Choosing the Right Patio Pavers for the Driveway in Sun Prairie and Madison, WI'

When it’s time to renovate your driveway, choosing the right patio pavers for the driveway in Sun Prairie and Madison, WI is a big task. The choice of pavers will need to meet several criteria: safety, aesthetics, and practicality, and since not all pavers are created equal, your landscape contractor can help you make the final decision.

Why are pavers superior to other driveway materials? Pavers are beautiful, long-lasting, low-maintenance, durable, and should a paver break, it can be replaced individually. A well-installed paver driveway won’t heave or crack with the freeze-thaw cycle like asphalt or poured concrete. And since pavers are compatible with driveway heating systems, you won’t even have to worry about accidental damage from snow plows or deicing salts.

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Choosing the Right Pavers

Not all pavers are created equal—only certain pavers are intended for the purpose of vehicular traffic. Most patio pavers, especially large and thin ones, are not strong enough. Pavers rated for driveway use must be thick enough to withstand heavy weights (not just passenger vehicles, but delivery trucks, RVs, and other heavy vehicles). They should also resist abrasion from tires, and be easy to clean so that oil stains don’t mar the surface.

Driveway pavers are typically small, which can create a visually busy look. You can address this by using jointing sand that’s a close color match to the pavers themselves. You can also keep a driveway from being visually overwhelming by not using a contrasting border or other embellishments. A simple approach is often best.

Colors 

Before choosing colors, consider any existing masonry near the driveway. This could be brick or stone siding, or a retaining wall. You don’t need to match the existing masonry features (if any), but you will want to complement them. Be sure to bring home paver samples so that you can observe the pavers in a variety of conditions: sunny, shady, dry, and wet. Be aware that colors tend to become deeper when they’re wet.

Laying Patterns

If you choose bricks, you are somewhat limited to several laying patterns that will withstand the demands of a driveway: running bond (often laid perpendicular to the direction of travel) and herringbone, with basket weave as a distant third place. You could also add decorative circular or fan-shaped inlays when using brick, which makes this timeless material so appealing for any driveway where a more formal, structured look is desired.

Larger pavers such as those inspired by flagstone are often available in random bundles of several shapes and sizes, which will give you a more or less random appearance with no obvious pattern. Larger plank-style pavers - a huge trend in landscaping - will give you less design flexibility, but you may find plank-style pavers available in several finishes to create visual interest.

Practicality

As we mentioned, installing a driveway heating system can virtually eliminate the need for plowing or ice removal. But what about the rest of the year? Are pavers really practical choices? The answer is yes. If you don’t opt for a permeable installation, the joints are filled with polymeric sand which discourages weed growth. On a permeable installation, any errant weeds would be easy to pull since there’s no soil for them to root into. Sealing your pavers is always a good idea to help prevent staining from automotive oil, and to prevent abrasion from tires.

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