3 reasons why you need concrete driveways

4 January 2018
 Categories: Construction & Contractors, Blog


Your driveway is often the first thing people notice about your home. It's where they park their car, the first thing they step on, and what they see as they reverse out. If you're concerned with the appearance of your home, the driveway is absolutely something you should be paying close attention to. However, with so many options to chose from it can be tricky to know how to style and construct your driveway. Should you opt for the value for money option with gravel? The stylish option of wood chippings? Or perhaps the easy option of brick?

The answer is concrete driveways. Here's three reasons why concrete is the only material you need to think about. 

Aesthetic

While concrete is a simple base material, concrete driveways can be finished in a huge range of styles to give you the appearance you want. You could, for example, have the top layer sanded off to expose the beautiful pebbles beneath. Alternatively, concrete is an easy material to dye to give a more eye catching look. Many contractors will also be able to make concrete driveways using patterns, so whether you want to replicate brickwork, and go all out with a wacky design, the world is your oyster.

Social media sites and Google are good places to start the search, you can see concrete driveways that others have chosen and get a feel for the options on the market.

Low maintenance and durable

Unlike brick, which needs to be regularly washed, or gravel which need to be raked, concrete is a very low maintenance material. After it has been poured and set, it is able to withstand the daily use that suburban driveways get. Some people estimate that concrete driveways can last up to 50 years, making this a fantastic investment for those who don't want the hassle of constantly replacing and repairing surfaces. 

One thing to note is that concrete driveways do have the potential to crack, especially in variable climates. However, by speaking to a contractor as soon as you notice any damage these problems can be quickly rectified.

Cost effective

For simple jobs, you could be looking at as little as $60AUD per square metre. This means that concrete driveways provide great valuable for money. If carried out as part of wider renovation work, they can provide a good area to cut costs without cutting quality. It's important to note that two factors can increase the price of your project. First, if your driveway needs excavating, and second, if the surface isn't flat (for example your house is built into the hillside).


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