The USA accounts for more than a quarter of the 1.4 billion cars present globally as of date. If you are a car owner and plan to invest in a driveway to make sure your car drives smoothly up to your garage, you need to plan well.
If you’re planning on renovating your driveway, you can save yourself time and money by taking the right steps during the planning phase. From material choices to aesthetic styles and lifestyle needs, you must take the time to make informed decisions.
Driveway renovation is a costly process, and on average, it can cost you $4500, as per the estimates presented by Forbes. Using concrete or asphalt can help you keep your average costs between $3900 to $4700, whereas Pavers are an expensive option setting you back by $16500 on average.
With these five tips in mind, you can be sure that your new driveway will be one of the best investments in your home.
1. Hire an Experienced Driveway Contractor
Hiring an experienced driveway contractor is the best way to ensure that you get the results you want. When looking for a contractor, check their references and ask about their experience in your area. You should also look for companies with positive reviews on Google. We suggest you browse online resources to understand the credentials of a concrete and asphalt contractor better.
- Check out reviews online. Check both Google reviews and user testimonials
- Ask friends and family members if they have any recommendations. If they don’t know anyone personally, ask them which companies they trust most when it comes to home improvement projects like this one.
2. Determine Which Material Is Best for Your Home
You’ll need to first decide what type of driveway material will best suit your home and lifestyle. Normally, concrete and asphalt are recommended, but you can use Pavers or Cobblestones for a unique look.
- Concrete
Concrete is more expensive than asphalt but lasts longer and is more durable. It can also be stamped with a design or pattern.
- Asphalt
Asphalt is cheaper than concrete but needs to be replaced more often, about every 10 years. Asphalt is typically used on driveways that don’t get a lot of wear and tear because it doesn’t last as long as concrete does if you have heavy traffic on your property.
- Pavers
If you have an old, cracked driveway and would like to update it, consider installing concrete pavers and a Bridjit curb ramp to enhance its accessibility. You can also add pavers to create an interesting pattern in your driveway. This will make it look more like a walkway than just a plain slab of concrete or asphalt.
- Cobblestones
Cobblestones are not only used for driveways but also in landscaping and can be used as a stone wall or even as a retaining wall to help hold back soil from eroding.
3. Choose the Right Vendor for Building Materials
It’s important to find a reputable vendor. You’ll want to ask them:
- Is the company insured or not
- If they have done this before
- What duration have they spent in this business
- Do they do the work themselves or hire subcontractors
Find a contractor who specializes in driveways. Depending on where you live, this may be an easy task or a difficult one. If you’re in a big city, there are plenty of contractors who specialize in concrete and asphalt driveways. But if you live outside of the city, it might be harder to find someone who does this type of work.
4. Select a Style to Match Your Aesthetics
Once you get the right driveway design, choose a style that matches your aesthetic. A good choice of material can give your home a unique look while saving you money and time in the long run.
You can use different colored concrete to create lines or patterns. This can create a new look without having to remove the old pavement.
If you’re looking for something more traditional or classic, asphalt is usually the best choice. This type of driveway design is perfect for people who want something that stands out from other driveways in their neighborhood. You can use a concrete driveway as an outdoor kitchen or fire pit.
5. Pick a Driveway That Meets Your Lifestyle Needs
Choose a driveway that is easy to maintain. It’s important to consider how much time you want to invest in maintaining your driveway. Some options are more durable than others and require less maintenance, while others need more frequent repairs or repainting.
Also, make sure the driveway you choose is suitable for the climate you live in. If it’s cold where you live, it may be helpful to opt for a material that has better insulation properties so that snow will not pile up on top of the surface and create slippery conditions during winter months and rainy seasons.
Check if your home improvement budget can manage the costs. Often you have other repairs and renovations planned too, and you wouldn’t want your driveway renovation costs to affect those. Fellow Americans are also bullish on the trend of renovation and home improvement, despite the slowing down of the home-ownership.
The Home Improvement market in the United States was valued at $419.8 billion in 2020. But this is projected to grow at a CAGR of 4.45% from 2022 to 2026, and touch $ 537.47 billion in 2026, reports Research and Markets, a market research website.
When it comes to driveway renovation, there are many things to consider. By following the tips we spoke about, you’ll be able to make sure that you get exactly what you want out of this renovation project.
