At a quick glance around your compound, the driveway is one of the outdoor features your guests will notice. If your choice is all function and little and no style, you’re missing out on an opportunity to add a touch of panache in your exteriors. Essentially, you want to make sure your choice balances both aesthetic appeal and durability. This article takes you through two popular decorative driveway materials: Exposed aggregate and cobblestones.
Exposed Aggregate
Exposed aggregate is one of the hottest trends in decorative driveways and is easy to see why; this material offers a variety of colors, shades, and sizes. Using special concrete mixes, aggregates are exposed on the surface to create a mosaic-like finish. The most commonly used aggregates are rocks, pebbles, and sand. Granite and stones may also be used. What people love about exposed aggregate, is control over how it’ll look in the end; one can mix and match different finishes to suit their desired taste. The other thing that has made exposed aggregate remain popular over the years is that it’s non-slip, long-lasting and requires very little maintenance. This material is resilient to natural wear and tear and will
Cobblestones
If you want a unique, old-world, European look, cobblestone pavers will never disappoint. Originally, stones used to make cobblestone pavers wear collected from local stream beds. Modern ones however, are quarried granite that is shaped to resemble cobbles. For a more authentic look, you can opt for reclaimed cobblestones; these might be more expensive but help achieve a more aged look— if this is what you’re looking for. One thing you can be assured of when you install a cobblestone driveway is that’s it’s tough, attractive and unique in ways unachievable by other materials. Your driveway will also remain in service for centuries, thanks to the stain and wear resistance of granite. However, cobblestone is generally more expensive compared to other materials. If you can’t afford to pave the whole driveway in cobblestones, how about you use it as a decorative border to the more cost-effective options such as concrete and asphalt? Just like all other materials, cobblestone is not perfect. Because of the unevenness of this material, snow removal in winter weather is more tasking and may require you to hire snow removal contractors.
How long your driveway lasts will depend on proper inspection of the area, excavation, and installation. A shoddy process will result in driveways that form dips and unsightly cracks over time, in the long run, you’ll end up incurring expensive repairs or replacements. Our excavating contractors understand the cost of cutting corners so they are trained to take time on one project to deliver quality end results. As you choose ornamental materials for your driveway, also choose a contractor whose art is