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Are you in desperate need of a new driveway but not sure which type is right for you? As interlock driveway installers, we’ve made it our goal to educate consumers on the differences between different driveway options. This way you have all of the information you need to choose the best option for your home. The main driveway types are interlock, concrete , and asphalt driveways. By the end of this article, you’ll have a basic understanding on driveway installation, cost, and maintenance requirements. Construction Duration One of the biggest factors that differentiates driveway types is how they are built. Interlock driveways: 3-7 days Asphalt driveways: 1-2 days Concrete driveways: 2-4 days How Each Driveway Type is Made There are some similarities between the three driveway installation methods mostly in the excavation and base preparation phases. Interlock Driveway Construction Interlock driveways are typically excavated to a depth of 12-20 inches. It's time for compaction with a heavy duty 10,000 lb force rated plate compactor once excavation is complete. A woven geotextile fabric must be installed to separate the subsoil and bridge any minor voids so that your new driveway doesn’t form ruts. Between 8-14 inches of crushed gravel is installed atop the fabric and compacted in 4 inch lifts to ensure proper compaction. Before laying the pavers a 1 inch layer of bedding material is spread evenly across the area. The bedding layer can be sand or high performance bedding (HPB). The pavers are installed and upon completion they are compacted into place with a smaller roller compactor and a jointing compound is installed to complete the installation. Concrete Driveway Construction Concrete driveways follow an identical excavation and base preparation process. Wood forms are secured in place with stakes or concrete pins to create the frame. Wire mesh or rebar will be placed throughout the area prior to the concrete arriving and this is to strengthen the driveway and prevent cracks in future. It is now time to pour and finish the concrete. The last step is to cut in control joints which control where the concrete will crack in the future. Asphalt Driveway Construction Although asphalt driveways should follow a similar excavation and base preparation process to what has been detailed above, in our experience they don't. Here in Toronto we find that most asphalt contractors excavate anywhere between 4-6 inches. They will normally install 2-4 inches of recycled base and then lay a 2 inch layer of asphalt down. The last step is to compact the asphalt with a large roller compactor. Driveway Cost As important as all of the other factors we will cover in this article are, most people are primarily concerned with one thing: How much will my new driveway cost? Let’s explore! Interlock Driveway Costs Interlock driveways typically fall on the higher end of the spectrum with an average double car driveway ranging from $22,000 - $30,000. Concrete Driveway Cost Concrete driveways typically fall under the same umbrella as interlock driveways when it comes to cost. You may see slight savings due to the quicker installation time but expect a range of about $18,000 - $25,000 at the minimum. Asphalt Driveway Cost Asphalt costs significantly less than the interlock or concrete driveways. You can expect to pay between $4,000 - $8,000 for your new blacktop. Driveway Maintenance Interlock Maintenance Among interlocks many benefits is the ease of maintenance. We recommend giving the surface a good power wash every few years and topping up the sand joints with new jointing compound if needed. Interlock driveways don’t require sealing but can benefit from them if you prefer to seal your new investment. Interlock driveways are fairly resistant to stains and some pavers are actually manufactured with properties that prevent oil and harsh chemical stains like road salt. When you do have an area that is stained or even a few pavers that are cracked it can be fixed with ease. The damaged pavers will simply need to be removed and replaced with new ones. Then top up the jointing compound and it's good as new! Concrete Maintenance We recommend power washing your concrete at least once a year with a surface washer attachment. This will remove the majority of dirt and grime off of the surface. You can also take it one step further and install a sealer as mentioned above with interlock driveways. The thing to note with concrete when it comes to maintenance is future repairs. If, or rather when your concrete begins to form cracks they must be repaired. For minor cracks you can likely get away with concrete crack filler or a simple parge. For larger cracks the damaged section will have to be saw cut, removed, and new concrete poured. Although it isn’t a monumental task to complete you won’t have the same seamless look that a repair on an interlock driveway will provide. Asphalt Maintenance The natural black color of asphalt does a good job of hiding regular dirt and grime but your black top can still benefit from an annual power wash. With asphalt you can expect the process to be identical to concrete. You must remove the damaged portion and replace it with fresh asphalt. Which is the Right Driveway For You? In conclusion, if you are ready to have a new driveway installed all three of the types discussed today are great options. Ultimately what is important is that you, the consumer, are making an informed decision that will best suit your needs.

If you are looking to have a new driveway installed in 2023 we think it’s fair to say that there are plenty of options.

Why Sod Or Artificial Turf Might Be The Best Choice For You

With just a few changes, you can vastly improve the beauty of your home’s outdoor appearance year-round.

With YouTube tutorials and endless pages of step-by-step articles , this is the heyday of the DIY project.

No matter how well-made the components of your landscape may be, it’s still crucial that you take steps to protect your home or business.

Several things can vastly enhance the quality and appearance of your outdoor living space, elevating its feel with a little effort.