anyone thinking of putting in a new driveway? (colors, installed, leaks)

[overtaxedunderpaided]

My major concerns are the severe winters(crackability), then there's the weeds and widening. I've read that concrete is more likely to crack during winters yet is an easier repair than ashphalt for the DIYer. How about those stamped concrete designs? How bout the "wet look"? nice but anyone here do it and how's it holding up? Pretty sure i don't want the interlocking as every drive I've seen has weeds sprouting up! and the last thing i want to do is spend my weekends pulling up those nuisances. I'm in a zero lot line so can only widen so far. And lucky me, the city has one of those cutsey street lamps in the way so it'll make it a tight fit no matter what i do. I like the idea of a beautiful drive that continues onto the walk and around the house to the back(a nice flow).

I guess my question is, what has worked for you?

[golfgal]

We live in MN so we are well familiar with the winter issues, plus we have 90-100+ ° in the summer so we have to plan for both. We have had both concrete and asphalt driveways and honestly they are about the same. The asphalt is much less expensive but doesn't 'last' as long. Concrete here is put in with expansion gaps so that helps the cracking. Our old house had concrete. It is starting to crack, after about 25 years. Our new house has asphalt. We just had it recoated last summer by a company for $85. It is EASY to do by yourself, just messy. The materials cost about $50 for a DIY deal.

Our current neighborhood is about 1/2 asphalt, 1/2 concrete. The houses are all about 12-15 years old. None of the concrete driveways are cracking. Most of the asphalt driveways have been recoated a couple times and are all in good shape.

[windtimber]

Both asphalt and concrete crack. Asphalt periodically needs to be seal coated. Cracks in both surfaces need to be filled. With proper expansion joints concrete is "less likely" to crack, but there's no guarantee it won't. Asphalt is subject to deterioration from oil leaks from cars, gasoline spills, and high heat. Stamped concrete looks pretty sharp. We have very harsh winters, ice, snow, etc. I wonder about exterior application of stamped and sealed concrete when it comes to snow and ice removal. It might take a real beating. I have a large asphalt parking lot behind my office building and a concrete driveway and sidewalks at home [and around the office]. Given price [with oil always rising] and durability to oil leaks, gasoline spills, an inherent strength - I'd go with concrete for the driveway and walks. Maybe give stamped concrete a try on the sidewalk, but not the driveway. Another alternative to stamped concrete is exposed aggregate - the troweled slurry is rinsed off exposing small rocks in the concrete surface. It looks kind of nice and is surface that gives some relative "gription" in the winter.

[Poltracker]

You might also want to consider concrete pavers (properly installed) if your town's code allows it. They work really well as they allow rain to soak down to the earth and if they heave or crack (less of a problem than you might think) can be easily and inexpensively repaired. It is also easy to find attractive colors/designs.

[golfgal]

Originally Posted by Poltracker

You might also want to consider concrete pavers (properly installed) if your town's code allows it. They work really well as they allow rain to soak down to the earth and if they heave or crack (less of a problem than you might think) can be easily and inexpensively repaired. It is also easy to find attractive colors/designs.

Pavers look nice but they are a PAIN to shovel in the winter.

[overtaxedunderpaided]

Thank you for the advice everyone. Pretty sure i won't go with the pavers. I know in time the neighbours would sign a petition to throw me out for all the cursing when i try to shovel it! And not to mention, this particular city is very strict on rules. The driveway is concrete now and showing it's age............the house is over 30 years old and i suspect it has been done at least twice because of the surrounding material(ties and newer type pavers on the walk). Yea the stamped concrete looks sharp! Just wondering how's that holding up for folks who have had it for a while?!