While they may not be the most exciting section of your outdoor space, a well designed driveway is a pivotal part of a home’s exterior. Not only does your driveway need to be functional and practical but it should also give your home a bit of curb appeal. A good driveway can even increase your homes market value, making it easier when it comes to selling. However, choosing the best material for your drive is not always simple. There are various factors that you need to think about such as practicality, cost, durability, longevity and style. Below we explore the pros and cons of one of the most common driveway materials:
block paving.
Pros of Block Paving
Aesthetically Pleasing
A block paved driveway or ‘paver driveway’ is a great choice if you want to create a driveway that is visually pleasing as well as practical. Block paved driveways use small paving stones/bricks to create a solid, flat surface. Paving bricks can be found in a wide variety of colours and sizes and can either be laid to create a smart, uniformed look or a unique and interesting pattern.
Great for Sloped Driveways
Thanks to their small size,
block paving stones are ideal for slopes and awkward shapes. The paving stones can easily be laid on sloping ground as well as steps, to give your home’s exterior a neat and uniformed look. Paved driveways usually offer better traction than other common driveway coverings such as concrete which makes them safer to drive on in icy or snowy conditions.
Less Prone to Cracking
The small size of paving bricks offers another advantage in that they are less prone to cracking. When driving and walking over the bricks the load is spread more evenly meaning cracking is less likely to occur.
Easier to DIY
While you may want to call in the help of a professional to dig out the foundations, block paving is fairly easy to lay. The
paving bricks are laid onto a layer of sharp sand; no cement is necessary.
Easy to Repair
Although
paving blocks are hard wearing, occasional damage may occur. However, if blocks do become damaged or corroded, they can be placed individually. This is particularly convenient for blocks that have been affected by oil spills.
Cons of Block Paving
Paving Blocks Can Move
If water enters the gaps between the stones and freezes, this can cause the stones to move. However, this problem can be somewhat avoided by using a permeable stone. This allows more surface water to penetrate the paving bricks and prevents water logging and flooding. Stopping paving blocks from moving can also be avoided by hiring a qualified paver who will lay the blocks in such a way as to as to allow water to quickly and effectivley find its way to the sub base.
Longer Installation Time
Block paving has to be laid manually one brick at a time. Because of this, block paving typically takes longer to install than a concrete, tarmac or gravel driveway which can just be poured onto the ground.
