Supporting the weight of multiple vehicles and people every day, your driveway is an important part of your Houston-area home. Regardless of what type of driveway you have, thanks to the unique soil in our region and a high water table, you may find yourself with a driveway that has settled, cracked, or otherwise become unsafe and unsightly. In today’s post, we’ll review a few of the more common materials used for driveways along with some of their advantages and disadvantages.
Have you discovered that your driveway has cracked and settled over the years? Tilted Concrete Solutions provides innovative driveway repairs for homeowners. To request your free estimate for our driveway leveling services or to learn more about how our process works, call now!
Four Common Types of Driveways
Driveway materials can vary from region to region and even from neighborhood to neighborhood. Your local HOA and regional climate have a large influence on what type of material you choose for your driveway, and we’ve listed a few of the most common choices below:
Asphalt
AsphaltMade from a mixture of sand, rock, and asphalt cement, asphalt driveways are known for their smooth surface and black color. Homeowners who have long driveways often choose this material because it is affordable and easy to maintain. Generally speaking, it is laid in one slab without the use of expansion joints to allow for expansion and contraction, because the material is inherently more flexible than concrete. As long as the asphalt driveway is smooth and graded properly, drainage should not be a problem. However, the material is known for cracking, which can result in an uneven driveway.
Concrete
By far one of the most frequently used materials, concrete is thought of as the good old standby for driveway materials. Made from water, Portland cement, and rock, sand, or gravel, cement is an incredibly durable material that needs very little maintenance. Because it is not as flexible as asphalt, concrete driveways are laid with expansion joints to allow for expansion and contraction during temperature changes, however, these joints and the slab are susceptible to cracking over time. Like asphalt, many homeowners eventually require driveway repairs on their concrete driveways.
Although they are long-lasting and easy to maintain, concrete and asphalt driveways can settle over time. If your driveway is uneven, Tilted Concrete Solutions is here for you. Our team is happy to come and inspect your driveway to determine why it is sinking, raise it to its proper position, and prevent it from settling again in the near future. Discover the benefits of our innovative polyjacking services today!
Gravel
Commonly used in long, winding driveways in the country, gravel driveways are both affordable and beautiful. When they are flanked by oversized lawns and well-manicured landscaping, this material choice can look absolutely stunning. However, while they are beautiful and initially very affordable to install, they can be very time-consuming to maintain. Gravel will need to be replaced every three to five years to keep the path from looking worn, and you may find yourself raking stones out of the nearby landscaping. Additionally, if you live in a region that gets snow and ice, these driveways can be very challenging to shovel or plow.
Brick & Cobblestone
Before asphalt and cement were used to create flat and level slabs, bricks and cobblestones were the preferred material for creating driveways and streets. Because of their old-world appeal, many homeowners who live in upscale neighborhoods and historical areas choose brick and cobblestone for driveway materials to match the feel of the area. Although these materials are incredibly durable, potentially lasting for decades with little maintenance, they are not nearly as cost-effective as their counterparts. Brick and cobblestone are both easy to repair, assuming you can find materials that match the existing ones that make up your driveway.
Houston Driveway Leveling Repairs
Do you have an asphalt or concrete driveway that has settled over the years? Uneven concrete surfaces are not only unsightly, they can promote additional damage to your home and property if water is not allowed to drain properly and guests can be injured if they trip on the uneven slabs. Tilted Concrete Solutions offers industry-leading concrete leveling services, including driveway repairs, and we’d love to help you out. Contact our friendly team today to request an appointment for an inspection to learn how we can help you level your concrete!
