DIY Driveway Paving Index

How to Pave your House Driveway

Well you are all settled in your new home, you've never been so elated so you go outside to see the view of your new home from the road and you're thrown off. Something is wrong, it's that damn driveway. It looks ragged and ancient; you want it to complement you, and who you are and your dreams for your home. It's time for some paving, making that driveway your baby. It takes a few things however if you plan on doing this yourself. In a couple, maybe expensive steps if you don't do your research, your driveway can look as good as new. It can even have some color. Imagine that.

Needed Essentials

Some essential items you might need... some gravel, some crushed gravel, gravel spreader, asphalt mix, some asphalt spreader, and even a drum roller. A big question is whether you have an old surface to remove, if so, you are going to need a jackhammer to break that surface up. That's going to be a little tough, but it should be enjoyable.

Starting a New Surface

Okay, once the old surface is up, it's time to start a new. First mark off the boundaries of the driveway so the gravel doesn't overlap them, then start spreading the gravel through the driveway. A gravel service can bring you some gravel and leave it at the bottom of the driveway. Make sure while your spreading the gravel, it is not any deeper than 8 inches.

Asphalt

Next up is the asphalt, use an asphalt service if you must, or simply do it yourself if you have the proper equipment. Once the asphalt and liquid cement mix is nice and hot, you are ready for the next step. Now you must distribute the asphalt evenly, using an asphalt spreader to even out your surface. Then make sure to spread the crushed gravel throughout the warm asphalt. A drum roller could be good for this or any tool to help smooth out the surface into a chip seal, keeping the driveway strong.

Resting Period

What's left you ask? Just don't touch it. Let the driveway cool off and dry for at least 24 hours with anyone touching it, or anyone driving on it.

Color Stain

If you want the driveway a specific color, concrete can be stained into an assortment of different colors. Of course that decision has to be answered before this whole process begins.

Arthor and Source: Chuck Martin

Tips Choosing Driveway Material

When it comes to paving your driveway, there are several factors to take into account. The primary concern is what material to use. One type of material is loose stone, which tends to be inexpensive in comparison to other popular materials such as asphalt, tar and chip, or concrete. Loose stone is natural looking and pleasing to the eye, although there are some challenges to take into account. It may pose as difficult to walk on and prove to be a challenge when it comes to snow removal.

You can create a beautiful driveway design by using a less expensive material and accenting it with other materials. You can also simply use a material such as asphalt, and put your funds into great landscaping, lighting and other garden features. An outstanding driveway design does not have to include expensive material. After all, it is the entire landscape design itself that is important.

ADVICE - Asphalt, Paverstone, Concrete, or Gravel

Building a Driveway?

Your driveway, along with the front of your property, is a very prominent part of your landscape. It is very visual from the street. It is an entry to your home. In addition, it is the main thing people look for when coming to your home. There are a few important things to think about when undertaking a driveway design.

Top 10 Driveway Design Features

Driveway Paverstone or Asphalt?

Through the use of concrete pavers, driveway design has taken on a life of its own. Where once the driveway was just an afterthought, now it is part of the landscape design. Asphalt driveways were once as common as asphalt roads but now they are almost never considered unless the distance is uneconomical for other products. Even in those unusual conditions, you will find the driveway closest to the house made of something more pleasing to the eye, such as concrete pavers or stamped concrete.

Asphalt Trying to Compete

The asphalt industry has attempted to create a more aesthetically pleasing product by offering designs imprinted in the asphalt. Heated cables, connected in several different designs, are pressed into the driveway asphalt. Once the cables are removed, leaving channels in the asphalt, colors are used to create the look of cobble or brick on the driveway.

Why you should Paverstone your Driveway