Often an integral part of a property, driveways help improve the appearance of our home and provide drainage to reduce the risks of flooding. However, when it comes to making a decision on your driveway, knowing what the best options are isn’t always straightforward.
Here, we’ll cover the five best driveway surfacing options to highlight the benefits and downsides, of each type.
1. Asphalt/Tarmac
One of the more affordable driveway surfacing options, asphalt and tarmac are a common sight in many a carpark and are ideal for larger areas. Asphalt and tarmac typically last around 15 to 20 years and, with regular maintenance and repairs, can extend that lifespan.
Though there are downsides – asphalt and tarmac are not known for their aesthetic appearance, so likely won’t improve your property’s overall appearance. Drainage issues can also arise, unless porous asphalt or tarmac is used, meaning areas of standing water can be a common occurrence.
2. Gravel
Similar to asphalt/tarmac in its cost-effectiveness, though perhaps more appealing in appearance, gravel can be used for a variety of driveway styles. The material is also more straightforward to install and with an array of different aggregates available, can be tailored to your property.
Unfortunately, gravel does come with the drawback of requiring ongoing maintenance – whether that’s replacing lost aggregate or tackling stubborn weeds.
3. Paving
Block paving is incredibly popular across the UK, mainly due to the variety of colours and patterns allowing homeowners to create a driveway suited to their property and surroundings. Whilst not the cheapest of options, block paving does have a relatively long lifespan and is easy to replace if any bricks are damaged.
Unless permeable paving is used, sufficient drainage will be required, which can add further costs to your driveway installation.
4. Concrete
Relatively straightforward to install and one of the more cost-effective driveway surfacing options, concrete makes a suitable solution for a range of driveways and parking spaces. Concrete also boasts a relatively long life of up to 50 years while it is incredibly hardwearing, ideal for dealing with frequent movement and traffic.
Be aware that concrete is susceptible to staining, particularly from oil, though this does mean it can also be coloured to improve appearance.
5. Resin-bound
Available in a wide array of aggregates, resin-bound driveways are increasingly popular, not least due to the ability to style with your property. Resin-bound driveways are also completely permeable, ensuring additional drainage isn’t required when installing.
However, resin-bound driveways are typically at the higher end of the scale when it comes to costs.
Best Driveway Surfacing Options: Final Thoughts
Choosing the right driveway for your property isn’t always straightforward, so hopefully the advice in our The 5 Most Common Driveway Surfacing Options guide has helped make your decision a little easier.
Here at Prince and Sons Services, we provide a variety of professional garden and domestic cleaning services, including driveway installations, for our customers. To see what we can do for you or to get a free, no-obligation quote, call today on 01283 242626 or 07968 204999 or send an email to steveprince4@aol.com.
