  Curb appeal is more than just a stylish paint color and spectacular landscaping. A large part of your home’s curb appeal is your driveway and walkway. Certainly your home is more desirable – and valuable – if the driveway is smooth, free of cracks and weeds, and distinctive. In fact, treating your driveway as part of the landscaping is one of the hottest new design trends. But just because walkways and driveways are practical doesn’t mean they can’t also be good-looking. Begin your designing process by determining the natural paths people take to doors and any high-use areas. You want to avoid building a walk that will be bypassed in favor of walking on the lawn. Today, an increasingly popular driveway design choice -- concrete pavers – combines this beauty with practicality. Pavers are easier to maintain than concrete and asphalt, and last longer without needing to be repaired. Pavers also provide a safe, slip-resistant surface in beautiful beige, coral, variegated or darker blended colors, as well as blends to harmonize with a home’s exterior colors. Driveway Considerations Here are some things to consider when redesigning your driveway: 
You don’t want your driveway and walkways to stand out in your front yard like a sore thumb. You want the whole look of the front of your house to seamlessly blend together. Your walkway and driveway offer ample opportunities to be creative with the landscaping. It is all about your personal taste. Think variety – differing but complementary plant colors and shapes, heights, textures – to break up what could be a monotonous view. arouse visual interest both horizontally and vertically. Make sure that the various forms, materials and open spaces of your landscape are in scale with one another – and with your house. With proper planning, a walkway and driveway will help add excitement to your home. The design is limited only by your imagination. There’re is really no right or wrong, it’s just a matter of personal preference, as well as determining what works best for your property. 
 Find a Local Driveway and Walkway Contractor Click here to contact a local, licensed and reliable contractor in your area. Once you have a general plan, visit your building department to find out about the zoning regulations and building codes governing your project. Codes typically dictate the dimensions and type of concrete you must use for footings and slabs. They tell you how much and what type of metal reinforcement to use and if you need a sand or gravel base under the material. Building codes also spell out setbacks-how close to your property line you may build. Once your plans are approved, you can get a building permit. Plan the work schedule so you will be ready for each inspection. |
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