Introduction
Driveways— the first impression of your property— not only serve as a functional pathway to vehicles but enhance curb appeal. Various options are available for the driveways, but concrete is considered the topmost priority due to its durability and longevity in Columbus, considering the weather conditions.
This blog post will shed some light on the advantages of having quality concrete driveways in your Columbus home and its distinguishing features in comparison to other materials. Moreover, if you want to have quality concrete driveways in Columbus, we recommend an affordable and reliable Columbus concrete contractor option at the end of this guide. Keep on reading to know more!
Advantages of Quality Concrete Driveways
Wondering which material is best suited for the driveways, especially in Columbus, keeping in mind the weather extremities? Concrete can be the right choice when it comes to durability, longevity, and aesthetics. Let’s find out some more advantages of having quality concrete driveways:
Aesthetic Appeal
Before we move on to the durability and strength of concrete material, let’s discuss the aesthetic appeal it brings to driveways and, overall, the home. The light grey natural color of concrete can go with any paint, and if one wants a different contrast, colored concrete is always the option. Moreover, multiple design options are also available in concrete material. Try Royal Concrete— one of the best residential concrete services in Columbus, OH— for stamped concrete, exposed aggregate concrete, and more.
You can also add textures that can blend with your home’s architectural design or match with the culture.
Exposed Aggregate Driveway: This type of concrete gives a look with pebbles and stones and can enhance the curb appeal of any house. Moreover, the driveways can last for decades with this type of concrete due to their extraordinary strength.
Stamped Concrete: Don’t like to compromise? Design or craft the driveway just like you want it to be! It requires less maintenance and can enhance the overall look of the driveway.
Longevity
Concrete driveways can last for decades due to the strength and durability of this material. Ever wondered what makes them this durable? Concrete driveways, when installed, have a mixed slurry of sand, gravel, and cement, in which each material adds to the overall strength of the final material. The average lifespan of concrete driveways can be 30 to 50 years if maintained properly.
Most of us might change our decision while considering the upfront cost, as asphalt driveways can cost less than concrete ones. However, budgetary considerations must be kept in mind for the long run. The Asphalt driveways have an overall higher maintenance cost with a lower average lifespan.
Low Maintenance
The concrete driveways have a major benefit, especially for the Columbus homes that need little or no maintenance at all. All you need to do is wash the driveway with special power washers or sweep the dirt and leaves when needed. However, one investment that the concrete driveways require every 2 years is the application of concrete sealers.
Moreover, in weather conditions like Columbus, you might need to seal the concrete every year as extreme snow and storms require the frequent use of de-icing agents, which can damage the sealant as well.
Absorbs Less Heat | Good for Hot Summers
Columbus experiences a long and hot summer every year with long hours of sun exposure. In this scenario, asphalt driveways cannot perform well as the material absorbs more heat and has a bad response towards light. Asphalt can not only absorb UV radiation but light radiation as well, making it look darker. Additionally, bond breaking in Asphalt upon UV light absorption causes it to degrade in no time.
On the other hand, concrete serves better for extremely hot weather conditions in Columbus as it absorbs less UV radiation and reflects more light. Thus, the concrete driveways can remain cooler even on hot summer days.
High Load-Bearing Capacity
Concrete is a rigid but flexible material that has a heavy weight-bearing capacity. Since the driveways serve as a functional pathway for vehicles, they need to be strong enough to bear the weight of a lightweight car or a heavy-loaded truck. Weak asphalt driveways, thinner pavements, and lack of compression properties in asphalt make it a poor choice for driveways as compared to concrete.
Environmentally Friendly
You can be a responsible citizen by even contributing towards designing or crafting an environmentally friendly driveway as well. A hot asphalt mixture requires 200-250 degrees Fahrenheit of heat to settle, while the concrete requires way less than that. Moreover, asphalt requires more chemicals to maintain structural integrity over the years, while concrete driveways only need sealant and hence are more environmentally friendly.
Concrete Driveway vs Other Driveways
Now that you’re aware of all the advantages and pros of having concrete driveways in your Columbus home, let’s discuss why not have the other materials as your top-most choice. Here’s the comparison between the concrete driveways and other materials:
Gravel Driveways— Although gravel driveways are cheaper, the lower strength and higher maintenance cost are the main disadvantages. Moreover, it is not best suited for snowy weather.
Asphalt Driveways— Asphalt driveways require less upfront cost than concrete ones but require frequent maintenance. Moreover, chemical treatments are needed for sealing, cleaning, and maintaining purposes, making it less environmentally friendly.
Paver Driveways— Paver driveways come in different design options, but the higher upfront costs and frequent maintenance make them less desirable.
Best Columbus Concrete Contractor for Driveways? Try Royal Concrete!
Wondering which contractor to choose in Columbus for the driveway work? We recommend trying Royal Concrete, which can provide the best driveway concrete installation service at Columbus property— both commercial and residential— with quality driveways. Moreover, the competent team at Royal Concrete— a commercial concrete solution in Ohio— combines expertise, knowledge, and dedication to provide the best services in Columbus for stamped concrete, exposed aggregate, and simple concrete driveways.