4 Reasons To Choose An Exposed Aggregate Concrete Driveway Over A Traditional Gravel Driveway

An elegant, finely-manicured gravel driveway might be essential if you're an aristocrat living in a stately home, but while building a gravel driveway leading to your home may be desirable, they have many practical disadvantages. They require constant maintenance, can easily become overgrown with weeds and can leave stones and pebbles scattered all over your garden during high winds.

If you're looking for an attractive driveway material that doesn't come with all the headaches of gravel, choosing an exposed aggregate concrete driveway can be an excellent alternative. When installed by a reputable driveway installation contractor, these unique driveways offer many advantages over gravel driveways, as well as other potential driveway materials such as asphalt or standard cement.

Why should I choose an exposed aggregate concrete driveway instead of a gravel driveway?

They are just as attractive

The concrete used to create exposed aggregate concrete driveways is not the same drab, grey concrete used to create foundations and retaining walls. Instead, sturdy structural cement is mixed with a wide variety of decorative stones, quartz, glass beads and other attractive aggregates. Once the driveway is laid, the top layer of concrete is blasted away using a sandblaster or waterjets, revealing the aggregates entombed within.

A finished exposed aggregate concrete driveway creates a visually beautiful and interesting look that is just as varied as that of a well-made gravel driveway. Each exposed aggregate concrete driveway is as unique as the home it leads to, and you can customise your driveway by picking out your own stones and aggregates to be mixed into the concrete. 

They are a lot more durable

As you can imagine, having your decorative stones and beads set into solid concrete rather than scattered loosely over your lawn makes an exposed aggregate driveway far more durable than gravel alternatives. They shrug off inclement weather than can scatter gravel driveways to the four winds, and are more suitable for owners of heavier vehicles that can flatten and badly damage gravel driveways with their weight.

They require much less maintenance

Exposed aggregate concrete driveways also require a lot less maintenance than gravel driveways -- in most cases, a quick pressure wash every few months is all it takes to keep your drive looking like has just been laid. The solid surface of an exposed aggregate driveway means weeds are not a problem, and you will not have to top-up your driveway with new stones as gravel driveway owners do.

They are safer to walk on

Gravel driveways provide excellent traction for vehicles, but they are much less friendly to pedestrians, particularly during wet weather when they can become slippery. Exposed aggregate driveways provide much more traction for walkers due to their rough, yet solid, surfaces, and are particularly useful for elderly or disabled homeowners (especially those who use wheelchairs).

For more information on exposed aggregate concrete driveways, contact a driveway contractor in your area.

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