For driveway paving Vancouver, there are so many available options for you. But you should always know about most of them because you will like one among them for its beautiful look. But you should know about their advantages and disadvantages along with cost too. It will be favorable for you from all sides. Let’s learn about some driveway pavers one by one:

Concrete Driveways

There are many types of concrete in the marketplace. Some are plain concrete, and some have a color with acid stains or pigment. There is also stampede concrete which can present you any look like stone, gravel, wood, bricks, etc. You can even choose a customized option for it to make your structure unique. In addition, there are the exposed aggregates which will let you see the top layers of the textured gravels.

The advantages of concrete driveways are concrete is very durable. It is durable for a minimum of 15 to 50 years. The long-lasting feature depends on concrete contact with salt and subsoil. But you have to ensure proper drainage and sealing to use it for so many days. For cold areas, you can easily remove the snow from your concrete. For a game-playing field like basketball, concrete is perfect.

To use a newly installed concrete, it is good if you can give it seven days to cure. Concretes will crack in freezing situations. So, it is risky to use concrete for making any structure with it in freezing weather. Besides, you cannot place a layer of concrete with another. To replace one, you have to break the concrete slab.

You have to seal concrete in every two layers. It is hard to make the finish smooth. Only the expert can do this. There is a chance to fade the colorful concrete after a prolonged use time. Removing stains of grease, oil, and chemicals is complicated from concrete. If the drainage system is poor and the soil is not good, the durability of concrete reduces a lot. It only may last from five to eight years.

The expenditure of concrete starts from $3 to $4 per square foot when you want to install plain concrete. For the colored ones, you have to spend $5; for the exposed aggregate, the costs will be $7, and for the acid-etched finish concrete, the price will be $8. You will have to spend $1 to $2.50 per square foot for every 8 to 10 inches of gravel base under the concrete for the new driveways.

The ground should have compacted well if it is a gravel-based concrete installation. In addition, the draining system of the earth should be exemplary too. When the concrete has cured, you can utilize a sprinkler to keep the concrete as much as moist after it cures.

Asphalt Driveways

There are also some variations of the asphalt. Like the simple hot mix of asphalt, gravel with chip seal, pattern-stamped, and acrylic polymer colors. Gravels can resist any cracks because it is flexible for any little movement in the ground. You can easily shape the asphalt. Besides, you don’t have to bear any extra expense to form structures like mold or work form to shape it. Asphalt can easily last up to 15 to 20 years if you can ensure its proper maintenance.

Besides applying sealers, you can increase the durability of asphalt too. Asphalts don’t need to break the whole structure when you are again replacing them. You can create a layer over the existing one and bring the nice old look back. Asphalt’s clean edge is very tough. If the place of the asphalt is not drained correctly, it can start to show problems in five years. In addition, you have to use a sealer every two years.

Some plants are harmful to asphalt, which can break the structure. The price of asphalt varies in different areas. The base coat will cost you $1 to $2.50 per square foot. You have to add geotextile and drain cost with it. The price for a plain topcoat will be $1 to $2.50 per square foot, for a chip seal, it will be $3.50, and for a colored or stamped one, it will be $3 to $5. The price will be $1 to $2.50 more per square foot for a new driveway.

It will be for 8 to 10 inches gravel layer for the base of asphalt. The bottom of asphalt is very durable, like the asphalt itself. You can apply a soil sterilizer under the gravel, which will kill the weeds. Using a latex sealer after every two years will not let the water enter the system, and the look will be beautiful.

Cobblestone And Pavers Driveways

The other name for cobblestone is the Belgium block. They only have one shape, rectangular. On the other hand, the pavers have so many designs and patterns. You will see innovations like anvil, trefoil, bow tie, hexagon, keyhole, etc. Both the cobblestone and pavers are durable for 100 years easily. The pavers don’t have problems with unstable soil and drainage systems. You can easily replace damaged or stained cobblestones and pavers.

Cobblestone can hold the snow and ice very quickly. But it is not tough to remove them. But to get this advantage, first, you have to ensure a sound installation. Pavers are more costly than cobblestone. To install both of them needs the careful observation of the professional contractors. The sand layer for the foundation should be well compacted. Otherwise, they cannot set it evenly. Between the big joints of the cobblestones may grow grass and weeds too. The cost for pavers will start from 50 cents to $1.50. Depending on the preparation of the bed, the price may vary from $6 to $10 per square foot. For the cobblestone, the price will be $13 per square foot.

Gravel And Crushed Stone Driveways

Gravels have different sizes and colors. The crushed stones have granite, shale, concrete limestone, etc. Whether it is gravel or crushed stone, both are affordable. In addition, both of them are cold-resistant, which will not let the freezing temperature harm your structure. Also, you don’t need any base to install them. Only you have to dump and spread them all over the area.

It is straightforward to add a cost of any redressing like pea gravel over them. This gravel and stones can quickly scatter everywhere. It creates ditches inside them. Besides, the smaller rocks go down after 4-5 years. You have to redress them from time to time. You will feel problematic cleaning snow from them in winter. For a layer with 2 inches, gravel and crushed stone will cost you $1 per square foot.

Final Remarks

For the driveway paving Vancouver, you will think to install the most beautiful one in your driveway. It is a prevalent fact. But you should also consider the one that will be compatible with the weather, your budget, durability, and look. Only then you can make the proper selection!