Everyone wants a driveway that has curb appeal, but not everyone wants to spend a lot of time on driveway maintenance. Some driveway materials are just naturally more low-maintenance than others. Tucker Paving has over 25 years’ experience in the asphalt and concrete paving industry, so we know the ins and outs of all the different paving materials. Explore the different materials that offer the least amount of maintenance for your driveway.
Low-Maintenance Driveway Material Options
There are many low-maintenance options for paving your driveway. They include:
Asphalt. Asphalt is a combination of bitumen and aggregates—like small stones and sand—that is mixed together and applied on a driveway. Maintenance for asphalt driveways includes sweeping off dirt and debris, looking for cracks, low spots where puddles form, and any other signs of degradation. Every two to five years, it’s also a good idea to have an asphalt driveway seal-coated to renew the top layer and protect the driveway.
Resin-Bound Paving. This driveway surface is made up of aggregate stones bound in resin. It’s permeable, which means water can easily drain through its surface; it is considered a sustainable and eco-friendly paving option. A resin-bound driveway would require sweeping to remove dirt and debris and the occasional power-washing to remove ground-in dirt and discourage algae and moss.
Stamped Concrete. This paving material consists of concrete imprinted with patterns and dyed to give it the look of more labor-intensive and costlier materials such as cobblestone, brick pavers, slate, and flagstone. It is then sealed, making it impervious to waters and other liquids. Like other low-maintenance driveway options, stamped concrete will require sweeping off dirt and debris and power-washing as needed.
The real benefit in terms of maintenance with a stamped concrete driveway is realized when comparing it to the maintenance needed for materials like brick pavers and flagstone; those driveway materials have multiple joints that can shift and allow dirt and plant matter to get in; clearing out dirt and anything growing between pavers, flagstone, or brick will be a chore that needs to be completed on a constant basis. Stamped concrete has only minimal control joints, so there is a much lower maintenance need for removing plant matter.
Gravel Driveways. Gravel driveways require little maintenance beyond keeping them weed-free, and this can be mitigated by installing a high-quality weed membrane under the gravel. Similarly, the use of gravel mats can keep gravel in place. Gravel really shines in the maintenance department because all that is needed to refresh the driveway is to add more gravel, making it an easy and inexpensive option.
Tucker Paving has over 25 years of experience in the concrete and asphalt paving construction industry. We offer concrete and asphalt paving as well as many other paving options. Call us at (863) 299-2262, or contact us online, for your next driveway paving project!