THE 9 BENEFITS OF INSTALLING A CONCRETE DRIVEWAY
Do you think your driveway would benefit from being upgraded because it has shown signs that it may need to be replaced shortly? If you are looking for an option that will increase your house’s curb appeal, then this article is right for you. The Concrete Driveways West Jordan have is durable enough to stand up to any vehicle in your garage as long as it is properly maintained.
It is also possible to customize them by adding unique designs, vibrant colours, and textures for a nice-looking driveway. Concrete offers a wide range of benefits in appearance, strength, and longevity, making it an attractive choice for driveways and exterior surfaces.
WHY CONCRETE DRIVEWAYS ARE BENEFICIAL
Compared to other construction materials, concrete has many advantages. Considering replacing your current driveway, here are nine benefits of concrete driveways.
LONG-TERM
Asphalt driveways have a lower upfront cost, one of the benefits of having one. The low cost of asphalt might be a significant reason so many homeowners choose to have it installed on their driveways. This benefit may seem attractive, but it can be offset by the higher maintenance cost associated with an asphalt driveway. In asphalt, the aggregates are held together by a liquid binder which acts as a glue. The problem with this binder element is that it is susceptible to cracking, distortion, and disintegration due to exposure to oxygen, ultraviolet rays, water, and chemical substances it is exposed to.
There can be a significant difference in cost between installing a concrete driveway surface and one made from gravel or asphalt. The advantages of a concrete surface are that it can last longer than a driveway surface made of gravel, asphalt, or any other construction material. The lifespan of a concrete driveway can be as long as 30 years with proper maintenance. Nevertheless, the way that a concrete driveway is installed can have an impact on how long it can last.
There is no doubt that a concrete services company experienced in concrete work can ensure your driveway has a solid foundation in addition to being able to drain water properly. You should keep in mind that the quality of concrete depends on the expertise of the paver and the type of cement used in the project. Hence, you must hire a concrete contractor with experience and expertise in concrete installation.
MAINTAINING CONCRETE IS EASY
Even though many homeowners perceive concrete driveways as maintenance-free, it is essential to keep your concrete driveway clean and sealed to ensure it lasts for years. Using a stiff-bristled brush and a hose, you can clean your outdoor furniture with pressurized water and a hose. Using a concrete sealer to add an extra layer of protection to your concrete surface is equally important. If you want to seal the concrete surface on your driveway once a year, you need only apply a concrete sealer to the surface.
A clear concrete sealer on the driveway will prevent water or moisture from being absorbed into the concrete surface. Additionally, the de-icing chemicals contained in the de-icing substances help prevent concrete from being damaged by the de-icing chemicals.
To prepare your driveway for the winter months, sealing it in the fall to avoid ice buildup is always a good idea. In this way, the surface of the concrete will be able to stand up to the harsh winter weather and the road salts that will be applied along the way.
HEAT AND LIGHT REACT MORE EFFECTIVELY
Although asphalt driveways tend to absorb more heat and can be advantageous during the winter, they may lose much of their benefit during the summer when they become hotter. Moreover, asphalt’s black or grey colour makes the material more efficient at absorbing light and heat. As a result, an asphalt driveway surface may require more artificial lighting than a concrete driveway surface because it has a rougher surface.
Compared to an asphalt surface, a concrete surface absorbs less heat from the sun. Therefore, it is much more relaxed than an asphalt surface because it absorbs less heat from the sun. Likewise, since a concrete driveway positively reflects light, there will be a reduction in the amount of lighting needed. Due to this fact, a concrete driveway contributes to the energy savings of your home for many years to come by decreasing the use of energy.
LOAD-BEARING CAPACITY IS BETTER
Since concrete is a non-flexible material, it can support heavy loads better than asphalt, a flexible material. Even though your driveway is only meant for your cars to travel on, you never know when you may encounter a heavier vehicle on your property or in your garage at any given time.
A flexing of an asphalt surface caused by trucks and heavy loads can result in the pavement’s layers becoming deformed.
Insufficient pavement thickness, weak asphalt mixtures, and lack of compression all contribute to asphalt surfaces deforming easily when heavy loads are applied.
THE SURFACE IS NOT MESSY
Besides the evaporative oils that come out of the asphalt driveways after they have been installed, there is another concern with asphalt driveways. There is a possibility that the oils in your shoes can penetrate and damage their soles of them.
Sticky, oily materials can get into your house through the shoes you wear. In general, you don’t want this to happen as cleaning could entail a lot of tedious and challenging work, which you don’t want to deal with. Additionally, the hot weather in the summer can only make things worse because of the high temperatures.
With a concrete driveway surface, you do not have to worry about the possibility of your home being in such a predicament in the future. In addition, there will be no oily or sticky substances to worry about once the concrete dries up.
SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENTAL FRIENDLY
Hot mix asphalts require heat of between 200 and 250 degrees Fahrenheit to be made, which consumes a lot of energy throughout the process. It is also important to note that the seal coating on asphalt driveways consumes more petroleum products, contributing to Earth’s natural resources depletion through further petroleum consumption.
On the other hand, concrete is an environmentally friendly paving solution because it requires less overall energy to produce and install compared to other paving solutions. Moreover, concrete driveways are more energy efficient than their asphalt counterparts, requiring less energy to install than asphalt driveways. In addition to recycling concrete after a 30- or 50-year period, it can also be used as a building material again. Because it is made up of renewable materials such as cement, sand, rock, and water, it can be recycled to produce new driveways down the road.
SUITABLE FOR CUSTOMIZATION
Today’s concrete driveways are not limited to the grey and flat finish that most people think concrete driveways have in the past. Concrete driveways can be customized with unique designs and vibrant colours to suit your taste and style.
There are several ways in which stamped concrete can mimic the aesthetics of a brick driveway or a cobblestone driveway in terms of texture. With stamped concrete, you can achieve the appearance of having a driveway that looks like it was made from materials of the highest quality. For more information about decorative concrete, contact your local concrete contractor. If you want an attractive driveway that boosts the curb appeal of your property, you can choose from a gallery of design templates.
GET YOUR PROPERTY SOLD FASTER
Have you ever considered putting your property on the market in the future? Is this something you would like to do? To make your home more appealing to prospective buyers, you should remember that most of them prefer homes with concrete driveways. There is a possibility that some homebuyers will be willing to pay more for their next home as a result.
Concrete driveways are more likely to sell faster than driveways made from other types of construction materials, as concrete driveways are easier to maintain. In addition, there is a higher chance that you will be able to recoup a portion of your investment in the future.
REMOVAL OF ICE AND SNOW IS EASY
Concrete driveways are much easier to keep clean than driveways made of asphalt, pavers, or gravel, which can be messy when ice and snow accumulate. With snowy winters coming and going, you’ll be glad to have a driveway that’s easy to maintain all year long, even when the weather is cold and snowy.
ASK PROFESSIONALS ABOUT CONCRETE DRIVEWAYS NOW
Concrete driveways are practical because of their functionality, design versatility, and durability. Concrete has several advantages over other materials when it comes to long-term costs.
Although homeowners can do concrete work independently, it can be gruelling. Concrete driveway installation involves the following steps:
- Extraction
- The preparation of forms
- Concrete pouring
- Surface finishing
- The cure, etc.
A concrete installation also requires expert knowledge, for instance, selecting the correct aggregates for the concrete or the type of cement that should be used.
It is possible that if you decide to do the work yourself, there is a higher chance that the job will not be done well. There is a possibility that your driveway will be re-installed or that you will need to repair the concrete thoroughly. This is because it is highly recommended that you find an expert from Leilani Concrete & Landscape and schedule an appointment as soon as possible.
