Last week we ended our week by talking about paver driveways. Today we are going to talk about another type of driveway and its pros and cons – the concrete driveway. Concrete, which is sometimes mistakenly referred to as cement, is a surface that’s made by blending water, sand, gravel aggregate, and Portland cement (powdered) and pouring it in-between forms while it’s wet, and letting it harden into a very durable paving surface. The installation’s very labor-intensive and requires a sub-layer to be created which is tightly packed, wooden forms to be created to hold the liquid, reinforcing it using wire mesh or rebar, and carefully smoothing and tooling the surface once it’s poured.

Even though it’s possible to do it on your own, it’s very difficult and the majority of people decide it’s better to do the pouring and finishing of the concrete driveway. A professional installation is going to cost anywhere from $4-$20/square foot, although site preparation and removal of old material can make this cost go up.

Even though concrete’s costlier than asphalt, it’s very cost-effective because the surface will last for decades. Concrete driveways can last anywhere from 25-50 years.

A concrete driveway will look great when it’s new. However, stains that come from things like mildew, tire marks, rust, oil, and grease will rob it of its luster. You can often remove the stains with pressure washing and using a product like Castrol SuperClean.

Below are the pros and cons of a concrete driveway,

Pros & Cons of Concrete Driveways

Pros

• Surface is very durable
• It can be colored or stamped to improve its appearance
• It’s great when snow needs to be removed

Cons

• Subject to water damage and cracking unless it’s sealed periodically
• Not good for DIYers. It’s recommended that you have it professionally installed
• Deicing salt can damage it.

These are some of the things that you want to know about a concrete driveway. Are you thinking about having a new driveway put in or maybe a new patio? We offer hardscaping services, and we are glad to give you a quote. Contact us here and we’ll get back to you.

One of the most popular driveway types is the paver driveway. These are best when you want visual appeal for your driveway. The term “pavers” includes different manmade concrete or clay and natural stone bricks. They’re used for sidewalk, patio, and driveway surfaces. The pavers used for driveways come in various designs and sizes, so you have a lot of choices that you can select from. Concrete pavers are very popular because they come in many geometric shapes. They can be set so that the joints are full of mortar. However, the option that is more modern is to set them so that the joints get packed with aggregate or fine sand. This allows its surface to drain a lot more efficiently.

When pavers are used for driveway surfaces, they’re very durable, although they might need regular maintenance, the cobblestone pavers are very known for being long-lasting. Even when they get dislodged or broken, it’s a simple repair. Since they’re individual units, unlike an asphalt or concrete surface, you can replace them individually. Therefore, you aren’t faced with repairing your whole driveway.  

That being said, removing snow from them can be harder, particular with the driveways made of natural cobblestones with rougher surface textures. Pavers also are higher in price. So that is something to consider. It can cost anywhere from $30-$40 sq ft, and even more if you require extensive preparation of the site. However, the pavers range from $3-$10 sq foot. So if you feel up to it, you can do the work yourself. Even though the work’s time-consuming and very physically demanding, it’s not complicated to do on your own.

Below are some pros and cons of paver driveways.

Pros & Cons of Paver Driveways

Pros

• Very stylish surface
• A lot of geometric styles you can choose from
• Simple to repair
• Adds value to your property

Cons

• Very expensive
• Can be hard to remove the snow from them
• It’s labor-intensive to do on your own
• It’s important to regularly maintain them to keep them looking good.

Are you interested in having a new paver driveway put in? if so, we are happy to give you a free no-obligation quote to do the work. Simply contact us here and let us know what you need and we’ll be happy to contact you back.

If you are planning a new hardscaping project, one of the things that you may be considering is pavers or concrete. You are going to find that there are a lot of paver benefits that you can enjoy when you choose pavers over concrete. Below are four paver benefits that you will discover.

Paver Benefits 1 – You can Hide Imperfections with Pavers

If you spill some oil onto concrete, usually that stain will become a permanent, ugly blemish. But with a paver patio, you don’t have to worry about this. You can simply flip it over or replace it so that it looks the best it can.

Paver Benefits 2 – They Come in Many Designs and Colors

Matching and mixing a lot of different combinations is going to give you a driveway or patio that is unique to you. the various ways that you can put your paving stones down will only be limited by your own imagination.

Paver Benefits 3 – You Can Use It Immediately

When you choose concrete, it can take 3 to 5 days before it can be used. But when you put pavers down, you don’t have to worry about waiting for cure time. You can use it immediately. This is very handy when you are putting in something new for a party.

Paver Benefits 4 – It’s Easy to Adjust Pavers

When the base of the concrete shifts, you may find there are cracks. This means that you have costly repairs that need to be done. Even when you have it done professionally, it still may be visible. It’s a lot easier to deal with the base of a paver that’s moved. Simply remove any stones over that affected area, then level it off if necessary, and replace the pavers that you removed.

These are four benefits that you are going to find when you choose pavers over concrete for a patio or driveway. Are you interested in having a new one put in? if you are looking for someone who can put some hardscaping on your property, contact us here for a quote. We are glad to answer your questions and give you a quote.

Have you looked at your driveway recently? How old is it? It may be that you need a new driveway soon. Below are five signs you need a new driveway.

Signs You Need a New Driveway 1 – Cracks

One of the first signs that your driveway is getting old is cracks in the driveway. This can be caused by things like oil and gas leaking onto it.

If the cracks are small, you can repair them when they appear. However, if you’re noticing a bigger crack, you might want to investigate it further. If there’s a tee close to the driveway, there might be roots growing beneath the pavement and compromising it.

Signs You Need a New Driveway 2 – Potholes

Streets aren’t the only thing that can get potholes. As you well know, a pothole can cause a lot of damage. You can repair potholes. However, this isn’t going to solve the issue of the ground beneath it expanding and contracting, so this can make the pothole come back.

If you have potholes, it’s best to replace the driveway, especially if it’s older.

Signs You Need a New Driveway 3 – Rough Appearance

As time goes by, your driveway is going to start looking rough. The sun’s UV rays will cause damage as time goes by. You try fixing it with sealant. This can help with restoring its original look. However, if the driveway’s durability was affected, you want to replace it.

Signs You Need a New Driveway 4 – It Wasn’t Resealed

If your driveway is concrete or asphalt, you should reseal it every 2-3 years. This will prevent cracking and breaking. If you haven’t had this done, it’s possible it will need replacing if there are a lot of cracks.

Signs You Need a New Driveway 5 – It’s Old

The majority of driveways will only be at their best for 15 to 20 years. So if you have had your driveway for at least that long, you want to have it replaced rather than repaired.

These are five signs you need a new driveway. If you think that you might need a new driveway, contact us. We offer hardscaping services, and we can give you a fair quote. Contact us today.

Earlier this week we talked about the benefits of having a concrete paver patio.  Today we are going to go a bit further – tips for removing stains from concrete pavers.   This will help your pavers stay looking newer longer.

Removing Stains from Pavers – Oil

Since we’re coming to the warm weather, we thought we’d start out with a common problem that comes with grilling season – oil stains. Now, you can also get grease and oil on your pavers from your vehicles as well. But it also comes with an outdoor kitchen or a grill.

• Keep rags, paper towels, and some oil-absorbent material nearby in your garage or near your grill.
• If oil or grease has just spilled, lightly blot, rather than rub, that area using paper towels or one of your clean rags. Liquid laundry detergent or dish soap can remove most of the oil stains. Apply it right to your stain and let it sit for 20 to 30 minutes. Then use a brush with nylon bristles to scrub it, rinsing it using hot water. Do again if needed.
• If the stain has become dry and it’s been absorbed, do your best to soak up whatever you can. Leave some granular material on the area for around 6 hours. Then sweep the material up.

Removing Stains from Pavers – Hard Water

When you see a water stain on a paver, it’s actually efflorescence. Pavers start exhibiting a deposit that looks like a powder, usually in the first 2-3 years after they were installed.

This happens when those soluble salts that the pavers contain start reacting with fluctuating temperatures, humidity, and rainfall. As this water evaporates, those salts rise to the surface. This creates a whitish appearance.

If you want to get rid of this look, there is something called efflorescence remover that the majority of manufacturers offer. It’s a bit abrasive, so you want to use it in an area that isn’t conspicuous first. Then use it for cleaning your whole surface.

Removing Stains from Pavers – Rust

If iron or steel items sit above or on your paver area for a certain amount of time, it’s possible that you are going to see rust stains. Since this builds up as time goes by, it can be really hard to remove it.

Removing the stains means that you have to use something that can damage the sealer that has been applied. It also can cause etching on your pavers’ surface, so it’s a good idea to apply it to your whole area so the look is uniform. First, test a little area and if you have questions, consult with a contractor.

If you can, remove the rusting material. But if you need to do cleaning, manufacturers often will offer materials for rust removal. Apply that material based on the directions on the label. Then scrub using a brush with soft nylon bristles and thoroughly rinse the area.

We hope that you found this blog about removing stains from pavers useful. Don’t forget, we offer hardscaping services along with a lot of other services. interested in knowing more? Contact us here.