When they think of the practical and architectural aspects of their home, many homeowners forget about their driveway. But the driveway is often what people first see when they come to visit your home. Generally, your driveway should be beautiful, practical, blend in with the surroundings, and stand out. To make this come true, here are five driveway ideas and design options to consider when selecting the right materials. The drive’s appearance, durability and cost will be affected by the materials you choose.
1. Bluestone driveway
Because of its elegance, this type of sandstone has become very popular in making beautiful driveways. Bluestone is available in many different sizes and shapes. You can cut it into tiles or keep it in slabs. It can also be crushed into gravel.
Bluestone is strong and can be shaped to any design you desire. Bluestone is initially dark blue but will lighten over time. You can combine it with bluestone slabs or aggregate driveway to give your drive an edge.
2. Driveway made from exposed aggregate
If you are looking for concrete driveway designs, an exposed aggregate driveway might be a good option. This is where concrete can be used, but the top layer is removed to reveal stones, shells, and pebbles and still retain a surface that is smooth and fixed. This creates a contrast between your driveway’s surface and other paving materials which adds visual interest to driveways that aren’t often very interesting. You can use other materials to achieve many different textures and colours. It is durable and skid-resistant.
3. Timber sleeper driveway
To create something eco-friendly, timber sleepers can be embedded into soil, concrete pads, and mulch. To give your sleepers a casual, rustic appearance, you can use either old or new ones. This allows for colour and texture to be added. This product also drains water well, so it requires very little maintenance. If you’re looking for something cost-effective, attractive, and durable, this is a great option. This is particularly useful if you live in rural areas.
4. Concrete driveways
Concrete driveways can be used for many purposes as they are durable and require little maintenance. They are also very versatile as it suits a variety of homes and locations. Concrete driveways can be used in many ways – they can be textured or smooth or even create contrast. Concrete can hold several vehicles even larger ones. Concrete comes in many colours which could add more flair to your driveway. Concrete may crack in certain cases, but it is much more resilient than asphalt in hot Australian summers. (See our Concrete VS Asphalt Driveway blog for more information).
Concrete driveways come in many styles, including:
- Coloured concrete driveway
- Stamped concrete driveway
- Stencilled concrete driveway
5. Clay brick driveway
Clay brick is our last on the list of driveway ideas – but definitely not the least! Clay has been a material used for surfacing for hundreds of years and it remains a popular option still. Bricks can be laid in mortar or sand and they can be placed in different patterns. You also have many choices of colours and textures.
Bricks aren’t as strong as other options, as they are more susceptible to cracking, chipping and breaking, but they can look amazing. Bricks are more difficult to maintain and should be cleaned at the very least once a calendar year. Clay is an eco-friendly alternative for your driveway.
Summary
When looking at driveway ideas, consider all possible options. Get estimates from multiple professionals to compare costs, longevity, and suitability.
These driveway ideas will help you redesign your driveway. To learn more, talk to one of our verified concreting specialists.
