We are the best driveway pavers in Glen Allen Va. We are also a reliable concrete contractor in Glen Allen Va. Contact us today for your paving and concrete works. (2023)

FAQs

What is the best type of paver for driveway? ›

Standard concrete is the most common form of paver driveway and for good reason. Not only do they come in many different styles, but they're also easy to install.

Gravel or grass filled plastic pavers are the most durable type available and have a variety of styles to choose from. They are the most eco-friendly pavers since they are sourced from 100% recycled plastic.

Pedestrian areas and residential driveways can achieve interlock with 2 3/8-inch thick pavers. Vehicular pavements require 3 1/8-inch thick pavers.

Gravel is the least costly material to pave a driveway. The price ranges from $1 to $3 per square foot.

Properly maintained, concrete paver driveways generally outlast poured concrete, which typically lasts about 20 to 30 years, compared to a possible 50 years for concrete pavers.

Unlike concrete, pavers are significantly less prone to cracking, which is why a great number of homeowners prefer them. They bring a great number of other benefits, so it's no wonder that many choose them over concrete.

Concrete. Concrete is the old standby for driveways. Most suburban homes opt for this material for two big reasons: Concrete is typically the longest-lasting driveway surface, and, if installed properly, it is practically maintenance-free.

Brick pavers have the strength of bearing around 12,000 pounds per square inch, making this one of the strongest options. With proper upkeep, a brick paver driveway can last for 25 years. This is perhaps the most popular option for paver driveways. These are concrete molded into the shape of bricks.

You Can Usually Put Pavers Over Concrete

While mortar is preferable when installing pavers, it's possible to put in the pavers without mortar (although it puts you at risk of drainage issues and cracking).

The truth is that pavers can add value to your home. The amount of value that is added will depend on several different factors. For instance, the first factor to consider is your property's current size and the area in which it is located. Aside from this, how the pavers are used will also make a difference.

What are the most expensive pavers? ›

Natural stone pavers are the most expensive and durable of all, costing between $7 and $16 per square foot. The most popular option, flagstone, costs between $13 and $30 per square foot.

However, even though the upfront cost of pavers is higher, concrete pavers offer greater value and durability than poured concrete and stamped concrete. This ultimately means that concrete pavers are the most cost-effective option overall.

Install Asphalt Driveway Pavement:

Asphalt is a durable and long-lasting material that can withstand heavy traffic and weather conditions. It's relatively easy to install and doesn't require much maintenance. Thus, asphalt is an excellent option if you're looking for a cheap and efficient way to pave your driveway.

Flagstone or fieldstone are the most common pavers. Flagstone is quarried from underground, while fieldstone is surface rock. Rock is pricier than bricks or concrete.

From a design perspective, there's no contest. Pavers come in a much wider variety of styles, shapes, colors and textures. The ability to mix and match pavers and create intricate paver patterns is endless. Whereas, stamped concrete is limited to a handful of stone or brick textures.

Con: Paver Patios Grow Weeds Over Time

They have a lot of joints that are filled with sand when first installed. Over time the sand can wash out and needs to be replenished and maintained. If the joints are not topped off with sand, other debris and weed seeds will work their way in instead.

The basic rule of thumb is every 3-5 years. For film-forming sealants, you will be able to notice when the physical barrier is showing signs of wear. For non-film-forming sealants, you will begin to see a significant color change of pavers during a rain when the sealant is wearing thin.

To keep pavers looking their best, plan to clean and reseal them every three to five years. Clean your pavers each Spring with a coarse-bristle “stable” broom and a paver cleaner to keep them looking like new. Some weeds, if left unaddressed, can shift pavers apart over time.

How do I keep my driveway pavers from cracking? ›

The best way to care for brick pavers, however, is to have them sealed right after they are installed. Sealing brick pavers will help to ensure that they last a lifetime and it will also decrease the likelihood of the bricks cracking or chipping. Of course, not all damage can be prevented by sealing the bricks.

Paving stones are more durable than concrete and can withstand more pressure per square inch. Whether you use cement pavers or want stone driveway paving, paving bricks and stones are typically stronger than concrete and can hold more weight on the surface before a crack shows up.

Compacting causes the stones to form a tight bond with the bedding layer, which reduces the chance of your pavers sinking again. Sweep joint sand into the joints between the pavers. Do this by pouring a pile of sand on your hardscape and sweep it over the stones until your joints can't hold any more sand.

If you're looking for the best driveway surface in terms of maintenance, you do have a lot of choices. Block paving driveways, concrete driveways, resin driveways, asphalt driveways, tarmac driveways, and gravel driveways are all low-maintenance options when installed correctly.

The cost of a new driveway will depend on the groundwork and the material chosen. Generally, gravel is the cheapest material, with resin and concrete being the most expensive.

Typically you'll need to replace an asphalt driveway after 20 years and a concrete drive after 25 years. Repairing a driveway nearing this age is not considered a wise investment. Beyond the condition of your driveway, many old driveways could do with an update just as a home benefits from renovations.

Generally, the best concrete mix for your driveway should have a compressive strength of at least 3500 psi to 4000 psi, a cement-water ratio of around 0.50 to improve the concrete's longevity, and aggregates no larger than 1-inch in size with a slump of 4 to 5 inches.

Typically, you will pay 10%-15% more if you choose paving stones over standard concrete slabs. If you decide to upgrade to stamped concrete, paving stones will most likely cost you the same or even less in most cases.

The best thing about pavers is that they are designed to last a lifetime. They may develop cracks at some point, but that's not a problem because they can easily be replaced.

Materials to put under pavers might include mortar, sand, bituminous material or pedestals. Should I Lay Pavers on Sand or Mortar? Again, it will depend on several factors. The mortar set method is most popular and is typically used in pedestrian or vehicular areas where a rigid system is required.

Do you need drainage under pavers? ›

If your paver patio doesn't have proper drainage, the underlying base becomes saturated and cannot drain away. Over time, the weight of the pavers can cause them to sink. Water can collect in the hollows and worsen the problem.

Before laying the pavers, a layer of bedding sand is placed over the compacted base material. This layer provides a bed into which the pavers are set. The sand bedding also helps to protect the sand joints from being eroded away.

When homeowners invest in a paver patio, they can expect extreme durability, minimal maintenance and — you guessed it — added value to their home. According to Inman, a leading real estate news source, patio additions to homes (when done properly) can deliver a return on investment of anywhere between 30% to 60%.

Paving stones typically cost more than concrete initially. However, we've seen that over time they make up the difference. Here's why: they're easy to maintain, cheaper to repair, and they typically have a longer life. Additionally, installing paving stones adds significant value to your home.

“A [concrete] driveway can increase your property's value between 5 and 10 percent” says Fast Sales Homes. That means “a $500,000 home can increase to a $550,000 home.” On average, a new 2-car concrete driveway costs anywhere from $3-$6,000, which makes this type of an investment pretty significant.

How Much Does a 20x20 Paver Patio Cost? According to data from Lawnstarter, a 20-foot by 20-foot paver patio runs from about $3,500 to $8,900 (CAD 4,550 to CAD 11,600), including labor and materials such as clay brick, natural stone or concrete pavers.

The question on every homeowner's mind is how much would installing pavers cost? Pavers can range from about $10 to $25 per square foot.

The average cost to lay down a 1,000-sq-ft concrete slab is around $3,000, which is around $3 per square foot.

“With stamped concrete, you'll get a surface that lasts longer and requires less maintenance than most other materials, which can add up to big savings over its lifetime,” Hutchinson explains. “You'll also add curb appeal and aesthetic value to your home, allowing you to maximize the return on your investment.”

What is a cheap alternative to concrete driveway? ›

Brick is one of the alternatives to a concrete driveway that looks great and won't cost you much. It can be semi-permeable if laid over sand and comes in many styles. Loose gravel makes for one of the cheapest driveway alternatives, though it can be high-maintenance when compared to other asphalt driveway alternatives.

Driveway gives you a guaranteed offer right away and that offer is good for seven days, so you have time to think it over. No pressure and no haggling. If you accept the offer, Driveway comes to you.

One of the best ways to save money is to use loose materials such as gravel, stone, or tar-and-chip (macadam) for your driveway surface.

Standard concrete is the most common form of paver driveway and for good reason. Not only do they come in many different styles, but they're also easy to install.

Gravel is the best base to use for a concrete driveway. A range of gravel types can be used for a driveway base. It should be paired with a subgrade of soil, then the gravel base.

As a general rule, go for contractors with at least 5 years of experience. A contractor with more experience will also be conscious of their reputation. This will encourage them to provide you with better services. Customer Service; this is something that most construction companies overlook.

Pavers are great for driveways. Unlike solid slabs of concrete, pavers flex and move as they shift, which means they don't crack. Keep in mind driveway pavers should be smaller in size than the large pavers you might choose for a patio, so they don't crack and chip under the weight of a vehicle driving over them.

Using sand alone to set pavers is not enough. The best and recommended paver base is 3/8-inch crushed gravel. The gravel provides a flexible base that absorbs ground tension to prevent frost heaves.

You should definitely go with pavers instead of concrete for your driveway because: They can be significantly stronger than concrete because they're less prone to cracking. If one of your pavers becomes worn-out, you don't have to replace the entire driveway, but just an individual paver.

Con: It is More Costly

Really, the only disadvantage of a stone paver driveway is that it costs more than a concrete driveway. However, when you consider all the benefits you get from a paver driveway, including the ability to create gorgeous designs, you will realize that the cost is well worth it.

Is it a good idea to put pavers over concrete? ›

While it may seem like a good idea to install pavers right to the concrete, it may not be the best way to go about it. Pavers are great because of their flexibility. They are able to move and shift with the ground as it heats and cools. Concrete, on the other hand, can crack under the constant shifting.

Unlike stamped concrete, pavers typically do not crack when they are properly installed. They also come with a number of other benefits that make them attractive to homeowners, including: Pavers cost about the same as stamped concrete in most instances.

Lots of questions come up regarding how to lay pavers on dirt, however, it is not recommended to lay pavers directly on dirt or any unprepared ground. In order for pavers to look and perform their best in a permanent situation, the ground needs to be levelled, excavated and hard compacted.

Materials to put under pavers might include mortar, sand, bituminous material or pedestals. Should I Lay Pavers on Sand or Mortar? Again, it will depend on several factors. The mortar set method is most popular and is typically used in pedestrian or vehicular areas where a rigid system is required.

If you use dirt as your backfill or base, your pavers will sink, rotate, and separate. Instead of having a smooth surface, you'll have a bumpy, uneven surface.

Stamped concrete is one of the most popular patio and deck materials worldwide. It is slightly cheaper than pavers and offers a variety of colors and patterns.

Concrete, cobblestone, asphalt, brick, and interlocking pavers are the most durable driveway installation options available today. Apart from their lengthy lifespans, these materials also hold up well in any climate, require minimal maintenance, offer a smooth drive, and elevate your home's first impression.

Overall, the difference between asphalt and concrete driveways is that asphalt is less durable than concrete. With proper maintenance, it can last 30 years. Alternatively, concrete provides a sturdy, long-lasting option and can last homeowners 50+ years with occasional repairs and degreasing.