Marin Driveways

Driveways are a key aspect of the landscape. Unlike patios, picnic areas and benches, driveways are used every day in all weather.

A good driveway design has several elements:

1. It is big enough, in conjunction with the street, to park and turn around all of the needed vehicles for home use and entertaining.

2. It is pleasing to look at. Many people don't stop to consider the fact that a driveway is often the single biggest element of their curb appeal and home-presentation. If the driveway is ugly and dominates the view, it will not be rescued by planting around the edges.

3. It is safe and easy to turn around in. Nothing is worse than having an expensive car and a tight driveway, bordered by stone walls. Every turn is a source of anxiety and added stress when you are in a hurry. The best way to design a driveway is to install the gravel base and paint out the edges, prior to any permanent surface being installed. You can then drive up, turn around, and observe if there are any tight or dangerous aspects in the process. The 

driveway shape can then be adjusted accordingly. Sometimes an extra 18" is all it takes to make the difference between daily ordeal, and stress-free parking.

Lines are an important element in any design. The best results come when your landscape design is done parallel with the driveway design, such that the lines from the one complement the lines of the other.

The surface texture and colors should also complement and enhance the landscape and home design. Remember, that a well-designed driveway can have almost as much impact on curb-appeal as a well-designed home profile. However, a driveway renovation will cost 1/10th of a a home-remodel designed to improve the profile of a home. Since curb appeal has a big impact on resale value, as well as your own experience of arriving home each day, this is important.

Most driveways are old and cracked concrete, but still functional. If the lines are good these can be good candidates for resurfacing in a variety of artistic ways. For $15. per square foot or less you can grind down uneven areas, fill cracks, color and put an entirely new texture and  

pattern on top. In some cases, where 1-3" can be added to the height of the driveway without consequence, you can also add a hard stone, such as Connecticut blue stone for a bit more.

Many people are using pavers as their driveway material. The chief visual benefit of pavers is the way that they complement certain styles, such as "English Cottage Garden," or "Grand estate." On a functional level they are ideal when large desirable trees will continue to grow under the driveway and break up any poured concrete. In the case of pavers, bulges caused by roots can be eliminated by periodically taking sections of the pavers up, chopping at the roots, and laying them back down again - something that a resourceful home-owner can do themselves. The downside of pavers is that their colors typically fade over a decade and weeds and moss often start growing in the cracks, requiring maintenance.

Stamped concrete eliminates the problems of weeds, moss and fading. However, it will crack in time if large trees are within 15' feet of it. Stamped concrete has more flexibility in color than pavers, allowing you to pick your own colors and the intensity of the color.