Waukesha County Home

HOMES PLUS APRIL 2015 8 243421001 A driveway is more than just a place to park your car. The right driveway material can add considerable curb appeal to your home and increase its resale value. Homeowners have many options at their disposal when choosing a driveway material, and the right material for one home may not be the best fit for another. The following is a rundown of popular driveway surfaces and what homeowners can expect of each of them. Brick Many homeowners believe brick driveways provide the most aesthetic appeal, and it's hard to argue with the beauty of brick driveways and walkways. Brick driveways come in various colors and hues, and many homeowners opt to have the color of their brick driveways match their landscap- ing, which further adds to curb appeal. But that curb appeal is only appealing if the driveway is designed, installed, and main- tained correctly, and homeowners can expect to pay a premium for that, as brick driveway installa- tion is very labor intensive. Gravel Gravel driveways may not be as commonplace as they once were, but this less-expensive driveway material is still an option. Home- owners who live in regions with mild winters without snow might benefit most from gravel drive- ways, which can be difficult to negotiate when shoveling snow or dealing with rainfall. Asphalt Asphalt remains a popular driveway material, thanks in large part to its practicality and ease of installation. Unlike other driveway surface materials, asphalt is available in just one color, black, and that lack of ver- satility has led many homeowners to consider other options. But asphalt remains an affordable driveway surface material that's relatively easy to repair. Cracks and holes in asphalt are some- what common, but resealing such blemishes once every three to five years is typically enough to main- tain the appearance of an asphalt driveway. Concrete Concrete driveways are popular thanks in large part to their affordability and aesthetic appeal. Concrete can be susceptible to extremely cold weather, but many homeowners prefer concrete because of its versatility. Con- crete can be stamped or dyed to provide a unique look, which can increase curb appeal. Concrete can be expensive to maintain, par- ticularly when the material cracks. In addition, gas and oil spills are more noticeable on a concrete surface than other drive- way surface materials. When replacing an existing driveway, homeowners have an array of new surface materials to choose from, and each material has its pros and cons. Options abound when laying a new driveway Submitted photo Asphalt remains a popular choice for driveways.

• Cover