FROM PAGE 3C DRIVEWAY
like a cookie cutter, leaving a design that can mimic stone or pavers or be something completely different.
Concrete slabs are a trend today, Shosh vant Verlaat said. “We can create different designs, and it’s better for the environment,” she said.
For a visually pleasing look, the size of the slabs need to be in proportion to the size of the driveway. “If it’s a small driveway, you don’t want large slabs,” Shosh van Verlant said. “But in a big driveway, small slabs will look too busy.”
Slabs are poured individually and can be laid in a variety of patterns. One of the latest trends: Grass, artificial turf or pebbles can fill in the borders between the slabs, allowing rainwater to seep into the ground instead of puddling on top, Shosh vant Verlaat said. The borders also help mitigate heat buildup resulting from large expanses of concrete. Another dramatic yet environmentally friendly design option: a honeycomb of small shapes such as diamonds filled with grass or pebbles in the centers and bordered with narrow concrete slabs. Remember, however, that weeds may grow in the borders between slabs, and if real turf is used, it will have to be maintained.
PAVERS
Pavers are a common driveway material. But today, there are many different looks. “People are moving away from traditional pavers,” Shosh vant Verlaat said. “They’re avoiding traditional darker colors that absorb more heat and going for gray. It’s more elegant.”
Old Chicago brick continues to be a choice for some homeowners. Another option — an expensive but stylish one — is porcelain. “The beauty of porcelain is that it’s very low maintenance,” Rene vant Verlaat said. ”Even oil stains can be easily cleaned up, and it’s very unlikely to crack.”
Because pavers are usually laid on a base of gravel and sand and not locked in place with concrete, replacing broken ones can be fairly easy. Weeds, however, can grow between them.
MIXING IT UP
It’s not necessary to use just one driveway material. Instead, let your imagination be your guide. Pavers can be combined with concrete slabs, and they can both be combined with crushed granite chips or porcelain accents. If you can imagine a design, it may very well be possible to have it created, Shosh vant Verlaat said. “We don’t like cookiecutter styles,” she added.
Some municipalities allow more area of a yard to be paved than others, so check before setting your heart on a particular style. But designs with more pervious areas, such as slabs with turf between them, may be more acceptable than a straight sheet of concrete.
SHAPE
It may be possible to change the shape of your driveway. A curved driveway, for example, can be easier to exit than a straight one that requires backing out. Be sure the new excavation meets municipal or homeowners association requirements and won’t damage tree roots or the septic system.
MAKING THE NEIGHBORS JEALOUS
Looking for something that will make the neighbors envious?
No space to enlarge a straight driveway into a semicircle? How about a turntable that allows you to drive onto it, and when it’s time to leave again, use a remote control to turn the Lazy Susan-like feature 180 degrees so you can drive straight out instead of backing up?
It also saves space, can be placed on a flat surface or an incline, and can be designed with pavers, concrete or any type of surface that supports the weight of a car, Shosh van Verlaat said.
The company plans to begin offering them in March.