Concrete Driveways
When deciding the features for the outdoor areas of your property, a lot of options are available on the market to choose from for desired style, aesthetic and practical features.
Today we will discuss the top five benefits of implementing a concrete driveway and why you should invest in this simple yet polished and highly practical feature.
Concrete has been a popular choice for Australians for many decades, and not just for its simple appeal and relatively low-cost, but there are many reasons why homeowners constantly seek out this material over gravel, asphalt or various types of paving. Here’s our top five reasons why you should invest in concrete for your driveway.
Highly durable
Due to its extreme load-bearing capacity, concrete has stood the test of time when it comes to daily vehicle traffic. As opposed to paving blocks or bricks, concrete does not sink or cave under a reasonable amount of pressure and is designed to withstand various load capacities for decades. Lasting anywhere between 25-50 years without the need to replace, concrete maintains its structural integrity and continues to prove to be a popular building material due to its durability.
Pleasing on the eye
Concrete provides a sleek, smooth and consistent finish all throughout its lifespan. This means that with driveways beginning at the front of your home, your property will always look polished and put together. A versatile material, concrete comes in various colours to suit any style of home and exposed aggregate and pave-cut concrete options for contemporary twists on the standard look. Depending on the style of concrete you go for, and how it compliments your home, this can also be a notable feature that may assist in raising your property’s value!
Low maintenance and minimal upkeep
Compared to some other building materials, concrete consistently proves to be the lowest maintenance for cleaning and any periodic upkeep.
Economical to install
An immediate benefit of using concrete for your new driveway is that a concrete driveway cost upfront is a very economical choice compared to other materials. Many builders, installers and homeowners notice this benefit up to decades down the track when their driveway is still showing minimal signs of needing overall maintenance. They advise new homeowners or developers of their findings, which continue to make concrete one of the most popular choices for many.
Excellent temperature control
One of the best aspects of using concrete to create your new driveway is its ability to withstand many types of weather conditions. With Australian Summers being notable for their extreme heat, concrete is the preferred choice over other materials such as asphalt, which is known to melt and become sticky, causing indents in the material. Concrete has a heat reflectance, which allows heat to bounce off the material instead of becoming absorbed into it. This allows for the concrete to both maintain its structural integrity and reassure that your vehicles will be safe when driving or parked on the driveway.
Concrete Driveway Australia - FAQs
Due to driveways accepting more load-bearing weights from heavy vehicles, there are specifications in Australia required to handle these weights. The National Construction Code 2019 and Australian Standard AS3600 regulate the construction of concrete structures on properties, and stipulate that the concrete slab must be no less than 125mm thick for average-size vehicles utilising the driveway.
The estimated time for concrete to set and dry can vary depending on many factors. From the type of cement used, to water to cement ratio, to outdoor temperature - many factors can either quicken or delay the setting time for your concrete driveway. Usually, around 12 days setting time is advised once the concrete has been laid, which factors in developmental times of the concrete to set, plus 7 – 10 days for concrete to cure and be ready to safely take on vehicle loads.
Pavers have a long-standing reputation for their durability and strength, however when factoring in upfront cost to install pavers plus the need for periodic maintenance, repairs and replacements, and cleaning, the benefits of using concrete instead far outweigh those of pavers. With a multitude of design options, economical installation, minimal upkeep and easy cleaning options, concrete consistently proves to outrank in popularity and overall satisfaction between developers and homeowners alike.
Using concrete as a highly durable and extremely reliable material has constantly been a popular choice for many due it’s/its extensive lifespan. The structural integrity of concrete has been evaluated to last anywhere between 25 – 50 years.
Sealing and coating your new driveway is sometimes overlooked by many homeowners as it may be deemed unnecessary. However, with properties that experience freeze and thaw cycles, sealing your driveway helps protect the material from outdoor elements such as repelling water, dirt, oil, mould, which help to maintain the concrete’s original design, which aid in furthering the longevity of the material.
Concrete has consistently proven to stand the test of time over all other building materials. When homeowners are selecting the best building material for their new driveway, concrete steadily ranks time and time again for it’s/its two most competitive advantages:
The best way to remove dirt and debris from your concrete driveway is to use a pressure washer. Not only does this method save time and effort, it’s also an economical option for cleaning and is also environmentally friendly. Concrete does not require extensive cleaning on a regular basis/regularly, however, it is wise to periodically clean your driveway using this method especially, after dust storms or heavy rainfall.
