Transforming your home into a property you enjoy can be a daunting task, and sometimes it can feel like you aren’t making much progress. Whether you are just getting started or are already mid-renovation, your driveway is the perfect place to make a significant change and add value to your home.
Achieve Both Style and Functionality
When it comes to driveway renovations, there are countless options to choose from—each with its pros and cons. Concrete has become a staple for driveways because it comes with many benefits. Concrete is strong enough to endure the weight of vehicles and durable enough to withstand the test of time. And, with the right contractor, you can help alleviate some of the downfalls of concrete, like cracking.
With the proper reinforcement and joints, your new driveway will be around for many years to come. You can learn more here about why concrete may be the best choice for your new driveway.
Benefits of Upgrading Your Driveway
Each area of home renovation is essential to making your home exactly what you want it to be. Upgrading your driveway is the perfect place to make changes that feel big and are vital to everyday living. Here are a few of the reasons that you should upgrade your driveway:
- It makes everyday life easier
- Alleviates worry about faults in old driveways
- Creates beautiful and beneficial curb appeal
- Increases the value of your home between 5-10%
- It brings you closer to the house of your dreams
Take a look at some of your driveway design options.
1. Stamped Concrete
There are countless designs that you can choose from for a stamped concrete finish. Pair your new design with concrete stain, and you’ll have the perfect driveway for your house. You can go simple, with grey and geometric lines, or more sophisticated with a stamp and red coloring to make your driveway look like bricks. You can do the same with a tile or wood look as well. But while your driveway will look like another material, it will still be made of concrete, so you’ll get durability and style all at once.
Stamped concrete is also a perfect choice for low-maintenance patios and decks. You can choose one style and follow it around your house, connecting your driveway to your backyard.
2. Polished Concrete
There’s something so elegant and modern about polished concrete. Polishing occurs after the concrete has been poured and set. Your contractor will follow a simple multi-step process by taking progressively smaller grains of sanders and hardeners to create a flawless finish. While plain polished concrete is a statement all on its own, you can also opt for a variety of stylistic features, such as:
- Adding gridlines, bands, or borders
- Different colored stains
Putting a polished finish on your driveway doesn’t only add sophistication; it also increases durability and adds to UV resistance. And, contrary to its appearance, polished concrete floors can be non-slippery and reduce dust and pollen collection.
3. Exposed Aggregate Concrete
Choosing an exposed aggregate finish for your driveway comes with many benefits. Not only is it stunning, but also highly durable and skid-resistant, making it safer and low maintenance for you and your family. And, contrary to how it looks, it is not a fancy material. All it is is concrete!
After pouring and setting the concrete, your contractor will start the process of exposing the aggregate. Chemicals accompany a unique water washing technique to help remove the top layer of the concrete, revealing the aggregates—typically stones and sands—underneath. This detailed process leaves you with all the advantages of concrete and an elegant look. Break up the panels with a stone or brick border, and you elevate your curb appeal even more.
4. Stencil Concrete
Stenciling is something you can do to refurbish old driveways or design brand-new driveways. These patterns are achieved with paint or stain and the stencil of your choice, so you can easily create the driveway of your dreams. Stenciled concrete designs range from whimsical mandalas to beautiful bricks. Whether you want something eye-catching or straightforward, there is a concrete stencil to meet your needs.
A benefit of stenciling a pattern into your driveway instead of stamping it is that the concrete remains perfectly flat. With no grooves or divots, your family can enjoy activities like basketball or skateboarding on your gorgeous new driveway.
5. Broom or Trowel Finished
An easy and effective way to enhance your driveway is to give it a textured finish via brooms or trowels. This effect is achieved by running a broom or trowel across the concrete after it has been poured, at the perfect time, right before it is completely set. Both finishes utilize all the durability and longevity of regular concrete. However, there are critical differences other than appearance.
A broom finish offers the benefit of being extraordinarily skid-resistant and non-slippery, but it can be harder to clean because of the raised texture. Slick trowel finish is entirely the opposite. It is effortless to clean but is prone to being slippery, particularly when wet. Spend some time talking with a concrete expert about what the best driveway option is for your property.
6. Concrete Panels With Borders
Concrete panels or pavers with any border are sure to give your home the feeling of sophistication you’ve been looking for. You can pair large panels with brick lining or smaller pavers with high-grade grass. For a more modern appearance, you can use dark grey pebbles in between lighter panels of concrete.
It’s also recommended to consider the size of concrete panels rather than the gap size you want in between. As well as what needs your driveway and family have. Whatever pairing you choose, the high contrast between the concrete and the border will give your driveway a contemporary look.
Find Your Perfect Driveway Design
Your driveway is the first focal point upon arriving home, and with a brand new one, you can be sure that you love that sight. Whether you decide on something textured, like a broom finish, or something high-end, like exposed aggregate, your new driveway will become the envy of the neighborhood.
Are you ready to start your driveway renovation? Reach out to Richfield Concrete today, and we’ll help you create the best driveway for you.
