Rather than having a concrete driveway, paving stone driveways add a touch of elegance and refinement to any home. A paver stone driveway provides not only curb appeal and home value, but it’s a statement of taste and sophistication.

Many homeowners often wonder why they should switch to pavers since concrete driveways, walkways, and patios have been used for so long. Though, pavers have been used even longer going back to the Romans who used pavers of clay or natural stone as their primary surface for walkways and roads.

Original Blend

Pavers were originally made of clay and natural stone, but in the 1940’s manufacturers started making them of cement aggregate. Aggregate is the combination of cement and rock material. As the process improved over time, manufacturers have been able to use more large cement pieces and less water to make paving stones one of the most durable materials on the market.

Concrete vs. Pavers

  • Although concrete is functional, it’s not beautiful. Concrete is a boring, grey slab that greets visitors upon arriving at your home. Pavers, on the other hand, add a touch of elegance and old world charm, creating something stunning to admire.
  • Concrete cracks-pavers won’t. Concrete cannot move with the earth. If there is an earthquake, the concrete can crack, leaving ugly lines along your walkways, patios, and driveway. Pavers are designed to move and flex because there is a layer of sand in between each paver. This prevents cracking, and many pavers come with a lifetime warranty.
  • Pavers are easy to maintain. You can easily remove dirt and stains from patio pavers by cleaning with a simple solution.  If you use a paver sealer, you can remove stains by using water only.
  • Replacing concrete is difficult. If your concrete driveway cracks you have no choice but to remove the entire driveway or a large portion of it.  With pavers, you can simply replace the single damaged paver without impacting the rest of the space.  This makes maintenance projects quick and inexpensive.
  • Pavers are exceedingly strong and can hold the weight of a heavy truck driving up and down on them. They are designed to withstand the test of time.

Weather Fluctuations and Paver Driveways

Paver driveways can be somewhat pliable since there are so many edges to allow for movement from freeze and thaw cycles, therefore cracking rarely happens. Minor heaving can become an issue if you live in a northern environment and shovelling paver driveways can be a bit more of a chore since there are many edges to catch a shovel on. However, paver driveways are extremely durable and can withstand de-icing products like salt, magnesium chloride and other de-icing chemicals, so shovelling is substantially reduced.

Think Pavers for Best Driveway

Paving your driveway is a landscaping project that is extremely personal and a reflection of your taste and style. Professional Burlington landscaping companies have design experts who can help you to select the perfect paving stones from their large selections. Because pavers are by far the superior choice to concrete driveways, think pavers for your new driveway and enjoy the elegance plus ease of maintenance for a stunning look.