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Paving stones create a seamless connection between your driveway and walkways. Brick look-alikes allow you to create driveway and parking areas that have the look and feel of a fine patio. Stamped concrete can be colored with an acid stain, color hardener or tint that is mixed directly into the concrete. Stamped concrete driveways mimic the look of stone. The ashlar slate pattern is a popular choice. Stamped concrete is a popular choice for homeowners who want design flexibility.
Pave The Way Dress up your driveway with colorful paving options that will enhance the look of your entire home.

Nothing says “Welcome to my home” like a premium driveway. Today’s homeowners are looking past plain concrete and asphalt, seeking more creative and decorative treatments. In response, contractors are offering a wide variety of colors, textures and patterns for these traditional materials. The popularity of natural pavers, such as cobblestones and brick, is also on the rise. Here’s what’s out there.

THE
NEXT
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Add a welcoming entrance to your home with a new driveway. Contact your local paving expert for options
and costs.

DECORATIVE CONCRETE A poured concrete driveway is durable and easy to clear of snow. Adding color and texture costs only a few dollars per square foot and can result in a big improvement in appearance. Interlocking concrete pavers are also available at a higher cost. Here are your decorative options in concrete:

  • Integrally colored concrete. Color can be added to ready-mix concrete to provide uniform tinting throughout the slab. The pigment may fade over time, so it is important to apply a sealer to protect against weather, water and stains.

  • Stamped concrete. A stamping pattern imprinted into wet concrete can create the outline and texture of brick, cobblestone or other natural paving. Grout can even be used in the grooves for a more realistic appearance.

  • Concrete scoring. Interlocking pieces of pigmented concrete made to look like clay brick are available in a variety of styles. A colored sealant should be used to protect against color fading.

  • Concrete pavers. Shallow cuts in concrete can be used to suggest tile grout lines or to create geometric designs and patterns. A stained and scored surface can even be made to look like terra-cotta tile. The cuts are made with a standard circular saw outfitted with an abrasive masonry blade.

  • Exposed aggregate. Pouring concrete and then brushing or washing off the top skim of cement exposes a rugged, non-slip surface. Depending on the characteristic of the aggregate itself, various colors can be obtained. Sealing is required.

  • Chemical staining. This hot design trend seen on the floors of restaurants and stores can also be used on driveways. Special stains react chemically with the lime in concrete to etch and bond color into the surface. Artisans can create a wide range of effects, and the result can be rich and complex. This process can be used on new or existing concrete surfaces.

    According to the National Association of Home Builders Research Center (NAHB), most areas have contractors who are trained and outfitted for pattern stamping and tinting exterior concrete surfaces. Some may advertise their specialties in local phone directories, online directories, or the home improvement sections of newspapers or magazines. Staining specialists can be more difficult to locate. Some work through urban design centers or commercial referrals.

    ASPHALT OPTIONS Many people are unaware that asphalt, like concrete, can be colored and textured for decorative effect. Snow removal is easy because the surface is smooth, and asphalt’s flexibility reduces cracking from frost heaves in cold climates. Sealing is important, and if damage occurs, asphalt can be relayered (unlike concrete).

  • Asphalt texturing and coloring. To produce realistic-looking brick, slate, stone and other design effects, a pattern template is pressed into the hot asphalt. Color is added by applying a topcoat, the composition of which varies by supplier. This process can be used on a new asphalt driveway, or it can be added over existing asphalt.

    Gabriel Pineda of Driveway Impressions says the technology and application process called StreetPrint® is proving popular in the northeastern United States, where asphalt driveways are common. Quick installation, durability, ease of maintenance and design flexibility are its hallmarks.

    • NATURAL PAVERS Although concrete and asphalt can be made to resemble natural materials, if you want a truly authentic look, you’ll need to use the real thing. This is especially important if your driveway is meant to complement a historic home, or a new house built to look old. Pavers can be installed with or without mortar. (When no mortar is used, a special sand mixture creates a solid but flexible surface.)

    Driveway pavers are individual pieces laid side-by-side and come in shapes and sizes from large hexagons to small rectangles. Together they form a fairly smooth surface but one that will not be as even as concrete or asphalt. Your main options in natural pavers are cobblestone and brick.

  • Cobblestone. The quintessential old-world material, cobblestones bespeak character, with their rough, irregular surface and wide spaces between stones. They’re also extremely durable—and expensive. If cobblestone seems a bit too rustic, uncolored concrete pavers are an alternative.
  • Clay Brick. Brick can be bought tumbled, and set on a sand bed to create an instant old-world look, or you can choose extruded pavers set into mortar for a more formal appearance. Colors are from nature’s palette and range from light beige to dark brown, as well as the more traditional red.

    KEEP YOUR DRIVEWAY LOOKING GREAT Some driveway paving options may require minor maintenance after installation. Ask your driveway installer about what action is required to keep your new driveway looking great for years.

    • PERMEABLE PAVEMENT PROTECTS WATER QUALITY

    Pavement isn’t usually thought of as an environmentally friendly material; in fact, solid-surface pavement promotes water runoff, which carries pollutants into waterways and contributes to flooding. Not so with permeable pavement. It provides an attractive surface strong enough to support vehicles while allowing water to drain into the ground, which acts as a natural filter. Permeable pavement is available in these forms:

    • Porous Concrete Similar to regular concrete, except it has very little sand, which leaves voids for the passage of water.

    • Grass Pavers A plastic or concrete grid system filled with gravel, mulch or grass to fill the voids.

    • Porous Asphalt Also called bituminous permeable paving, uses the same mixing and application equipment as conventional asphalt.

    • Interlocking Concrete Pavers A grid filled with pervious material for drainage.


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