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The exterior of the home can be just as important to your daily life as the interior. A lot of the focus of our renovations and improvements to the exterior can be focused on curb appeal which, make no mistake, can be valuable. However, there is practical importance to the exterior, too, especially when it comes to your driveway. Here, we’re going to look at a few ideas you might want to consider to improve it.
Don’t let water rest on it
If you let water rest on your driveway, it can cause a few issues. For one, it can contribute to the erosion of certain materials that driveways are made of, including paving bricks. In winter, water can turn to ice, which can make it dangerous, as well. To that end, you should make sure that there is a runoff strip on the side of the driveway to lead any water away from it. You should also check your gutter downspouts to make sure that they don’t empty onto the driveway.
Get rid of cracks and potholes
The weight of a car is no small matter. Over time, the stresses, wear, and tear on a driveway can cause cracks to form. Even worse, it can lead to potholes. Hit a pothole when you’re trying to bring the car into the yard and it can cause real damage that you’ll have to pay to fix. To that end, you should look up infrared and patch pothole repairs to get a professional to come out and restore your driveway to the condition it needs to be in. The first sign of a pothole doesn’t mean that you’re going to have to replace the whole thing, after all.
You should also consider asphalt crack and seal coating if you have that sort of paving. This sealing layer helps to prevent further damage caused by sunlight, water, and petroleum spills, so that you don’t have to worry about cracks forming again.
Switch up the material
That said, when it does come time for a replacement, you might want to switch up both the look and the practicality of your driveway. There are quite a few driveway material options to consider, many of them differing considerably in budget. However much you’re willing to spend, you do have options, from concrete to pavers to gravel to asphalt. Just get to know the pros and cons of each of them as well as your needs (such as how local weather will affect it and how many cars you need to park on it) for the best choice.
Make more room for it
Whether you have trouble maneuvering in the space that you currently have or you are looking to park more cars on your driveway, one way to improve it is to expand it. This will usually mean installing a whole new driveway though some materials like pavers might allow you to expand a little more freely. Usually, this means cutting down on lawn space or whatever else is taking up the garden. This can be a positive, as it means less garden to take care of, too.
Improving your driveway might not be the first thing that comes to your mind in terms of home improvements, but that’s why it’s important to stop and consider it.
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