Top 10 Benefits of Concrete Driveways

Pros of Concrete Driveways

Functionality, durability, and design versatility make concrete a reasonable choice for residential driveways. Also, having no other long-term costs places concrete at the forefront as an ideal long-term option. Along with these benefits, you will be surprised to know the additional perks of applying concrete to your driveway.

Cost

On the surface, concrete driveways may carry a higher price tag compared to asphalt or gravel, but they cost far less than cobblestone, brick, or concrete pavers driveways. An installation of a simple concrete driveway over a gravel base costs $4 to $10 per sq. ft, with the national average being about $6 per sq. ft. Therefore, concrete does offer an affordable option for a residential driveway that would last for decades.

Durability

With proper installation and maintenance, your concrete driveway can last more than 30 years. Fortunately, a professional will create your residential driveway on a solid foundation that provides proper water drainage. With that in mind, you’re looking at one of the most low-maintenance choices.

Easy Installation

As a homeowner, you can pour your concrete driveway by yourself, but it’s hard work that will take a lot of time. Therefore, leaving this job to the professionals will save you a lot of trouble. They will excavate, prepare the needed forms, pour the concrete, and finish the surface in a couple of days.

Easy to Maintain

Unlike other driveway materials that may demand frequent repairs and upkeep, concrete driveways maintenance is relatively easy. Keeping them clean and sealed is recommended. A thorough scrubbing will be enough for cleaning, and a concrete sealer for an additional protection layer applied once a year will protect the surface, especially if it’s stamped or stained.

Better load-bearing capacity

Concrete driveways also bear the weight of heavy loads with more ease than asphalt. Concrete is a non-flexible material which means that it does not compress or flex under the weight of a vehicle that is heavier than your average car or truck. Although it's unlikely to park a heavy vehicle or place any other large object on a residential driveway, the possibility is always there, especially if you are planning a home renovation that involves heavy loads. Regardless, concrete still performs better than asphalt or gravel.

Customizations

Today you are no longer confined to the flat gray concrete finish. Your residential driveway customization involves distinct designs and rich color options. Plus, a stamped concrete driveway can mimic the same luxurious look as any cobblestone or brick driveway. If you want to have an expensive look-alike driveway while staying on a budget, concrete driveways can allow that.

Suited for all Weather Conditions

In both hot and chilly weather, concrete stands up well to extreme temperatures. Because they reflect light rather than absorb it, concrete driveways require less lighting at dusk than other materials. During the winter, the smooth & even surface of concrete makes snow removal easy and faster whether you’re shoveling or using a snowblower.

Environmentally friendly

Fortunately, concrete is also eco-friendly. Its installation requires far less energy than asphalt since there is no heating process. Plus, all materials that go into mixing concrete are renewable. Moreover, once a driveway is ready for demolition and repaving, the concrete debris can undergo a process of breaking up and eventually pulverizing the large pieces for recycling. So, the old concrete can be reused to create new paving for driveways.

Aesthetically Pleasing

While you might picture merely a gray surface, concrete driveways have come a long way during the past few decades. As mentioned, stamping designs on the surface present pleasing design options, but you can also stain concrete in different shades. Not only does this process add an aesthetic appeal, but it also protects the integrity of the surface. On the other hand, if you prefer to stay with concrete’s natural appearance, then the neutral tone could pair well with the exterior color scheme, and you can always add pathway lights or decorative edging.

Versatile

Furthermore, concrete proves to be one of the most versatile materials to work with. If you can design the layout and prepare the areas to be filled, you can create almost any shape and size of a driveway. For instance, most residential driveways are rectangular and cover the area from the garage or carport to the curb. Others form an arc in the middle of the front yard.

When looking at the decorative aspect, you can not only include stamping that mimics the look of other materials like slate, stone, tile, and many others, but you can also opt for aggregate concrete that gives a distinctive finish. Overall, concrete driveways can be designed in just about any manner, especially if you’re working with an experienced professional. 

Concrete is a great choice for a residential driveway because of the numerous benefits it offers. If you are ready to learn more about this durable, sustainable, and affordable option, then contact the best concrete contractors in San Antonio, TX. At Easter Concrete Contracting, we help our clients to give their homes eye-catching transformations at a reasonable price, speak to one of our experts today for a consultation.