At some point in homeownership, you may have to make the decision about replacing your driveway. Although you may immediately think that you will just throw in the same concrete or asphalt slab that all of your neighbors have, you may want to consider paver stones for your driveway. Below are some of the top reasons we would recommend a paver driveway versus concrete.
Aesthetics
There is no contest when you look at a paver driveway versus a concrete driveway. The individual pavers can make up any type of design and color scheme the homeowner wishes. No two paver driveway systems are the same. When you choose to use pavers for your driveway, you can choose from an array of different shapes, textures and patterns. Paver driveways make a statement from a hardscaping perspective. They add significant curb appeal that increases the value of your home.
Durability
Concrete slabs can crack and break depending on the movement of the earth and temperature. Pavers on the other hand do not crack or break depending on the temperature. They move with the earth!
Also, water can be an issue with concrete slabs as water can settle in certain areas which can cause damage. This is not an issue for pavers because of the many joints in between each paver. Drainage should not be an issue with pavers.
Believe it or not, pavers are also four times stronger than a concrete slab. That’s right! They can handle much more weight. Pavers are built with an interlocking system that disperses the weight of a car, for example, making breakage almost impossible.
Replacement or Repairs
There is no contest when it comes to the replacement or repairs of each option. When a concrete slab is broken, the homeowner must replace the whole slab. That means that they are replacing a much larger area that requires a great deal of time and higher installation costs than if they only needed to replace a paver or two. If a paver needs to be replaced, you can replace the one unit of interlocking stones within the paver system. This is also great if you have an issue beneath the earth that you need to get to if the issue is near or under the driveway. With a paver system, you can remove the paver units that need to be moved to do the work and then put them right back as if they were there the whole time.
Cost
The difference in cost between a paver driveway versus concrete is minimal. While concrete is less expensive up-front for materials and installation, the difference in cost is not that great and over time, the paver driveway could end up costing way less because of the amount of maintenance and repair of its competitor, concrete. You will pay about 10-15% more for a paver system up-front, but again this is a cost that you will likely not have to incur again because of the durability and low repair costs for paver systems.
Value
Paving stones add instant value to your home. They are one of the only materials that are said to add instant ROI. One of the reasons for this is their uniqueness. Most driveways are concrete slabs. The moment you add pavers for your driveway, you increase curb appeal, durability and minimize repair costs if a problem were to occur.
Have we sold you on your switching to a paver system? Click here to get a quote today!
