessing your needs and priorities is the first step in making the decision. All things considered, pavers are going to be the best option when looking at all of these categories mentioned above. While there is a slightly higher investment cost initially, in the long-term, pavers will not only age better, they will be easier to maintain and replace in the event of damage. They will also give you a higher property value and curb appeal, which is ultimately a return on your initial investment. Remember to always seek the advice of a professional like the team from Coquitlam Retaining Walls to help you with all of your driveway repair needs.
Retaining walls serves both a practical and aesthetic purpose; it adds beauty to your landscaping design through customization and usefulness while at the same time protecting your soil and adding functionality. Even though the concept of a retaining wall may sound very technical and confusing, it’s actually one of the most common and enjoyable landscaping elements for property owners. It serves both a practical and aesthetic purpose; it adds beauty to your landscaping design through customization and usefulness while at the same time protecting your soil and adding functionality and multi-level landscaping design possibilities that may otherwise be impossible. Retaining walls can be made from a variety of materials, including concrete, bricks and mortar, wood, as well as natural stone. While these options may be a quick-fix for your retaining wall needs, it’s no surprise that using stone pavers can add aesthetic value as well as extended durability to your retaining wall. A main benefit of paver retaining walls as opposed to concrete or rubber is that you will have yourself an eco-friendly retainer wall that is more durable, lower maintenance, and chemical-free. Let’s take a closer look at why paver retaining walls are better for your property and examine some of the benefits they will provide. Do Retaining Walls Help Deter Erosion? On the practical side, retaining walls offer a vital element of protection to your landscaping design by helping to avoid soil erosion and flooding problems. Lawn and landscaping maintenance requires a variety of things, including fertilization, weed control, trimming and pruning, among others. Investing time, energy, and money into these areas can be frustrating if you find that you begin to have problems with flooding and soil erosion, as this grave issue can easily overturn all of that hard work you’ve put into your property. Retaining walls, when designed effectively, helps deter this by redirecting the water during storms so that it doesn’t create damaging puddles or pools on your lawn or around your home. Over time, this erosion can even affect the foundation of your home, weakening the stability of the land on which your home is built. This can cause even more distress down the line. If your home aesthetic isn’t your priority, retaining walls can help to protect the foundation of your home, making them a valuable addition to your property. While we normally think of our lawn as “landscaping,” retaining walls are designed using hardscaping materials, and some of the best of those are pavers, which allow for an interlocking design which adds to both aesthetic and functionality. The principal design element is the interlocking block or paver design. Interlocking paver retaining walls are extremely durable in all climates and will offer your property more protection over time as weather can wear on your landscape without a solid foundation. Why Are Paver Retaining Walls Better For Design? Now that we’ve discussed an important practical reason for paver retaining walls, let’s discuss how they might offer your property a better aesthetic than synthetic materials. Using interlocking bricks or stones for retaining walls offers a more seamless experience in terms of blending the wall in with your landscape. The look of your yard will appear more natural and more cohesive as a whole. Because you are able to customize the design of your interlocking paver retaining walls, working together with a design expert is an enjoyable experience and they can help you to create exactly the landscape you’re looking for and make sure that it’s doable on your property. Not only that, there are many practical benefits to using pavers for retaining walls.
As we can see, there are many ways that using paver stones or bricks for retaining walls can add not only an element of beauty and congruity but also practicality to your property. Working together with a skilled retaining wall designer will add huge value to your outdoor spaces. Can I Build My Own Paver Retaining Wall? The benefits of retaining walls with pavers are plentiful, but trying to create a fun D-I-Y project can actually end up costing you-- and your property-- in the end. One issue you may run into is the proper building permits. Without the proper knowledge on this, you may find yourself in a world of trouble. Hiring a professional to take care of these issues is a huge benefit and can save you a few headaches. You’ll also have to buy a variety of tools in order to do the job, which can end up being unnecessary if you don’t plan on doing this kind of work in the future. Furthermore, if you aren’t knowledgeable enough about how to properly angle your retaining wall, the compaction of soil using a plate compactor, or properly creating drainage, you will cause insurmountable damage to your property, which will then end up costing you more time, energy, and capital to restore your land. All in all, hiring a professional from Coquitlam Retaining Walls to design and build your retaining wall with pavers will save you time, add valuable knowledge to your property and landscaping design, as well as avoid costly restorations in the event you cause damages in your building process. |
Archives
September 2023
CategoriEs |