So you’re considering repaving or paving your driveway for the first time? Or maybe you want to pave other areas of your home such as the deck, sidewalk, pool, steps, etc. You may have found that the most common options are rubber, concrete, and asphalt. Ideally you want to choose a material that not only looks good but will also not force you to repair or renovate every year. In this article we will look at these three paving options so you can pick the best one for you.
Rubber Paving
Rubber is a material which in the past 25 years has grown in popularity to compete with asphalt and concrete. It typically consists of recycled car tyres which have been ground and mixed with adhesives and other ingredients. Rubber paving possesses some characteristics that make it a desirable paving solution:
Benefits of rubber paving
Rubber paving looks good
Rubber paving can be customized to different colors and grain sizes to give you your desired look. Rubber paving contractors usually offer good comprehensive warranties and also warranties against cracking since rubber pavement is less prone to cracks than say, concrete. Unlike concrete, rubber also does not allow grass weeds or fungi to grow through.
A rubber pavement is cheaper than a concrete pavement
Surface renovations can quickly and easily run over budget so choosing good but cost effective paving options like rubber is important.
Rubber paving is more affordable than concrete paving. On average rubber paving costs $6.00 – $11.00 per square foot. Concrete paving on the other hand costs $8.00 – $18.00 per square foot.
Apart from cost of materials and equipment, rubber paving is also cheaper because it doent require you to rip out existing substrate. Thuis installation is quick easy and incase you want to change it later on, it will be a quick and inexpensive job.
Easy repair and maintenance
Cleaning a rubber pavement is daily easy, All you need is a regular or pressured hose to loose dirt off the surface. Also because rubber doesnt foster growth of moss or other small plants, you won’t pack to pick them out as in concrete.
Rubber due to its impact absorbing nature as well as durability, is not prone to damage. However in case of holes or other defects, the area can easily be patched seamlessly and appear as good as new.
Rubber paving is eco-friendly
Much of rubber paving is manufactured utilizing old car tires as the raw material. By doing so, millions of tires are redirected from landfills where they would take up tons of space, and become environmental hazards.
Rubber paving is tried and tested
Rubber paving has gained popularity for good reason — it offers good value for money as a surfacing material. Rubber paving can serve you and remain in good condition for over 20 years, resisting strong weather, snow, heavy foot traffic among other tough conditions.
How rubber paving is installed:
As mentioned above, installing rubber pavement is not a difficult process. However precision is important for a good outcome.
Steps to install rubber pavement:
- Mixing of materials – This is when the solid rubber granules are mixed with adhesive and other chemicals to form the paving material. Coloring is also added at this point.
- Surface priming – To ensure a long lasting pavement, the underfloor has to be prepared so that the rubber will stick well. This can involve sanding the surface, smoothing it, cleaning it and applying a priming solution.
- Pour and level the mixture – Once your mixture and surface are ready, it’s time to pour. Pour the rubber into the surface and pack it down to be as thin or as thick as you desire. The benefit of rubber paving is that it is easy to mold it into crevices and around corners. Use trowels and rollers to achieve a flat finish.
- Let it set – After you’re happy with the job, you need to let it dry. Newly applied rubber surfacing usually has an odor but don’t worry the smell will go away eventually. The drying time for rubber paving is relatively short. In a day or so, you can walk on it. After 3 days you can begin to park your car in the newly paved driveway.
Since rubber paving doesn’t require lots of special equipment, you are able to do this on your own, or you can choose to hire experienced contractors.
Concrete Paving
Concrete is the most common surfacing material used for paving outdoor surfaces like driveways and sidewalks. It is cost-effective, easy to maintain, and versatile.
Additionally concrete can be molded into different shapes and finished in different ways to make for an attractive finished surface. For example concrete can be stamped or stained with dye to create your desired look. Also, concrete can be sealed to counter its porous nature.
Benefits of concrete paving
1. It is quick and easy to apply
Concrete surfacing and resurfacing can be mixed and applied in just a few hours, and in many cases the floor will be fairly ready by the next day. With the use of self-leveling products, time taken to perfect the concrete surface is significantly reduced. Also less tools are needed, all you need to do is spread the material all around the floor. This makes it easy to solve cracks and defects in your concrete floor.
2. It is inexpensive
Resurfacing your concrete surface is not only quick to do but also inexpensive.
3. Good concrete paving increases value of your property
At the time when you want to put up your residential or commercial property for sale,it is vital that the property is in good condition. A dilapidated floor can seriously lower your property’s value or lower your chances of selling. Resurfacing your concrete can solve this problem cheaply.
You can customize the concrete surface to match the market’s demands in terms of color and texture. With concrete resurfacing, you can also add a non-slip coating to the floor, which helps reduce the risk of slipping accidents during wet conditions.
4. Concrete paving is durable
Concrete paving is highly durable and resistant to wear and tear. If mixed, poured, and finished properly, concrete surfacing is sure to last many years in pristine condition.
The mixture of sand, cement, plasticizers, and bonding agents chemically combine to form a material that is resistant to wear from impact, solvents, water, and chemicals.
As for resurfacing, which is different from the initial concrete slab, it is also quite strong, with a strength of 4,500 pounds per square inch (PSI). In fact, it is sometimes even stronger than the concrete slab itself!
5. It can handle tough outdoor conditions
Concrete paving is ubiquitous in homes and business premises for good reason. It stands up well to conditions such as high/low temperatures, extreme weather, heavy traffic and impact.
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