Your driveway can be so much more than a simple concrete slab. Depending on your choice of driveway shape, materials, and design components, you can create a truly stunning entryway to your home. With the help of the right designer, you can create a unique hardscape that will add value to your home and will make you happy to turn in each day.
The design experts at Triad Associates have been designing driveways for Haverhill-area residents for decades, and we know how to choose the right design elements to create the right design for each property. Let us help you get the driveway that will best enhance your property. In doing so, we will help you understand how all of the driveway elements work together to create a gorgeous whole, including the driveway apron.
What is a Driveway Apron?
A driveway apron is the section of the driveway that meets the road. It extends beyond the sidewalk (if present) and crosses what is technically considered the municipality’s property. In fact, the driveway apron is typically at least partially on land that is owned by the city but that is required to be maintained by the property owner.
Because of this unique positioning, there are many rules that apply to the driveway apron, including where it can be, how large it can be, and how it must be installed. In most cases, the driveway apron makes up about the first 10 to 15 feet of the road.
You can choose a variety of materials for your driveway apron. You can also choose the same material as the rest of your driveway, for a seamless look, or you can choose a different material to create a contrast or complement in the design. The experienced designers at Triad Associates can help you choose the right materials for your driveway apron to meet local requirements, to ensure proper functionality, and to create a beautiful look for your home.
Choosing the Materials
There is a wide variety of materials that you can choose from for both your driveway and the driveway apron. The material you choose will have a big impact on the functionality of the space, the maintenance you have to provide, and the finished look. You can choose one material for the entire driveway (including the apron), or you can multiple materials that work together to create a unique design. It is important that you consider all the qualities of each material before choosing, and that you evaluate the complete list of pros and cons for each.
Some of the most popular materials for driveway aprons include:
Concrete
Concrete is one of the most popular materials for driveways because it is easy to install, affordable, and easy to maintain. Concrete can last 25 to 50 years, depending on conditions and how well it is maintained. Usually, the only maintenance that concrete requires is routine cleaning and patching up any cracks that might form. But if a homeowner completely neglects it, it can have a much shorter life.
Concrete is typically just gray in color, with a plain, brushed surface. Some homeowners may shun concrete with this look in mind. But concrete can actually come in a variety of colors, and it can be stamped to take on different looks. Concrete can even be stamped to look like natural stone.
Another option to make concrete look more interesting is exposed aggregate. The top layer of the concrete is rubbed away during the drying process, revealing the colorful aggregate within the mix. The result is an interesting, textured surface in a multitude of colors.
Remember that you do not have to choose the same material for your entire driveway. You may have a traditional concrete driveway, but you can choose an interesting stamped design for the apron. Or you can choose a different color for the apron, or choose exposed aggregate concrete. Consider how the materials in the apron contrast with the materials in the driveway to create a beautiful overall design.
Asphalt
Asphalt is the more affordable alternative to concrete. Asphalt is composed of a mixture of rock, sand, cement, and petroleum. Because of the petroleum, it is more flexible and less likely to crack over time, like concrete. However, it has a shorter lifespan than concrete, usually around 15 to 20 years. It is also more likely to break from tree roots or to soften under extreme temperatures.
Unlike concrete, asphalt does not have as many options for design. It has one color: Black. It also cannot be stamped.
Many people use asphalt to install a driveway apron when they are trying to save on costs. They finish out the last bit of driveway with the less expensive material, and it blends right in with the road.
Gravel
Gravel is the eco-friendly choice for driveways. The loose stone allows water to flow freely into the ground, reducing runoff and erosion. Gravel is also quite easy to install, as it can be poured anywhere, without even the need for a form. A gravel driveway is also easy to maintain. It doesn’t require any attention, unless you want to spray it to keep the weeds out. You may need to occasionally refresh the gravel with more stone as it gets compacted, but otherwise, it will last for decades with little effort.
The downside of gravel is that it can easily spread into the grass and surrounding area. Some homeowners like to install a concrete or stone border to contain it, but this will add to the overall cost. If your driveway is on an incline, keeping the gravel in place will become more of a challenge. If your apron starts on a hill, it will be very difficult to keep that gravel in place.
Some homeowners fill the driveway apron with gravel as a cost savings measure and a way to maintain flexibility in the space. You never know when the city will want to make adjustments to the sewer pipes or lines that could be buried under that space, and having gravel there allows those changes to be made with a minimum of disruption.
Stone Pavers
Stone pavers can create an elegant and sophisticated driveway that elevates the look of any property. You can instantly make your home appear more luxurious by adding a paver driveway.
There is a wide variety in the stones that you can use for your driveway, including many different sizes, shapes, colors, and textures, so you have great flexibility in the type of design that you can create.
When designing your driveway apron, you should think about the contrast you can create with the stone. For example, you can choose a stone to create a border around the driveway, and a line demarcating the driveway from the apron. The stone can complement or contrast another paver stone that is used for the driveway or another material, such as concrete, asphalt, or gravel.
Remember that you can also use a variety of stones to create designs within the driveway or the driveway apron. You have nearly unlimited possibilities with the right combination of materials.
Success for any design starts with the right site preparation and installation. The experts at Triad Associates will properly prepare your site, ensuring the proper grading and drainage, and provide the right base for your stone to give it many years of life.
Designing Your Driveway Apron with Triad Associates
The design process for your driveway apron starts with a thorough consultation with the design experts at Triad Associates. The first things we’ll discuss are what your goals are for the space and what design you envision. You may have a steep driveway, so you want a driveway apron that will be able to handle the change from the road to the driveway without crumbling under the pressure over time. Or you may have a driveway apron covering city lines that need regular service, so you want something that can be removed and replaced relatively easily. Once we understand these goals, we can recommend some materials that will meet them while also creating the look you want.
The consultation will include a site evaluation, determining things like grade, drainage, and other issues that could affect the design of your driveway apron. Our designers will note potential trouble spots and will recommend solutions as needed, such as drainage channels or site repair.
Our designers will show you material samples, sketches, and 3D design renderings to help you understand what’s possible in your space and how the different materials will look. Our goal is to help you make the most of the space, getting the best results possible. We want to help you visualize all the possibilities, and we want to ensure that the finished result matches your vision.
We have been serving the Haverhill area for many decades, and we are committed to helping every client get the best results for their property. Call us today to schedule a consultation for your driveway apron or other hardscaping project.
