So you’re about to build a driveway, a walkway or a patio. This means that you’re going to want to choose what kind of pavement to use. There area lot of things to consider, including longevity, aesthetic value, the type of upkeep required and more. Not all pavement is the same. The two most common choices are pavers and cement. The following is a quick breakdown of pavers vs. cement:
Cement
Cement is an aggregate of concrete, which is one of the most common materials used for pavement. It’s very affordable, which is one of the reasons homeowners often use it. However, if you look at the long-term costs of maintaining concrete, you might find that it’s not quite as affordable as you first thought. This is because concrete will inevitably crack over time due to the wear and tear of regular usage, not to mention regular exposure to the elements. Concrete also shrinks over time, which also leads to cracks. You’ll need to repair the cracks as soon as they occur since they will worsen over time. This is because water can seep through the crack where it will cause even more damage, especially if it freezes during cold temperatures. Filling these cracks in often causes visual blemishes, which can hurt your curb appeal.
Another option is to use stamped concrete. Stamping is a way to create attractive patterns that are usually associated with paving stone material. However, when cracks occur in stamped concrete, the repairs will leave even more unsightly blemishes.
Pavers
Pavers are basically individual stones or bricks that are placed together to form the driveway, walkway or patio. They don’t naturally experience cracks like cement because of their natural joints, which allows each paver to give with pressure, contraction or expansion. Pavers are installed over a base of sand and their structural capacity will actually increase over time. If a paver is damaged, it’s easy to replace since they are manufactured to be uniform. This means that once you replace a paver, there will be no visual blemish. Pavers also come in a wide variety of finishes, shapes and colors that can help improve your curb appeal.
These are a few things to consider when deciding between pavers vs. cement. For more advice about choosing between pavers vs. cement or about line striping in Northern Virginia, be sure to contact us at Master Markings today.
