Concrete and tarmac are two common choices for driveways, patios, and pathways, and of course both have their positives and negatives. Whilst we at divine landscapes believe that concrete driveways are superior, we will present a balance argument here to help you make up your mind when you’re choosing your new driveway. This choice is important, with a well-kept driveway able to add both appeal and value to your property.
· Concrete: Whilst concrete is a grey colour by nature, it is possible to apply colour through polishing or staining and to even apply patterns. These are called pattern imprinted concrete driveways, or sometimes stamped concrete driveways.
· Tarmac/Asphalt: Tarmac is less flexible oncolour, with its dark and textured look a result of being created from crushed rock and a binding substance.
· Concrete: Concrete has a long lifespan, being able to last around 40 years and can in some circumstances harden with age.Pattern imprinted concrete driveways will need resealing more frequently than this, however if maintained properly this will mean your driveway looks in top form through its entire life.
· Tarmac/Asphalt: Asphalt has a shorter life span of around 10-20 years, and, whilst unlikely to be a problem in the UK can soften when exposed, to high temperatures.
· Concrete: Concrete driveways and patios require very little maintenance. Once sealed a jet wash will be all that is required,with weeds not able to grow through it. The only drawback is that the driveway sealant will need replacing, though this is only every 10 years.
· Asphalt: Much like concrete, asphalt requires relatively little maintenance, however it does require more frequent resealing at every 2 to 3 years.
Concrete: All the greater benefits of concrete driveways naturally come at a cost, but whilst concrete driveways are initially more expensive than tarmac driveways, they are more durable and require less maintenance. It is possible to go through 2-3 tarmac driveways at the same time as a concrete driveway, which combined with higher maintenance costs does add up.
Increasingly we are all trying to take the environment and sustainability in our choices, with your driveway no different. Concrete, whilst manufactured from naturally occurring materials does still produce pollution in its manufacturing process, however this is much less than the impact of tarmac. The tarmac manufacturing process creates pollutants as it uses crude oil derivatives. This makes pattern imprinted concrete the more sustainable option as well.
In summary concrete driveways do come out on top, with them being more flexible visually allowing them to win on appearance, as well as being more durable, requiring less maintenance and being more sustainable. However, like anything, you pay for quality; therefore,concrete driveways are more expensive than tarmac driveways. But just how a more expensive good quality t-shirt will last you longer a cheap bad-quality t-shirt, and look better throughout, a concrete driveway is more expensive but better quality than a tarmac driveway.
As we here at Divine Landscapes are pattern imprinted concrete specialists, we also wanted to include some benefits specific to pattern imprinted concrete.
· Uniqueness: Pattern imprinted concrete is extremely flexible with both design, which allows for people to find the perfect driveway for them. This uniqueness can blend into other garden and patio designs. See our gallery for some ideas.
· Improve property valuation: As a result of this uniqueness, pattern imprinted concrete can improve your property valuation.This is because not just is it recognised for its durability, but the uniqueness of the designs can give a property an edge over others in the area,with people looking for something to distinguish them.
To learn more about pattern imprinted concrete, see our blog page.
Based in Manchester, Divine Landscape Solutions are specialist installers of pattern imprinted concrete driveways and pattern imprinted concrete patios for both domestic and commercial clients. If you are based in Greater Manchester, or elsewhere in the North West, please do not hesitate to get in touch for more information. If you want to talk to us, callus on 01618853661 or email us via divinelandscapes@outlook.com.
