The construction business is not all about building huge buildings. It also involves building of roads and lanes and much more. Skilled people are required for all these specialised activities. Building of roads and driveways has to be done well because after all you are going to drive on it. Here are some basic things that you need to know.
Driveways are basically a small road, which is mainly used to reach a small group of structures. It is usually a private road, which is maintained by an individual or by a group. They may or may not have traffic lights, and driveways can be decorative.
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| Concrete Driveways |
What Are The Different Types Of Driveways?
There are seven types of driveways. The concrete ones make use of cement, sand, gravel and water and they need less maintenance and are one of the most long lasting surfaces. Asphalt ones are made from sand, rock and asphalt cement. Gravel driveways involve the use of lose gravel. The gravel is poured in a barrier and needs to be replaced every few years. The brick ones look classy but they are expensive. The Cobblestone type also looks good and lasts longer but this one too is expensive. Some people also go in for ones made from glass. However, these need to be installed properly and with utmost care.
Which One Is The Best Option?
The most popular option is asphalt and concrete. They both have their own advantages and disadvantages which one needs to consider before they make their final choice. However, concrete driveway is by far the most preferred choice.
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| Driveways |
Advantages And Disadvantages Of Concrete Driveways
Concrete driveways is a cost effective option. They are durable. If you take proper care of a concrete highway then they can last for almost 30 years. They are easy to maintain. You normally only need to sweep and do pressure washing. At times, you may have to use chemicals to remove certain stains and marks like oil stains. It is possible to make them look decorative and colorful and it remains cool in the hot summer months. Removing snow from a concrete driveway is easy.
One of the major disadvantages of a concrete driveway is that you cannot do resurfacing on it. After several years when the cracks appear, you have to remove the old driveway and construct a new one. If a large driveway is required then a concrete driveway can be an expensive choice. In such cases, one may consider gravel to be a better option. When we consider the maintenance part, the concrete score exceeds gravel. Since the concrete driveway comes in lighter shades, it can get stained easily. These stains can be seen easily on the light surface. It is therefore necessary that you remove these stains. Once again removal of the stains can be difficult and time consuming. In case of oil stains or stains and marks due to tires one may have to make use of special chemicals. For this, you will have to take the services of a special stain remover. This adds to the maintenance cost.
So if you are thinking of having a driveway in your home or office then just keep in mind that there are plenty of options rights from gravel, concrete to brick. Depending on your budget, you can choose one which will take care of your requirement. Though gravel is the cheapest, it is better to opt for a concrete material driveway because it has a better life as compared to gravel and it needs less maintenance. It is therefore, one of the most popular choices as compared to others.
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