You have taken the necessary steps to acquire an estimate for your new driveway by measuring the area and drawing out blueprints. There is, however, one crucial detail remaining for you to settle on: whether block paving or imprinted concrete is better for your driveway.
It’s a typical dilemma because both options have a lot to offer and it might be tough to choose between them. This is where our manual comes in handy.
Learn about the advantages and disadvantages of driveway block paving and imprinted concrete, from aesthetics to durability.
Durability
A driveway’s primary purpose is function, not aesthetics. It has to be able to take a beating from regular, intense use and keep on ticking for a very long period.
Which, then, lasts longer? It is clear that block paving outlasts imprinted concrete. The vehicle’s weight is distributed more evenly across a larger surface area thanks to the bricks, which are put singly and bonded together in a bond to keep them in place.
If a problem does arise, such as a loose or split brick, it’s simple to fix; just take out the damaged brick and put in a new one, and your driveway will look as good as new. A properly maintained block paved driveway has a 21-year lifespan.
Driveways made of imprinted concrete, on the other hand, usually only survive for about 11 years. Surprisingly, the same factor that makes them popular—a single layer of concrete poured on top of a sub-base—also contributes to their shorter lifespan. This method is cheap, simple, and quick.
There is, however, a serious drawback to this fast laying procedure, and that is the potential for permanent structural damage. For instance, if a subbase has been partially submerged, it cannot be fixed by replacing just that section. The only real solution is to tear out the entire layer of concrete and start anew, which is both expensive and time-consuming.
Drainage
You wouldn’t want to spend hundreds of pounds on patio materials if they would quickly deteriorate in the rain, and the same goes for your driveway. Also, no one likes getting out of their car and splashing about in water. In other words, nobody.
In this respect, block paving is the victor. Your driveway won’t be prone to flooding if you install permeable block paving, also known as “Infilta” bricks at pavelink. Driveways made of permeable block pavers have an added bonus: they don’t require a building permit.
However, water pools on the surface of imprinted concrete because it is impermeable. Therefore, you will require planning approval to install an imprinted concrete driveway if your driveway does not already have a drainage point (if your driveway is level, for example). Furthermore, during rainy and cold weather, areas with standing water are more likely to become hazardous due to the formation of ice and a slippery surface.
Appeal
Naturally, you have to consider the real world. But a driveway’s purpose is to dazzle guests and potential buyers, so it needs to be picture-perfect at all times.
However, how can you define “best”? Ultimately, though, one’s own sense of style should guide their decisions. For instance, do you want a driveway that looks more modern or more rustic? Is it a smooth path or a bumpy one? Eye-catching or subdued? Okay, if you’re open to new design ideas, block paving is the best choice.
In contrast to the limited pattern and colour options available with imprinted concrete, the block paving options seem virtually endless. There is a wide range of textures and colours to choose from, from classic brick to modern charcoal, from classic cobblestone to toned Mediterranean. When you consider the vast array of brick sizes and block paving patterns at your disposal, it’s easy to design a driveway that fits your needs perfectly.
Cost
It’s not cheap to build a high-quality driveway since you require high-quality materials.
For this reason, although block paving materials are typically more expensive than imprinted concrete, they tend to last far longer. While the price of imprinted concrete is lower in terms of pounds per square metre, they still cost between €21 and €41 per m2 (not including installation). Going for a high-end design can increase the cost of an imprinted concrete driveway to as much as €131 per square metre, which is significantly more than the cost of block paving.
Driveways made of block paving or imprinted concrete range in price based on the material used and the location of the store. Don’t forget this when you’re calculating costs.
Are you sure you want to make that choice? We can assist you in locating the ideal block paving stone for your driveway if you have decided to take advantage of block paving’s functionality and aesthetic appeal. Get in touch with our helpful staff right now by checking out our website.
