What is best, a concrete drive or pavers?

by | May 16, 2013 | Construction and Maintenance

Once you have determined your budget and your goals, the choice between concrete and pavers can be made. Concrete driveway paving in East Lyme CT is poured in a large block usually separated by expansion joints. Poured concrete has certain textural advantages as it can be stamped with patterns, acid etched or roughed up for added traction, which aids in disability access. Pavers, on the other hand are individual bricks or tiles that have the advantages of flexibility, color and architectural facade.

To make the choice of materials the homeowner must consider how the pavement will be used, the expectations of durability, the design concept and budget. Although both the concrete Driveway paving East Lyme CT and the pavers are made from concrete, the pavers can be ordered colored and there are many different shapes, which allow for an almost limitless arrangement to meet any landscaping plan.

A poured slab is traditional and perhaps one of the least-expensive driveways next to gravel. They take limited maintenance because there are no cracks for weeds and grass to gain a toehold; this is not the case with pavers. If your vision is to have a cobblestone effect with grass or moss growing in the joints, then of course a solid slab will not suffice. The cracks between the pavers can easily be planted with plants that add a certain old world charm to any Driveway paving East Lyme CT .

If you live in an area where cold winters are the norm and frost sets deep into the ground, then pavers may be the better choice. Frost will often heave a concrete slab, especially if the slab is not very thick, when it heaves it will crack and require repairs in the spring. Although frost will also heave pavers, as they are already cracked so to speak, there is not the same potential for damage. On the other hand, if you live where there is no possibility of frost, then concrete driveway paving may be the better choice as the surface is smooth with no possibilities of tripping in one of the joints. Pavers will settle eventually as they are laid upon a bed of sand and when they settle, there can be small height differences between pavers, posing a slight risk of tripping a person.

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