Most of the time, when we’re constructing a new house, our primary focus is the main home structure and the interiors—while things like the garage and driveway often take a back seat.
At times, this makes sense, too, since driveways have a very practical and simple purpose: to get your vehicle off the street and into the parking. So really, how much could you possibly do to beautify this space, and is there even a need to do so? Well, with the wide range of materials available today and ideas on websites like Pinterest, we’ve got to say there’s a lot you can do design-wise.
Also, to answer the next part of the question, i.e., whether there’s a need to design a beautiful driveway. Well, it’s important to understand that the driveway is a significant feature in your home’s curb appeal, which is why it should never look like an afterthought.
This article will help you see how you can design an extraordinary driveway with concrete construction services and paver installations for your home in Glendale.
Decide on A Budget
For almost any home improvement project or upgrade, we highly advise that you set a budget for yourself before you start. This will help you in two ways mainly. First, you won’t be overspending—which is very easy to do given the variety of fancy add-ons and options within your reach. Secondly, having a budget will make decision-making easier for you. For instance, when you can’t decide between two different paver designs you love equally, you can choose the one that fits your budget.
According to Forbes, a driveway typically costs somewhere between $1700 to $7000 for the materials. And when that’s combined with the installation, you’d probably be paying about $2-15 dollars per square foot. Given that a standard driveway is between 9 feet to 24 feet, the material and installation costs could add up to a significant figure.
And while many people might suggest choosing cheaper materials to cut upfront costs, you have to consider the long-term costs associated with different materials and their maintenance. For instance, paver driveways cost more to install but are easy to maintain. On the other hand, gravel driveways are the least expensive, installation-wise, but they require regular and expensive care. So, invest for the future wisely while staying within your current budget.
Figure Out the Size and Shape That Would Work Best
Once you have a budget in place, you have to start thinking about the shape and size of the driveway, which is, of course, linked to the rest of your plans for your front garden and so on.
And besides your landscaping plans, there are other crucial considerations for the size and shape. For instance, you need to have a driveway wide enough for your family’s needs—you may also want to consider space for guests’ cars. And, of course, you have to leave enough room to navigate slightly. Also, if you’re planning to install a gate for the driveway—which is trending these days—you have to also factor in the swing space for the gate. Also, if the driveway is too long for a car to reverse entirely, you may consider leaving space for it to turn around.
Then the next thing you’d want to consider is the shape of the driveway. Most people have driveways built straight; others prefer curved ones. Ideally, you might want to work out a shape that gives you the best access to the garage from the road.
Also, you could work out a more creative shape to incorporate the existing landscape. For instance, if there’s a tree, you can work around that.
Think of The Materials You Want to Use
Choosing the material is equal parts fun and daunting because you have to consider how a particular material would look for your driveway in your given space, but you also have to make a practical choice. And the fact that there are endless options to choose from doesn’t make it any easier.
For starters, you want to think about the budget and avoid getting carried away. Some materials will be more expensive, while others will be less costly—mostly decorative materials like limestone chippings, gravel, and so on.
You’ve probably seen a lot of gravel driveways, and that’s because those are the most affordable. But they come with lots of cons like poor footing and too much friction, especially for wheelchairs and kids’ bikes.
A harder surface is usually a more practical option for homes, and the affordable options for that are concrete blocks. If you have a bigger budget, you can also go with fancier materials like porcelain setts or natural blocks, stones, or pavers if your budget is somewhere in the middle.
Generally, it’s important to understand that almost all materials have their pros and cons. So, another thing you’ve got to consider when choosing materials is aesthetics because those are equally important, if not more.
Think of Aesthetics and Finishing Touches
As we mentioned earlier, your home’s driveway is a huge part of its curb appeal; therefore, its aesthetics matter a lot. So be it the shape of your driveway or the material you’re picking, you have to keep the overall look and aesthetics in mind.
So, for instance, if you’re choosing pavers, you need to pick a color that works with your home’s exterior and the garage door. And then the style you’re choosing must also work with the overall vibe. For instance, if your house has modern architecture, large concrete slabs may look better than interlocking pavers. On the other hand, for a more classic look, you can go with gravel or brick pavers.
Also, aesthetics doesn’t just have to be limited to the driveway and its material itself; you can borrow other landscaping features to enhance this part of the landscape. For instance, you can have flower beds to create the edges for the driveway—it’ll give the perfect soft look.
Alternatively, you could opt for some grass-concrete geometry or mix-matched stone styles. Or, if you’re looking for something very artsy, you can consider creating a tree canopy to cover the driveway. It could look like something straight out of a storybook if done right.
Add A Gate to Create A More Cohesive Look
Nowadays, gate installations for driveways are becoming increasingly common. Not only do most gates look super aesthetic and add a lot of character to the driveway and overall space, but they’re also great for security purposes.
Also, with a gate in place, you’re not only keeping intruders out but also children and pets inside. Just make sure that you have enough space for the gate to swing open, whether it’s an inward or an outward swing. Also, it’d be best to pick out material for the gate that is sturdy and works with your driveway design and the rest of the home structure.
You can go with wood, aluminum, steel, iron, or other materials you prefer. You can also make your life a lot simpler with an automated gate!
Some Extra Factors to Keep in Mind
While it may look like we’ve already listed more than you’d ever need to know for a driveway design—we have to break it to you; we’re just getting started.
The fact is that while the material, shape, and other add-ons are at the forefront of driveway constructions, some massive underlying considerations and factors have to be kept in mind.
Here are a few you need to know before you start designing the driveway (we’re guessing you’ll learn more on the go when you’ve started the design process).
Overall Curb Appeal and Home Value
While we’ve mentioned the importance of the driveway as a key feature of your home’s curb appeal, there’s more to it. The fact is that a gorgeous driveway isn’t just supposed to impress your guests and neighbors.
For every significant home improvement project, you have to consider the impact it will have on your home’s overall value—because you can’t rule out the possibility that you may sell the property in the near future. So, ideally, any driveway you design needs to boost your home’s value, and it needs to impress potential buyers.
Climate
Where you live is important when it comes to driveway materials, and this is because of the varying climate. For instance, if there’s a lot of snow in an area, then asphalt may be a better choice than concrete.
Also, rainfalls tend to affect gravel and pea stone driveways because they cause erosion. So, ideally, it’s best to choose a material that would require minimal maintenance due to climate. This may take excessive research, but it’ll pay off.
Drainage
The driveway needs a drainage plan, just like the rest of the property. This is important regardless of the general climate. Because even if there’s no rain flooding the driveway, you might occasionally clean and power wash the space or your cars, in which case you need a drainage plan that allows surface run-off. This will ensure that your property and the streets don’t get flooded whenever it rains or when you power wash.
You can do this in several ways; for instance, you could use drainage channels or permeable paving. Or you could create a surface run-off that directs the water to the front lawn or flower beds.
Maintenance
Maintenance is one of the main considerations when you’re designing a driveway. It could mean the difference between endless regrets or pats on the back for yourself. The thing is that every material and style that you choose for the driveway will come with its own maintenance specifics.
The smart thing is to make a choice today that will benefit you tomorrow. For instance, if you choose gravel in an area where it snows a lot, and you’re always plowing snow, you’ll have to replace a lot of the removed gravel pretty much every year.
Also, you have to consider things like whether you can figure out the maintenance yourself or whether you’d have to hire professionals and pay them significant amounts to maintain an already expensive driveway.
Durability
Lastly, you have to consider the driveway’s durability. This will vary a lot depending on the material you choose. For instance, you can expect an asphalt driveway to last about 20 years, while a concrete driveway might last you a good 30 to 40 years.
However, it all really comes down to usage. If you think your driveway might be getting a lot of heavy traffic like trucks, you should choose concrete. On the other hand, a paver driveway would be perfect for passenger cars.
Find A Contractor Who Understands Your Vision for The Driveway
We understand that this might be a lot for homeowners to take in, which is why we suggest you just use this guide to get an overall understanding of how driveways are designed. Also, do keep in mind that it’s definitely not a good idea to take the DIY route with driveways. These are big-scale projects, and there’s a lot of room for rookie but pricey mistakes, so it’s best for you to reach out to experienced professionals.
You can talk to the masonry service providers at CF VICE Construction in Glendale. They offer a wide range of services, including block wall repairs, masonry and stucco repairs, paver installations, and concrete construction services.
In fact, they can also help you out with gate installation services for your driveway.
Give them a call to discuss your ideas further.