The Pros and Cons of Concrete Slab Driveways and Concrete Paver Driveways
By Mark J. Donovan
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Question: We are building a new home in Texas and have been trying to decide on which material to use for the installation of our driveway. Our old home had an asphalt driveway and we were less than pleased with its performance and the maintenance required. The decision has come down to either installing a concrete slab driveway or a concrete paver driveway. Maintenance is a big concern for us. Do you have any comparison thoughts between a concrete slab driveway and a concrete paver driveway?
Answer: Though asphalt is used in many driveways throughout the country they admittedly do require regular maintenance. They usually need to be sealed every year or two. |
Concrete Paver Driveway
Concrete Pavers are more expensive than poured concrete, both from a unit cost and from an installation standpoint. The installation of concrete pavers requires more up front site prep work, as the base needs to be extremely packed to prevent settling of the concrete pavers. Even with a solid base, however, inevitably some settling will occur with a concrete paver driveway.
| Also, the edges of a concrete paver driveway will always be highly susceptible to movement. As a result, a concrete paver based driveway will require maintenance over time.
Concrete Slab Driveways A concrete slab driveway on the other hand is easy to install, and is extremely strong, particularly when used with rebar. Concrete slab driveways are virtually maintenance free, however they are susceptible to staining and salt damage. |
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Living in Texas, your probably less likely to have to deal with salted roads so in your case salt should not be an issue.
Finally, there are techniques now employed with poured concrete slab driveways that enable you to get a paver look (including the color) without paying the price of concrete pavers.
My recommendation is to go with the concrete slab driveway if cost and maintenance are high concerns.
For more help on Asphalt Driveway Paving, see HomeAdditionPlus.com’s Asphalt Driveway Paving Bid sheet. The Asphalt Driveway Paving Bid Sheet will help ensure that your hire the right contractor so that your driveway is paved correctly and you get the finished driveway you are looking for.
Related Information
- Can you Asphalt Pave a Driveway in Winter?
- Can you Paver over an Existing Asphalt Driveway?
- How to Remove Oils Stains from Asphalt Driveways
Additional Driveway Paving Resources
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