Your Driveway Renovation Checklist

Renovating your driveway can have many benefits. A great driveway can add functionality, convenience, street appeal and, crucially, value to your home. But, like anything in life, if you’re going to do it, you might as well do it right. With that in mind, this short checklist will help you maximise the benefits of your driveway renovation.

Will It Be Easy to Maintain? – high maintenance can have little appeal, both to a homeowner, and to a potential home buyer. So choosing a low maintenance surface for your driveway renovation is very important. For example, a concrete driveway can be a low maintenance option, requiring basic cleaning and minimal need for repairs if installed properly. Not all surfaces can be as forgiving, so during the planning stages of your driveway renovation, do your research on how much maintenance might be required once the project is complete.

Make It a Driveway That Lasts – like the roof, a driveway is a very big, if not unmissable, part of the home. If something’s not right, it could be rather obvious. A driveway that is durable enough to stand the test of time and keep its good looks over the years will help to maintain street appeal and value. Plus, it should be even more appealing if it looks like it won’t need to be replaced in the near to medium term. As you choose the surface for your driveway renovation, check its ability to handle vehicle traffic and local conditions e.g. ask if the surface will be UV and weather resistant.

Does It Add Street Appeal? – Just because a driveway is low maintenance and highly durable, you shouldn’t have to compromise on its aesthetic value. A driveway should add street appeal to a home because of its sheer size. On the other side of the coin, anything less than attractive will probably detract from its surroundings. In this day of coloured concrete, or exposed aggregate, it is very easy to choose a surface, colour, texture or design that can enhance street appeal. As you plan your driveway renovation ask yourself: will my final choice add to that appeal?

It Has to Do the Job – your driveway renovation design might look good, but its functionality should also be a priority. Consider the size and number of vehicles that will use it and ensure your final design comfortably accommodates those vehicles.

Have You Chosen the Right Installer? – Possibly the most important step of your driveway renovation checklist. Did you know that not all installers include sealing as standard when installing a concrete driveway? As sealing is such an important component when installing a concrete driveway, it might be a serious error of judgement to assume all installers did this.

This is just one example of why it is vitally important to choose the right installer, regardless of the surface you choose for your driveway renovation. A good way to find the best installer for your project is to check their credentials and look at previous examples of their work. Another good idea is to contact the company providing the surface materials for your driveway renovation; they might have a list of recommended installers or, at the very least, they can provide you with the questions that every good installer should be able to answer.