If your driveway has seen better days and you are looking for driveway ideas to really elevate the exterior of your home, then we have some useful information for you here.
Driveway Pavers or Asphalt Driveway?
The two most popular surfaces for driveways are concrete and asphalt. Neither material requires much maintenance and is relatively inexpensive.
Asphalt driveways will generally cost about $3 to $5 per square foot for an asphalt driveway to be installed, and the average lifespan is 12 to 20 years under proper maintenance. Concrete driveways cost on average $6 per square foot nationally, and with good maintenance, they can last for 40 years.
These are commonly used but they are common and uninteresting in appearance and most homes deserve better, don’t you think?
When you drive up to an elegant home with an asphalt driveway, it takes away from the wow factor of the home. If you want to elevate that first impression, maybe you should consider pavers for driveways.
Pavers completely transform that first impression and enhance the exterior of your home. Add a paver walkway to connect your pavers driveway to your front door for a spectacular transformation.
To resurface your driveway with pavers will cost more initially but it will increase your property value, last longer and look more beautiful. Driveway pavers are also easy to maintain.
Asphalt and concrete driveways often crack and repairs are often expensive or unsightly. Driveway pavers are much more durable and if damage or sinking should occur, the damaged pavers can be replaced and the beauty restored.
Paver driveways are installed by first constructing a good base, which is typically composed of gravel and sand. The fact that there are three distinct types of pavers is a surprise to many people who think each of them has similar benefits and drawbacks.
Advantages of Driveway Pavers
There are far more options for color, design, and overall appearance with pavers. You’ll enhance your home’s curb appeal by choosing the right pavers and installing them in interesting patterns.
Homeowners concerned about the environment will also appreciate the fact that you can choose to install driveway pavers that are permeable.
By filling the joints between the pavers with sand, water soaks into the ground rather than flowing into the street (and into watersheds) when it rains.
If you are wondering how much driveway pavers cost, it depends on the types of driveway pavers so here is a break down of commonly used pavers.
The price ranges are broad because there are many variables to consider like the thickness of the bed that will be required, the complexity of the installation etc. Then of course the choice of paver can vary quite a bit so these are average ranges.
Brick Driveway Pavers
A brick paver is made by molding and baking clay. Despite its durability, brick driveway pavers are still the most vulnerable of the paver options, given how weather and wear will eventually cause clay bricks to flake and crumble.
Brick pavers are one of the strongest options; they are rated to withstand 12,000 pounds per square inch. Proper maintenance can prolong the life of brick paver driveways by 25 years.
The cost per square foot ranges from $10 to $30, including materials and labor.
Concrete Driveway Pavers
Pavers made from concrete molded into the shape of bricks are probably the most popular option for paver driveways. Driveways made out of concrete pavers usually last up to 50 years, while clay bricks typically last 20 to 25 years.
The 8,000-pound strength rating for concrete pavers is perfectly sufficient for basic driveway use, although they are a little less durable than brick pavers. The strength of concrete paver driveways is superior to solid concrete slabs.
The cost per square foot ranges from $30 to $40 per square foot, for materials and labor.
Cobblestone Driveway Pavers
Made from quarried stone like granite, cobblestones are definitely the longest-lasting, most durable pavers that you can get.
They are beautiful and will likely outlive us all. They are quite rough so they are certainly not an option if you plan to play basketball on your driveway.
The cost per square foot ranges from $40 to $70 per square foot for materials and labor.
What is the best patio paver?
The question of what patio paver is often asked. The answer would be, cobblestone pavers are the best pavers in terms of durability. As mentioned above, they do make for a rough surface and may people prefer a surface that is very smooth. For a smooth and durable driveway, Concrete pavers would be the best option.
DIY or Pro Installation?
Concrete or asphalt driveways are significantly more less than paver driveways. However, DIYers who are up for it can drastically decrease costs if they install a pavers driveway themselves.
Paver installation is not complicated, but it is time-consuming and labor intensive.
Here’s a link to a detailed guide from Wikihow on how to install pavers. This is the basic overview of installation process for brick pavers for driveways so you have an understanding of what is involved:
- Outline the are with string and drive stakes in the ground to hold it in place
- Start by laying a concrete sand base. It is typically made with limestone, granite or trap rock.
- Install plastic or metal edging restraints for the pavers.
- Level and compress the surface: A motorized plate compactor or hand-held tamper is used to compress the gravel base, which is then covered with sand and tamped out to create the paver base.
- Install the pavers: Place the pavers directly on top of the sand surface. Pavers can be arranged in various ways to form ornamental patterns. The placement process begins with accurate leveling, which is the most challenging part.
- Fill in paver gaps with Mason’s sand. Vibrating the pavers with a plate compactor fully packs the joints with sand.
- Pavers should be sealed to protect them from weather and stains. It may be necessary to repeat sealing every few years.
That’s a basic overview for reference only. If you do plan to install pavers yourself, be sure to get more specific advice before proceeding. In particular, you need to know what thickness your base should be and it depends largely on the climate. For instance if your home is in a very rainy climate, the base should be much thicker to prevent shifting from all the rainfall.
Driveway Ideas for Inspiration (Video)
If you are thinking about hiring a pavers contractor instead of DIY-ing it, do some research first. Interview at least 3 candidates and receive bids before choosing one.
If you search for “driveway pavers near me”, you can find plenty of companies that will provide an estimate for free.
You shouldn’t always choose the driveway paver company with the lowest estimate. You should be cautious if one estimate is significantly lower than others so ask why. At Patio Paver Pros we guarantee our work, click here if you would like to get and estimate for your project.
Call Us Today
If you have questions or concerns, please feel free to call us at 561-464-5482, and our in-house paver installer will be pleased to answer all your questions. We serve Boca Raton, FL and all of South Florida from West Palm Beach to Miami.
CALL NOWDirections
From West Palm Beach
- Follow I-95 to FL-808 E/Glades Rd in Boca Raton. Take exit 45 from I-95 S
- Use any lane to turn left onto FL-808 E/Glades Rd
- Turn right onto US-1 S
- Continue on NE 5th St. Drive to W Plaza Real
From Town Center at Boca Raton
- Head east on Glades Rd toward Town Center Rd
- Turn right onto US-1 S
- Turn left onto NE 5th St
- Turn right onto W Plaza Real
From Miami, FL
- Get on I-95 N
- Follow I-95 Express and I-95 N to W Palmetto Park Rd in Boca Raton. Take exit 44 from I-95 N
- Continue on W Palmetto Park Rd. Drive to W Plaza Real