8 Best Types of Concrete Driveways

There are different reasons why a concrete driveway would best suit your home. One of which is the aesthetics it will add to the entire looks of your property.

A beautiful driveway makes your guests stare with envy at first glance, and it makes them feel like they are in a luxurious space, as they drive in and out.

Aside from making your guests and neighbors grin with envy after seeing your driveway, concrete driveways are also more economical in the long run. They are the best when it comes to longevity or durability.

In this article, we shall be telling you about the best types of concrete driveways your home can sport. These driveways rank highest in functionality, durability, and beauty. In other words, they are every homeowner's fantasy turned reality.

Types of Concrete Driveways

1. Poured Concrete Driveways

Image credit: thomasconcretelandscape.com

This ranks high because it has proven to be unbeatable in terms of durability. Although there are other concrete driveways with a more elegant and luxurious look to their finish, most homeowners work on uplifting their homes on a stringent budget while still hoping that they don’t have to repeat renovations in the nearest future.

When building permanent homes, it is always better to build with long-lasting materials that need little to no maintenance. Such properties become valuable assets when it comes to selling them. Hence, the poured concrete driveway is a great choice.

While it is the most expensive on this list, it is also the most economical in the long run.

Benefits

• It is the most durable concrete driveway

• Requires little to no maintenance

2. Exposed Aggregate Driveways

Image credit: concretenetwork.com

This type is widely acclaimed and loved because of its long-lasting surface that goes unscathed for decades, even without any significant maintenance. The mixture that makes up the exposed aggregate is one that has varying aggregates in it— like stones, cobbles, shells, pebbles, and so on.

The topmost layer is then sanded to give off the beautiful texture of the materials used, adding to its beauty. This shows after lacing the concrete with a smooth finish at the topmost layer.

Exposed Aggregate driveways are even more beautiful when placed around gardens, ponds, streams, in-built aquariums, and other natural-looking setups.

Benefits

• It is available in so many varying colors, shapes, and sizes
• The driveway lasts for decades without any need for repair or maintenance
• You get a very beautiful finish

3. Asphalt Paved Driveways

Image credit: pavinginct.com

The asphalt paved driveway is also one of the best concrete driveways out there due to its durability, which is its utmost selling point. There are extremely few concrete driveways that can compete with it in terms of durability. It doesn’t require maintenance during the entire usage period, which has an estimate of over 30 years.

Benefits

• The driveway lasts for an extremely long period
• It is highly economical
• It requires little to no maintenance

4. Chip Sealed Driveways

Image credit: cbrookspaving.com

Here’s an economical option for asphalt paved driveway lovers who don’t have enough budget. You only need half the price of the asphalt driveway when it comes to re-installation.

Chip sealed driveways are installed by first preparing a base filled with gravel, and then thoroughly coated with tar. Stones are later arranged on top of the tar and are then mechanically pressed in to complete the look of the surface.

This process, regrettably, will not give the smooth, even, and luxurious finish that the other concrete driveways boast of. But it makes up for this by not needing sealing. This gives the driveway a very light look, making it easy to deflect the heat of the sun.

This implies that even on hot days, it gives off a very cool sensation against the feet.

Benefits

• The chip sealed driveways come in varying colors that give it an endearing beauty
• Even when the stones loosen or when you want a remake, it costs less than half of the required price to redo other concrete driveways. This makes it more economical
• This driveway requires little to no maintenance

5. Stamped Concrete Driveways

Image credit: concretenetwork.com

Stamped concrete driveways are the best for those who like concrete driveways for their durability and also want other materials based on personal preferences.

With this driveway, you don’t have to choose or compromise. This is because you can use molds to create any look that imitates the finished look of materials like stone or brick, even though the base of the driveway is concrete.

This driveway option is also very versatile as it can be used in rooms, offices, roadsides, garages, verandas, among other places.

Benefits

• The driveway is very versatile

• Its versatility extends to the outlook of its finish on completion

• It is highly durable and detracts the need for maintenance. This also increases its value in terms of economizing since the money spent on maintenance tends to add up over time

• The driveway increases the property value of homes by adding to its aesthetics and general appeal. This could be a long-term investment that can yield way more than the first amount of money spent on setting it up initially

• It requires way less labor than other types of concrete pavements. This makes it more economical for homeowners

6. Interlocking Pavers

Image credit: allaboutdriveways.com

Interlocking Pavers are very interesting types of concrete pavement because they are fit into each other, giving them a fun and intriguing look. They, however, need a very solid base before installing. This increases their durability and helps to preserve their aesthetics for a very long time.

It is important to note that the maintenance of this concrete option includes the use of pressure washing equipment to remove blemishes since pavers tend to stain over time.

Benefits

• It is way more durable than the regular concrete driveway as it can easily withstand four times more pressure and force than the regular concrete can
• This option is more flexible, for it easily adapts to environmental changes and development. It is also not as prone to cracks and distortions as other concrete pavement options
• The Interlocking Pavers are easier to maintain than other types of concrete pavements. This is because the pavers are individually laid and can easily be replaced when one has a problem, as opposed to having to change the layout in other cases

7. Stencil Concrete Driveways

Image credit: patternconcretesurfacinguk.com

Stencil concrete driveways are similar to the stamped concrete driveways in terms of setting. However, they use stencils rather than stamps. They require more delicacy and precision than the stamped concrete driveways, but this only means that the aesthetics are more pronounced here.

Concrete fills the base, ensuring a long lifespan of the driveway. The aesthetics are beautifully achieved without having to spend as much money as it would require to put in place the imitated driveway.

Benefits

• The aesthetics are top-notch, thereby giving it a great market value

• It offers varieties of looks to pick from, depending on your preference

• The driveway is very durable

• It is resistant to slips. This makes it even more home-friendly, particularly in homes with little kids. They can always play on the pavement with a very low risk of falling due to slips

• Stencil concrete driveways are free of weeds; hence, they don’t require weeding. This eliminates additional miscellaneous costs attached to them. They are also resistant to stain and require no special cleaning from time to time as other cement driveway options do. This also increases the lifespan of the aesthetics longer than that of others

• The driveway option has a very short completion time, especially when properly installed by a professional. Hence, it doesn’t cost as much for installation as other options

8. Slate Concrete Driveways

Image credit: slateimpressionconcrete.com.au

This option also uses cement as its base. But instead of leaving it at that, the distinctive slated look is achieved by placing hard mats with the texture of slates in an orderly manner before the concrete sets completely.

To give it a distinct rich look, the slate concrete driveway is then sealed with a glossy finish.

Benefits

• There is a wide assortment of patterns to pick from, depending on your choice
• The driveway comes with varying color choices, so it can blend in with the aesthetics of your home
• It is highly durable
• This is one of the cheapest options for concrete driveways available
• It impressively requires low maintenance with little to no need for replacements over a long period. All that it requires is a sweep once in a while. A bi-annual sealing is also recommended to keep it top-notch

Conclusion

There are various options to choose from when it comes to picking the best type of concrete driveway. The aforementioned concrete driveways have, over the years, proven to be the best when it comes to quality driveways.

Hence, we hope that you can choose the best possible option that caters to your concrete driveway needs after reading this article.