What if you were overlooking the biggest part of your home’s curb appeal?

When homeowners want to enhance curb appeal, they typically focus on things like the lawn or the siding. However, driveways are what people first notice when they pull into a home.

Paving your driveway is a great way to increase home value and boost your curb appeal in Sarasota, FL. There are many styles of paved driveways to choose from. Here are just a few of our favorites!

Overall Aesthetic

Below, we’ve listed some of our favorite paved driveway styles for you to choose from. And while we dig into the benefits of each choice, there is one big thing you must consider: the overall aesthetic of your home.

After all, the driveway isn’t a separate entity. It is connected to the yard and the rest of your home. If you want to boost curb appeal, you need to choose a kind of driveway that goes with your home’s overall aesthetic.

This means taking a little extra time upfront to prepare. But the end result is a driveway that helps your home stand out to the entire neighborhood.

Asphalt

Asphalt is one of the most popular ways of paving your driveway. And this is one of the driveway standards for a good reason.

The main benefit of asphalt is that it is a highly durable material. If you drive a big truck or will be parking multiple vehicles in the drive, asphalt can take pretty much all the weight you can throw at it.

And asphalt is very long-lasting as well. After you pave the driveway, you can expect the asphalt to last a minimum of 30 years. That makes it a great choice for someone who doesn’t want to worry about a new paving every few years.

Poured Concrete

Generally speaking, poured concrete driveways are considered an “upgrade” compared to asphalt driveways. That’s because they offer some very specific benefits.

The biggest benefit of poured concrete is that it can last a very long time without decaying. While both concrete and asphalt will last a long time, concrete will look newer for longer periods of time.

Concrete is similar to asphalt in that once you put it down, you won’t have to pave again for decades. However, budget-conscious homeowners should know that concrete has a higher price tag than asphalt.

Stamped Concrete

If poured concrete has a downside, it’s that it has a very distinctive look. If you’ve seen one paved concrete driveway, you’ve seen them all.

Stamped concrete makes for an interesting alternative to paved concrete. It offers all of the benefits you get with concrete while giving your driveway a completely different look.

With stamped concrete, you can make it look like your driveway is made of other materials such as brick or stone. That makes it a great choice to help your driveway match the exterior of your home.

Just keep in mind that stamping concrete can be a delicate and time-intensive process. This is one project you may want to get some help with.

Exposed Aggregate

Most of the paving options on this list are classic. In other words, they’d look good with a home from almost any era.

Exposed aggregate is the exception. This is one of the most recent trends in paving. Because of that, it goes well with newer homes that are rocking a very modern sense of decor.

With exposed aggregate, you mix up different types of concrete to create something entirely new. The result is a driveway that dazzles with many different textures.

An exposed aggregate driveway stands out because it is the complete opposite of the typically smooth paved driveways. So if you want a home driveway that really stands out, this may be your best bet.

Interlocked Pavers

If you’re paving the driveway on your own, you’re probably interested in anything that makes the process easier. And that’s where interlocking pavers come in.

Such pavers come in a variety of materials (typically concrete or cement). They are “interlocking” because they are made in certain shapes that allow them to more easily lock together.

This can reduce the difficulty of installation because you can install them without using any mortar. And you can possibly mix pavers of different colors to create a more personalized driveway design.

Keep in mind such pavers can stain relatively easily. That means you’ll need to bust out a pressure washer every now and then to get the driveway looking good as new.

Chip Sealed

Your final paving option is the “chip sealed” driveway. This is sometimes referred to as a “tar-and-chip” driveway.

The main draw of chip sealing is that it’s cheaper than asphalt. If you’re on a really tight budget, this may be your best option.

Chip sealing works by pouring tar over a base of gravel. Next, you place stones on top of the tar and use special equipment to roll everything until it is smooth.

For extra dazzle, you can use colored stones to create a distinct driveway look. And regardless of the color, you can re-pave such a driveway as needed for a very low cost.

DIY or Hire a Pro?

So, you’ve chosen the style of paved driveway that you want. That leaves a pretty big question — who is going to install it?

With enough time and specialized equipment, you can handle this on your own. That can save some money upfront, though it requires a significant investment of your time.

Alternatively, you can get a professional to handle everything. While this has an upfront cost, it keeps you from buying a ton of expensive equipment that you may never use again.

And a pro can save you a ton of time — it’s tough to put a price tag on getting your long weekend back!

Paved Driveways: The Final Decision

Now you know your options for paved driveways. But do you know who can handle any paving request?

We specialize in paving driveways, patios, pool decks, and more for the Sarasota community. To see how we can make your driveway look better than ever, contact us today!