An Outdoor Oasis

Paved surfaces can create distinctive and functional surfaces within your landscape, from patios and walkways in your backyard to your driveway that leads straight to the front door of your home. However, not all paved surfaces are alike: there are a variety of different residential paving materials on the market, each of which possess a distinctive set of material qualities. Understanding the differences between the available types of paving materials on the market and what they have to offer can help you choose the best material for your hardscaping or paving project.

Concrete

Concrete is one of the most common paving materials, largely due to its relatively low cost and high durability. Furthermore, concrete is relatively maintenance free, and will only require a sealant every few years to ensure its structural stability.

However, concrete does have an issue holding up to cold weather: freezing temperatures can cause cracking, and deicing chemicals and salt can eat away at the surface. Furthermore, concrete can stain relatively easily if exposed to chemicals, making it a less than ideal choice for driveways, as constant diligence to cleaning up spills and puddles is needed to maintain the appearance of your concrete.

Brick

Brick paved surfaces are installed over a base of asphalt or concrete, layered in an interlocking pattern. Brick provides a unique and luxurious aesthetic that other types of paving materials cannot match, and their general durability and temperature resistance makes them well suited for all climates.

However, brick is a relatively expensive material, which is compounded by the fact that brick paved surfaces have to be installed literally brick by brick, instead of being poured into place. This greatly increases install times and costs. Further, the uneven surface of bricks can make snow shoveling difficult, especially since metal plows and shovels can cause chipping and scratching to the surface of bricks.

Asphalt

Asphalt is even more common than concrete, largely due to its extremely low cost and the speed at which it can be installed. A driveway or patio can be poured and ready to walk on in a matter of days.

However, asphalt is not as durable as other paving materials, and will expand and contract significantly due to temperature changes, which can cause cracking and potholes to develop. Further, asphalt offers no design customization, coming in only basic black. Finally, asphalt will likely require a great deal of maintenance, patching, and sealing or repaving to ensure that it stays in good condition over time, increasing long run costs.