Driveways are essential to any home because they add to your curb appeal. Still, a well-lit one can provide safety to residents at night. You can use several materials for driveways, including popular ones such as asphalt, pavers, gravel, etc. Yet, concrete remains the favorite of several homeowners.
Fortunately, concrete is an excellent option for driveways, although it has downsides like every other material. Still, it is an excellent option to invest in when planning to build or remodel your driveway. This article will discuss why you should invest in a concrete driveway for your home. Let’s begin!
Why You Should Invest In A Concrete Driveway For Your Home
Durability
Concrete is a material made from different components, cement included; hence there is no denying that the result is solid after the hardening process. When properly installed with an adequate base and reinforcement, concrete driveways can handle the weight of heavy vehicles. The material has one of the best enduring surfaces; it does not encourage root growth on the surface or quickly develop potholes. Thus, it can function for up to 5 decades.
Low Maintenance
Concrete generally does not require as much maintenance as several materials, and the same goes for a concrete driveway. Although you can seal your concrete driveway at least once yearly, its frequent maintenance isn’t as bothersome. For any cracks, you can quickly fill them up using crack filling equipment which you can purchase from your local hardware store or online like Asphalt Industrial.
Besides, concrete is different, unlike Asphalt, whose binder starts to dry immediately after installation and needs regular sealing. A concrete driveway doesn’t need periodic sealing. Sealing it once a year to prevent concrete shrinkage will save you so much more compared to Asphalt regular maintenance.
Increased Home Value
An excellent way to improve your home value is building a driveway, and a concrete driveway is a great option. Although there are several options, prospective home buyers might prefer a home with a concrete driveway. This is because they would feel assured it would last longer and cost them less on maintenance.
Longevity
Concrete driveways typically last between 20 to 50 years when installed correctly; this is twice as long as an asphalt driveway. Plus, concrete driveway longevity is due to its durability. So, once you begin to see cracks in the concrete, here is a sign that it’s time for some repairs.
Comfort
Dallas can be unbearably hot in the summer. Hence, driveways can easily absorb UV rays and make it uncomfortable to walk barefoot when sunny. Concrete driveways in Dallas are a better option compared to Asphalt.
Asphalt driveways can get hot and unbearable to walk on during summer. Additionally, when it gets unbearably hot, asphalt driveways can begin to release oil. Thus, leading to environmental pollution.
Cost
The national average concrete driveway cost is around $3000, ranging between $1800 to $6000. A concrete driveway is relatively cheaper than Asphalt, whose national average is around $4700. However, despite the affordable cost of making a concrete driveway, it is essential to note that different designs and finishes can increase the cost.
Flexibility
Concrete driveways play a massive part in adding to your curb appeal due to the material’s flexibility. A driveway with a unique or cool look tends to leave a good impression on visitors. It even adds to your home’s value if you plan to sell the property. Hence, the flexibility of the concrete driveway is one of the reasons it is widely loved.
Plus, concrete has various finishes you can implement in different colors and textures to fit your home exterior and design.
Top Affordable Concrete Driveway Finish
One of the significant downsides of concrete is that poured concrete can be plain. Still, numerous designs can make your concrete driveway more aesthetically pleasing. Let’s look at some inexpensive finish that makes your concrete driveway look better.
Broom Finish
Concrete driveways can often get slippery and cannot find traction when wet. Hence, the best solution to this issue is to use the broom finish. It is also commonly referred to as brushed concrete. It costs nearly nothing except buying brooms and is quite an easy texture to create.
All you need is to use a broom to create this slip-resistant texture. It is essential that when going for the broom finish, you should create this texture at the right time when the concrete is damp. Adding the broom texture too early or too late can leave your concrete driveway defective.
Stamped Finish
A stamped finish is a distinct decorative concrete finish, probably due to the several options available for this finish. This option is aesthetically pleasing, cost-friendly, and will provide you with different colors and even replicas of more sophisticated materials.
Yet, a common downside of this option is that it can be hard to create traction, making driving in snows or wet seasons risky, unlike the broom finish. However, suppose you are one for style and design. In that case, you might consider this because of its generous cost and beautiful designs.
Salt Finish
The concrete salt finish is another conventional and cheap method of adding texture to your plain concrete. It gives it a slightly different look from plain concrete. It’s pretty easy and affordable to make a salt finish; you can obtain it by using rock salt.
Usually, you should sprinkle the rock salt over the concrete. Then, use a roller to press down the grain to the surface of the concrete driveway before washing it off with water after the concrete is set.
Conclusion
There are several reasons why you should invest in your concrete driveway. Yet, several homeowners stay away from a concrete driveway in Dallas. The major reason for this is that concrete is rather plain and unappealing. Fortunately, several designs are available to make up for the concrete look. We hope this helps you decide on investing in a concrete driveway soon! Visit Dallas Concrete Contractors for more information!
When thinking about ways to enhance the aesthetic appeal and durability of your home, choosing a concrete driveway unquestionably emerges as a smart choice. It provides a strong base for your vehicles and adds a touch of sophistication to your property. As a satisfied homeowner in Smyrna, I have personally experienced the impressive transformation brought about by a professionally crafted concrete driveway.