The 3 Best Driveway Paving Materials
A freshly paved asphalt driveway in front of a luxury home.
For a moment, let’s close our eyes and imagine a world with no paved driveways. What if your only options were a dirt or grass driveway?
Yes, you could just drive on the grass or dirt. But that means your cars can sink into the mud every time it rains hard. And when it’s dry, they will be dusty and dirty all the time. Your grass will be torn up by the tires and heavy traffic until deep ruts form. Not only that, but everyone will track mud and dirt into your house constantly.
Some people may be okay with that.
But most of us can probably agree that, for modern living, paving a driveway is a great idea. A necessity, even.
In this post, we’ll take a look at the following driveway-related issues:
8 benefits of pavement.
The 3 best paving materials for your driveway (pros and cons)
Whether paving your driveway is worth it.
Factors involved in driveway paving costs.
Looking for driveway contractors in Columbia, SC?
By the way, if you need driveway installation near you in the Columbia, SC area, give us a call today at 803-521-4978. Or email us at bootsonenterprises@gmail.com. We’d love to help with your paving needs in Lexington or Richland counties.
A property in desperate need of a good driveway contractor.
What are the benefits of paving your driveway?
A paved driveway offers a lot of great benefits that you may not have ever considered before.
8 amazing benefits of pavement:
Any kind of pavement can do the following things for you if you keep it well-maintained:
1. Keeps your yard neat, clean, and tidy.
2. Prevents your shoes from getting muddy.
3. Provides a cleaner house on the outside (less dust/mud).
4. Keeps your home cleaner on the inside (less tracking dirt/mud).
5. Gives a smoother walking surface, which can minimize falls and trips.
6. Looks beautiful and adds curb appeal.
7. Adds value to your home.
8. Provides the perfect place for outdoor recreation like bike-riding, basketball, rollerblading, and more.
So paving is a good thing. The only issue is what paving material do you want to use?
The 3 best driveway paving options
Paving materials need to have certain qualities to be valuable for your driveway. First, they need to be durable and able to last for many years, withstanding the intensity of the sun, rain, wind, and pressure from traffic. They shouldn’t chip or break easily either.
A good paving material also needs to be beautiful to look at. Generally, you want a consistent look throughout the whole driveway. Or, you may want something you can upgrade with a stylish finish for an extra touch of luxury.
And paving materials should be affordable and practical. A diamond-studded driveway may be quite durable, for example, but it wouldn’t be affordable.
If you are thinking about paving your driveway, there are a lot of choices, but the main three categories of pavement options include…
Asphalt/blacktop driveways.
Concrete/cement driveways.
Driveway pavers - natural stone, cement, or brick.
A large asphalt driveway in the Columbia, SC area that we paved near a beautiful lake.
1. Asphalt
We’ll take the three most popular driveway materials in alphabetical order. Asphalt is a fantastic choice for roads and driveways.
What is asphalt?
You may wonder, “What is asphalt made of?” It can seem kind of mysterious. And the vapors from hot asphalt can be extremely strong.
Asphalt is made from aggregates (small stones/gravel), binder, and filler (like sand). The binder is a thick liquid or semi-solid form of petroleum, also called, bitumen. It’s the petroleum-based liquid in asphalt that gives it the dark color and unique smell when it is still hot.
Asphalt is not the same thing as concrete. But both are very popular paving methods.
The way to tell the difference between concrete vs asphalt is that concrete will generally look off-white in color and asphalt looks black. Although, colors and dyes can be added to both concrete and asphalt which can dramatically alter the appearance of these materials.
Pros and cons of asphalt driveways
Pros of asphalt driveways
Asphalt can be better than cement or pavers because:
Usually the most affordable paving option.
Seamless — a very smooth driving surface.
Hides oil spills better than other types of pavement
Quick installation and use - you can drive on it after about 24 hours, generally.
More flexible than concrete and can withstand greater temperatures, pressures, and movement better than concrete or pavers.
Doesn’t crack easily. And cracks can be repaired.
Absorbs more heat, allowing ice/snow to melt faster in colder climates.
Properly installed, it can be almost as durable as concrete.
Can be repaired or resealed to make it last longer.
Upgrades are available to make it look stunningly beautiful.
Stamping - to make the surface look like stone, brick, or pavers.
Dyes - to color the asphalt to make unique designs/aesthetics.
Cons of asphalt driveways
Asphalt has some disadvantages:
Some maintenance is required. You may need to do seal coating every 3-5 years or so.
Can get very hot in the summer - not good for bare feet.
In extreme heat and direct sunlight, may get tarry/soft.
Not as long-lasting as concrete.
A long concrete driveway adds beauty and value to this gorgeous home and property.
2. Concrete
Paving a driveway is a big decision and a hefty investment that you want to be sure will last for many years to come. One of the most popular driveway materials is concrete. It has a lot of advantages that we will describe below.
What is concrete?
Concrete is a thick mixture of gravel, water, and cement. To make a concrete driveway, steel bars (or mesh) may sometimes be laid down before pouring the concrete to reinforce and strengthen the concrete.
How thick is a concrete driveway?
For a driveway, most of the time, you’ll want a minimum of 4 inches thick concrete. But if you plan to have heavier vehicles on your driveway, 5-6 inches of concrete driveway thickness might be best. (Check with your trusted local concrete driveway contractors for their recommendation for your driveway.)
Pros and cons of a concrete driveway
Pros of concrete driveways
Very durable — generally last longer than asphalt paving does if installed properly.
Very low maintenance to no maintenance.
Can repair cracks.
Don’t get hot even on sunny summer days — light color or plain concrete often okay for bare feet.
May upgrade concrete with color and texture options like
Stamping - makes concrete look like stone pavers, tiles, or other patterns
Coloring - mixed into the concrete when it’s wet to be integral all the way through.
Staining - a transparent color that is added to the surface of concrete that can accomplish many different effects.
Curb appeal. Looks higher-end than asphalt.
Cons of concrete driveways
May take about a week for a concrete driveway to dry and completely set.
Usually more expensive than asphalt driveways.
Can crack under certain conditions.
Crack repairs can be more noticeable than with asphalt.
More difficult to repair compared to pavers — may have to remove and replace entire area if there is damage.
Can become stained by oil or tire marks.
May have seams that can be slightly bumpy.
A driveway contractor installing concrete driveway pavers on a gravel base using a rubber hammer.
3. Driveway Pavers
It’s easy to assume that your only options for a driveway are asphalt or concrete. But driveway pavers are another great choice to think about. They offer their own set of advantages and beauty.
What is a driveway paver?
A driveway paver is almost like a very thick, durable tile made of concrete or other durable materials. It’s generally interlocking and comes dry and ready to install.
What types of driveway pavers are available?
Concrete, brick, or natural stone can be wonderful options for your driveway, not just a patio, pool deck, or sidewalk.
Pros and cons of a paver driveway
Pros of paver driveways
Stunningly beautiful. Achieve old world charm or a modern look.
Many shapes, textures, and colors are available.
Countless options for patterns and design.
Better drainage options - permeable driveway possibilities.
Very high-end look. Great for curb appeal and may boost home value the most.
No drying/curing time.
Less prone to cracking.
Easy to replace individual broken pavers.
Low maintenance.
Can be stronger and last longer than poured concrete.
Cons of paver driveways
More expensive than concrete or asphalt driveways.
Need a proper driveway drainage system.
Could have weeds/moss issues.
Could shift and become uneven.
May need to be sealed occasionally.
Need to keep extra pavers stored in case some need to be replaced later.
A modern home with brick driveway pavers and a very functional driveway drain.
Is paving your driveway worth it?
These days, if you have a house, you need a driveway. And, in many neighborhoods, a paved driveway is a requirement, not an option. Your HOA (homeowners’ association) may even specify the type of paving you have to have for your property.
But paving materials do cost money. So how can you know it’s worth it to pay to pave your driveway?
Paving your driveway offers a lot of benefits, like we discussed at the top of the article. But it may actually add monetary value to your home, as well.
Will a paved driveway add value to my home?
Having no pavement for your driveway is not a good look when you try to sell your home. Particularly if the other homes around yours have paved driveways.
Buyers want to see pavement (asphalt, concrete, or pavers) not dirt or loose gravel. And they really want to see pavement that is in good condition.
Want to give your home value an even bigger boost? Add beautiful driveway landscaping and edging along your driveway to make it really pop.
A well-maintained paved driveway adds value to your home and a beautiful new driveway can make your home sell faster. In some parts of the country, a driveway will pay for itself and/or add thousands of dollars to your home’s value.
Your trusted local real estate agent can if this is the case for your situation in the current real estate market.
If you are in a buyer’s market:
Before you sell your home, check with experienced driveway contractors near you for any services you may need to boost your driveway’s appearance and value. Maybe you need concrete driveway repair, patching, or replacement. Or maybe you need asphalt driveway repair, seal coating, crack filling, or new coat of blacktop, or resurfacing.
Will widening your driveway affect home saleability?
Having a single-width driveway is a huge pain with people having to move cars around before one family member can leave.
And if you are able to widen your driveway, buyers will appreciate being able to park more cars there in the future. Most people need a minimum of two parking spaces for their single-family home. But almost everyone also wants to have room for friends and family to park, as well.
It would be ideal to have space for at least four cars to park in your driveway without having to be in the street or tear up your lawn.
Plus, a wide, flat driveway gives kids a great area to play basketball and ride bikes.
Ready for unique driveway paving ideas? How about this beautiful grass and poured concrete paver driveway in the Columbia, SC area that we installed for a client?
Driveway paving cost depends on several factors
Driveways can cost thousands of dollars. Each situation is unique, which is why we give free quotes for driveways for potential clients looking for new paving installation or asphalt, paver, or concrete driveway repair (Columbia, SC area) — 803-521-4978.
Driveway costs are made up of a variety of factors including:
Driveway pavement material.
Current supply chain situation.
The size/area of the driveway.
The amount of labor involved.
Accessibility of the driveway area.
Whether drainage needs to be installed.
If the area needs to be graded before paving.
If the area needs to be cleared of trees, shrubs, or other vegetation.
Whether any curbing, culverts, and/or driveway aprons are desired.
Any upgrades to color, texture, or design of asphalt or concrete.
A concrete driveway with brick inset detailing by Boots On Enterprises.
Other upgrades to consider while estimating your driveway project:
Driveway landscaping.
Driveway lighting.
Driveway gates.
New landscaping for the front yard.
New fencing.
Brick detailing.
If you hire a driveway contractor like us, we can do all of these things for you. No need to call multiple contractors.
One of our freshly poured concrete driveways in Columbia, SC waiting to cure.
Looking for an experienced driveway company near you in Columbia, SC?
We provide driveway installation near you in Lexington, SC and the greater Columbia, SC area. We also do repairs, patches, and seal coating.
Please give us a call today at 803-521-4978 for a free driveway estimate.
Or email us at bootsonenterprises@gmail.com.
Take a look at our home page to see our other services. We can handle your landscaping, tree, driveway lighting, drainage, and fencing needs, as well.
Where we work:
We work in areas like Irmo, Ballentine, Lexington, all around Lake Murray, Lexington, West Columbia, Cayce, downtown Columbia, Spring Valley, Lake Carolina, Blythewood, and more areas in the Midlands of SC.
