The Pros and Cons of Concrete Paving

Stamped Concrete

Paving is something that you see every day, whether you’re driving down the street or taking your children to the park. There are many materials that you can use for paving, but the 2 most popular are concrete and asphalt. Before choosing concrete for your residential or commercial property, it’s important that you consider the pros and cons of concrete paving.

1. Durability

The first thing to know is that concrete is one of the most durable materials in the world. There’s a reason as to why contractors use it to create bridges and high traffic areas around the city. You won’t have to worry about a lot of cracking or deterioration with consistent use, helping to ensure that you get your money’s worth.

2. Aesthetic Options

With concrete paving you can choose from a variety of different colors, styles, textures, and even sizes of concrete slabs. For example, if you want to emulate the appearance of brick on a driveway, you can have concrete pavers created. Or if you want to have a more corporate and professional look, consider large sized concrete slabs. The aesthetic options are relatively endless with concrete paving.

3. Weather Resistance

Regardless of where you live, concrete adapts to any type of weather conditions. This is why more home owners that live in extremely hot or extremely cold climates are opting for concrete on their driveways and walkways instead of other materials such as asphalt. You won’t have to worry about damage as a result of exposure to the sun or after being covered by snow and ice during the colder months.

4. Cost

Concrete is by far one of the less expensive options that you can choose from when it comes to landscaping materials, but it certainly isn’t the cheapest option available. Depending on the job that you want to have completed, at times concrete can be more expensive. It’s important that you consider the design that you’re interested in and the costs associated with labor and materials.

5. Maintenance

Any material that you choose for outside areas is going to require maintenance and with concrete, the main thing that you’ll have to worry about is sealing. Concrete is an incredibly porous material and without a sealant, you’re going to experience a wide variety of stains that are hard to remove. The most maintenance you’ll have to worry about is sealing the material every year or every 2 years.