Many new San Diego home owners are excited to start making their house a home and anxious to start on their first home Renovation Project. Typically before deciding any budget for our next home renovation project or remodel return on investment always seems to linger in your mind. The best return on your investment in your home is adding to the curb appeal as it is the first impression of any home. This includes Front Door, Vinyl Windows, Updating San Diego Landscaping, new roof etc. However one of the most overlooked projects is the home driveway and Entry way. It is overlooked probably because it isn't plug and play or something that can be purchased at home depot. It requires design and thought and an artistic approach. If the Door is the Nose of the house, the Windows the Eyes, the Roof the Hair then I equate the Driveway and Walkway the Smile of the proverbial Face. The Smile is always one of the first things you notice. You notice a nice smile and you notice an ugly smile. So instead of concentrating budget on all of the plug and play items we suggest that you first concentrate on the most important the Driveway and walkways, because 9 times out of 10 the first thing you will notice that will ruin your curb appeal is a stained, cracked, and ugly concrete driveway. So in this article lets explore Concrete Vs. Paver Driveways.
This depiction compares a standard Concrete Driveway on the left with a New Paver Driveway on the right hand side. We have outlined 6 points of discussion for this topic.
1. STRENGTH - Interlocking Paver Driveways are more than 3 times stronger, pavers can hold up to 8000 PSI while concrete can support only up to 2500 PSI on average. Pavers will withstand heavier foot or vehicle traffic without the unsightly cracking commonly associated with concrete.
2. DURABILITY - Created to move with the earth, interlocking pavers adapt to their surroundings in a way that concrete cannot. Instead of buckling under the pressure of environmental changes, pavers shift to avoid dangerous cracking and unattractive "scarring" from continuous repairs. This is especially important in San Diego County as ground is likely to shift and settle over short periods of time rendering concrete driveways helpless while Paver driveways remain looking new.
3. DESIGN - With a wide variety of styles, sizes, patterns and colors to choose from, pavers provide custom design options that dated concrete simply can't compete with. The color for pavers is also embedded throughout the entire paver, delaying the process of fading, unlike colored concrete.
4. MAINTENANCE - Individual pavers can be removed or replaced to facilitate repairs and underground maintenance, as needed. Concrete, by contrast, requires full replacement of affected slabs, for any modification, often leading to substantial time, skilled labor costs and "scars" from the repair. San Diego County is in the process of "burying" power lines in its neighborhoods. Pavers can easily be moved unharmed to allow for underground future digging without damage, tunneling, or having to rip up the entire concrete walkway or driveway you just had installed.
5. FLEXIBILITY - Home to one of the most active fault lines in the western hemisphere, Southern California homeowners know the importance of using building materials able to withstand changes in the terrain. Pavers move with the soil, relieving pressure, to avoid the buckling and cracking popular with concrete.
6. VALUE - Unlike concrete, pavers are a saleable asset that buyers look for when in the market for new property increasing not only the curb appeal, but the overall value of a home. Investing in pavers can yield dividends for years to come.
Before you decide on a new concrete driveway think about the return on your investment, the look of your home and the 6 points made above. Call Bella Interlocking Pavers Designer and professional for a Free Paver design and quote to help you see the difference your investment will make.