Your driveway has a major influence on how good your house looks from the outside, but that’s not what they were primarily made for. This is why you need to look at factors beyond esthetics when having one installed. Make one mistake here, and you could have a driveway that is too expensive for your tastes, too fragile, or that can’t handle the type of work you want to do with it. Let’s take a look at a few things to consider when constructing a driveway.

Your Climate

This is one of the first things to consider when having a driveway built. You have to think about thawing and dethawing. This is often when many driveways suffer the most damage. You have to think about which materials can handle deicing agents the best, or which can handle heavy amounts of rain if you have to deal with this type of climate. 

The Type of Soil

The type of soil that is underneath the driveway will also make a big difference. This is especially true if you were going for an asphalt driveway. A lot of people may be worried about how thick the asphalt needs to be for durability, but it’s all about what's underneath. The quality and type of subbase and how it reacts to the underlying soil will be everything. So, before you hire a company, ask them about the subbase they’re going to use for your driveway. You can then ask for second or third opinions and see if they are consistent.

Your Budget

The price of driveway materials can vary greatly. However, you shouldn't just look at the price of installation as some require much more maintenance. Some options will last much longer as well. Asphalt is the go-to for many people on a budget, and it does have its benefits. It's flexible, very affordable, and is great for cold climates. But it will need to be constantly treated so it can maintain its impermeability and it can overheat in the sun. It’s also not the best-looking option, and only lasts around 20 years versus other options that can last for 50 years or more, even a lifetime. Before you settle on asphalt, look at the other materials and see if they would give you the look and durability that you need.

How Do You Intend to Use it?

You also have to consider how you will be using the driveway. Check how many vehicles will be parked there, and see if you might have additional needs shortly, like one of your children getting their own vehicle, for instance. Also, make sure that you know how heavy these vehicles will be and let the contractor who's going to work on your project know.

You should know that some materials are better for heavy-duty work than others as well. If you intend to do some heavy work on your driveway or you expect lots of traffic, we would suggest you stick with options like asphalt and concrete.

These are only some of the things you need to consider when having a driveway built. Speak with a team that you can trust and ask for information on any option you were thinking of.