When you are driving your car or wearing your expensive designer shoes, you would prefer driving or walking on a surface which will not ruin your newly replaced wheels or your luxurious footwear. So what should your driveway be made of or look like?

The most popular types of driveway that you can find in modern cities and homes nowadays are constructed of cement, and are better known as concrete driveways. Aside from being less expensive than other kinds of driveways, for they do not require regular maintenance, this is also considered as landscaping outside the home because it can make the house look elegant and attractive.

Choosing a driveway would, of course, depend on which part of the world you live in. Melbourne is uniquely located on the edge of land that is hot and southern waters that are cold. If you are living in a place with a cold climate, you will need to make sure that the base for the driveway whether it is decorative driveway finishes or exposed aggregate concrete driveway is laid generously with gravel and is strongly compacted first. Otherwise, the driveway will risk cracking due to frost heaves and salt damage. Salt is much used on roads during cold weather.

Well-constructed driveways made of concrete last for 20 years or thereabouts. Most people who consider building concrete driveways use durability, maintenance, safety, and being dust-free as the reasons for their choice. Concrete is by far the most resistant in all kinds of weather of all driveway materials used. The resale value of a home also increases due to the fact that your driveway is made of concrete. This type of driveway is very inexpensive since it requires minimal maintenance. Concrete driveways are also cleaned easily for you only have to use a stiff broom to sweep off dust, leaves and other debris. You can also avoid spending money on resealing or reconstructing your driveway since this material is solid and durable.

Getting a concrete driveway does not only give you the benefit of having a cleaner and wider looking space. A well-constructed driveway means that you are assured of having an attractive area outside your home. Apart from that, you will save a lot of money on maintenance due to its quality and longevity. There is also the benefit of having the freedom of choosing designs and colors that will add to the appearance your driveway. A driveway that is visually appealing greatly improves the looks and value of one’s home.

Yes, you will need to consider lots of things when choosing a driveway that will fit your lifestyle, budget, neighborhood and taste. Getting a concrete driveway will fit in with everything mentioned above. Why not get one now?

Getting The Most Out Of Your Driveways Melbourne

When you are planning on having a new driveway installed on your property, you need to consider some guidelines in order to get the best results for driveways Melbourne. Many concrete driveway contractors are available for this job and based on the pattern and style of your home, these can give you the look you require, in the budget of your choice. A concrete driveway helps your home get a gorgeous look and does not require any maintenance for several decades. This surface is resistant to debris as well as the weather elements. Modern techniques of construction also allow home owners to emboss patterns into the concrete driveway finishes. Several curing techniques can also be implemented to help protect the driveway from blemishes and stains.

 The colours of driveways Melbourne can be protected from fading by using curing agents. These are chemicals sprayed onto the concrete using airless spraying devices. The curing process helps release water from the concrete as a result of which the colours turn livelier. This process also helps you avoid laying plastic sheeting over the concrete; an option that causes uneven tones in the installation.

Before laying the driveways, you need to carefully think about the exact outcome you want from the project. There are different concrete colouring techniques used by contractors and each of these produce different results. You can choose from natural hues and shades or antiquing ones. Then, you can speak to the contractor regarding the effect you have in mind. Based on this, an experienced and skilled professional will suggest the use of appropriate material and technique for installation.

While most driveways Melbourne contractors have sample colour cards, these are not always effective in showing you the exact outcome. In case of pigment based compounds especially, the end results vary depending on the amount of water added and sand shades used. So it is a good idea to have a test application done on a small slab prior to applying the changes for the entire driveway.

It is also essential that the professionals use uniformity in the batches of cement and aggregates and also maintain the proportion of sand and water in the cement. If different materials get used for the same installation, then chances are that the dyes and stains will be differently absorbed. This leads to uneven colouring and the effect achieved will not be what was envisioned in the first place.

Sometimes, the available concrete colours might not suit the colour palette of the property; so you need to choose custom designed matching in this case. For example, one can pair two or more colours and even use one concrete colour after another for creating interesting patterns. The concrete colours are available in various concentrations and can be thinned or mixed with one another for beautiful driveways Melbourne.