Is your driveway a wide slab or maybe two parallel lines of concrete running from the street to the house? Is it broken in places, daubed with oil spots or overgrown with weeds?
The driveway is one of the most easily-forgotten areas of the house and garden. Yet it is often one of the first things a visitor – or potential buyer – will notice when they approach your home, and whether they see pride or neglect might influence their impression of your house.
The elements of a good driveway can be summed up in three areas: style, materials and maintenance.
Style.
A good-looking driveway will be one that complements the style of the house. Different materials and colours work with specific architectural styles, so it is important to do plenty of research or even consult with a landscape architect to ensure that this large slab of your land looks part of the overall picture. Likewise, it should work within the landscaping of the garden, which can be used to reduce the visual impact of a practical, prosaic driveway.
It is important to remember that if you undertake a major renovation of your house, you might also need to update the driveway to match.
Materials.
The material you choose for the driveway will play an important part in how it fits the aesthetic of your property. It will also have an impact on cost, durability and maintenance.
Concrete is one of the more affordable paving materials, is strong and easy to keep clean. It can, however, have a tendency to crack over time which can be problematic if the driveway is one large slab. Oil spills and dirt will detract from its appearance unless quickly removed.
Aggregate – which is essentially made by removing a thin layer from the top of the concrete to reveal the stones, pebbles, sand and shells – is a popular alternative to regular concrete. It offers more scope for colour and texture, requires less maintenance than concrete but might need regular re-sealing to keep it looking sharp.
Clay brick pavers offer a broad scope for clever design as they come in a variety of colours and can be arranged in different patterns. They are an environmentally-friendly choice, since they are made from natural materials, can be recycled from demolition sites and are easy to lift and replace if broken.
Maintenance.
Driveways show their age quickly when they are not well cared for. Weeds and cracks, or a driveway that is flanked by neglected plants, all indicate a lack of care for the integrity of the exterior.
Clean up oil spills as soon as they occur, since they not only look bad, but can impact the integrity of the materials. Remove any weeds when they appear, as they will invariably multiply and send down roots that can cause damage over time. If you prefer not to use chemicals, try pouring boiling water on them or simply pull them up by hand. Avoid driving over the edges, or constantly parking heavy vehicles in the same place.
Whether you are installing a new driveway or upgrade the existing one, consult with a reliable professional who will help you explore the different options, designs, and materials to suit your property.
