From Classic to Cutting Edge: Concrete Ideas and Inspiration

Want A Paver Driveway? 4 Reasons To Choose Pave-Cut Concrete Instead

A new driveway constructed using pavers made from concrete, brick or stone can be an attractive and practical addition to any home. Unfortunately, paver driveways have their fair share of shortcomings, and also don't come cheap. If you are looking for a cost-effective alternative to a traditional paver driveway, pave-cut concrete can be an excellent choice.

What Are Pave-Cut Concrete Driveways?

Pave-cut concrete driveways are laid as a single slab of poured concrete in the same way as a conventional concrete driveway. Once the slab has hardened and cured, a high-powered concrete saw is used to cut a geometric pattern in the surface of the concrete, giving it the appearance of a paver driveway. Pave-cut concrete driveways constructed by skilled domestic concreting services are virtually indistinguishable from 'real' paver driveways.

Why Choose Pave-Cut Concrete Over Pavers?

Pave-cut concrete has a number of advantages over pavers:

Quicker Construction

Constructing a paver driveway is a complex, multi-step process, and requires a significant amount of excavation and ground preparation before the first paver is even laid down. As a result, paver driveways take more time to install than most other driveways types, leading to more disruption in and around your home.

Pave-cut driveways can be constructed much more swiftly. Once the concrete has cured and settled enough for it to be cut (a process that will take a few days at most), the pave-cut design can be created on its surface in a matter of hours. Choosing pave-cut concrete gets your new driveway up and running as quickly as possible.

Lower Construction Costs

Shorter construction times means lower labour costs, and most types of concrete cost less than high-quality pavers that can bear the weight of vehicles. Pave-cut concrete driveways are usually considerably cheaper than paver driveways, even if you choose decorative coloured or exposed aggregate concretes.

Less Vulnerable To Flooding

Installing a paver driveway can affect the way rainwater drains away from your property, often in unpredictable ways. During heavy rains, rainwater flooding into the cracks between pavers can cause the fill materials beneath the driveways to become saturated, leading to localised flooding.

Pave-cut concrete driveways do not allow rainwater to pass through their surfaces and will not become flooded as long as the driveway is properly cambered. Instead, rainwater will drain off the sides of the driveway. If necessary, inexpensive French drains can be installed to channel this rainwater towards road gutters and storm drains, preventing flooding problems on your property at a minimal cost.

Lower Maintenance

Weeds growing between pavers can mar the appearance of any paver driveway, and killing these weeds can be laborious and time-consuming. Pave-cut driveways have no gaps and do not suffer from weed problems. Pave-cut driveways are also easier to clean using pressure washing equipment, as the designs cut into their surfaces are relatively shallow and easy to clean out.

Contact a contractor who offers domestic concreting to learn more about the process.