Your driveway is often one of the first things people see when they look at your home, so it’s no wonder that it’s so important when it comes to curb appeal. But it also serves a very important purpose. Like many components of the home, the driveway is a combination of form and function.
Too often homeowners neglect their driveways, reducing the value of their home. Restoring your existing driveway or updating the one you already have can impress the people at your nagging homeowners association, and wow the inspector at your next appraisal.
How Can You Benefit From A Paved Driveway?
If your driveway isn’t paved, the only other alternative is gravel or dirt. And let’s face it, dirt and gravel roads should be a figment of the past. This is a modern society! And we deserve to have modern driveways. Paving your driveway is a great way to instantly improve the look of your home, protect your property from erosion, and protect your vehicles from damage.
If you have deep ruts in the dirt or dusty gravel for your driveway, you could be giving off the wrong impression. If you are planning on selling or refinancing your home, an investment in pavement for your driveway can pay off big returns.
Asphalt or Concrete?
Now that we’ve convinced you that paving your driveway is the way to go, you have to decide what you are going to pave it with. But don’t worry, there are basically only two choices; asphalt otherwise known as black top, or concrete. Asphalt is typically what the road is made of, while you can find concrete on the edges of the road, making up the sidewalk, curb and gutters. Like most things in life, each choice has its own set of advantages and disadvantages, but we think the benefits of concrete outweigh the downsides.
While concrete may be a bit more expensive to install than asphalt, it tends to last longer. It requires less maintenance, is more durable, and can last up to 30 years. That’s about ten more than your typical asphalt installation. an investment in concrete over asphalt will get you more value over time.
When it comes down to design features, concrete wins big time. There are so many ways to customize your concrete driveway. With stamping and staining techniques galore, you can make your driveway any color you want, and emulate other classier materials like brick or natural stone.
What About Driveway Repair?
If your driveway is already paved, give yourself a pat on the back. You’ve either made an excellent choice or inherited the benefits from someone else. Way to go.
Next you’ll want to think about repairs. If your driveway is cracked or uneven, you might as well just have a gravel driveway. You need to keep your driveway in good order to benefit from increased curb appeal. Making sure your driveway is in good condition is easy as long as you are proactive. If you let any cracks or other defects get out of hand, you could be looking at some major issues.
To keep up on your driveway maintenance, look out for uneven areas or small cracks beginning to form. Imperfections like stains are easy to remedy, but cracks are a sign of structural issues that need to be addressed immediately. If you notice anything like this, call a pro right away and get it fixed. A tiny crack, if ignored, can expand until it damages the driveway’s very foundation. You don’t want to let this happen. If you do, you may be faced with having to replace your driveway completely.
Concrete Driveway Installation and Repair in Snohomish County
Pacific Concrete Patio and Driveway can help you keep your parking area looking fresh and free of defects. Our team can handle any commercial or residential concrete installation or repair. We work with homeowners and business owners in Marysville, Everett, Lake Stevens, and all over Snohomish County. If you are interested in installing a new concrete patio or driveway, call today for a free estimate.