When it comes to enhancing the aesthetic appeal and durability of outdoor spaces like driveways, walkways and back patios, choosing the right material is crucial.  While there are many material options to choose from, including interlocking stone and concrete, one of the most popular options is Brushed Concrete. In this article, we will explore what brushed concrete is, its advantages, and why it’s an ideal choice for your driveway, walkway, and backyard patio.

What is Brushed Concrete?

Brushed concrete is the entry level finish among the four types of concrete finish offered by Markstone Landscaping. It is a finishing technique that creates a textured pattern on the surface of freshly poured concrete. After the concrete has been poured, levelled and smoothened, a broom is used to create brush strokes on the drying concrete, leaving behind a subtle, visually appealing texture. This process adds an element of style and grip, making it an excellent choice for areas where slip resistance is important.

In our previous articles, we have mentioned that one of the primary benefits of using interlocking pavers on your driveway and backyard patio is that it doesn’t require as much maintenance over time, other than the occasional power wash and refilling of polymeric sand. This is predicated on the fact that the interlocking pavers were properly and professionally installed from the very start.

Based on our many years of experience as interlocking contractors, the key to ensuring the longevity of your stone pavers is highly dependent on the sand that is used during the construction process. Not all sand is the same, and some are better suited for use on interlocking paver projects.

For the bedding layer, we use limestone screening for the bedding material. It is this gravel bedding that provides final levelling properties and helps secure the paver units in place.

The other area where sand is used is for filling paver joints. The right type of sand for filling in the joints between individual stone pavers is a sand mixture that has multiple grain sizes as well as sharp edges. For this purpose, we don’t use very fine sand since they are more likely to be washed or blown away from the joints over time. Filler sand needs to bind together to create a smooth surface while not slipping and sliding and moving around. The best sand to use in between the paver joints is polymeric sand

Benefits of Polymeric Sand for Interlocking Paver Filler Joints

Polymeric sand is water-activated and is made of a mixture of graded sand and binder. When polymeric sand is exposed to moisture, it forms a strong yet flexible bond to create the strongest interlocking properties possible. This prevents erosion caused by rain and wind, which makes polymeric sand a great material to resist the harsh conditions and extreme weather swings that happens in Ontario. Best of all, polymeric sand has the added benefit of preventing weed growth in between pavers.  This is why we recommend putting more polymeric sand in between the stones as part of our tips to maintaining your interlocking driveways and walkways.

In summary, interlocking pavers are the most versatile material in the market for your driveway, walkways and backyard patio, but in order to ensure its longevity, work with a professional interlocking contractor. Here at Markstone Landscaping, we have over 15 years of experience in the interlocking paver business and will be more than happy to spend some time with you to give you free advice and quote.

When deciding on paving a driveway, there are several materials to choose from. Each option comes with its own unique characteristics and offerings. In this article, we will discuss the pros and cons of paving concrete versus asphalt driveways in Ontario.

Concrete Driveway Benefits in Ontario

Concrete driveways are known for its durability, longevity and versatility. If installed properly and to code, this material requires minimal maintenance while keeping weed growth at bay, making it looking its best for years to come. Concrete can also withstand more environmental elements of the freeze and thaw cycle, a definite benefit for Ontario homeowners.

In addition, with concrete’s vast color, pattern and texture choices (such as exposed aggregate concrete), it allows for unique driveway design and style. This in turn adds to the curb appeal and increases the value of a home. Click here for a full list of concrete driveway pros & cons.

Although concrete driveways may cost more to install than asphalt driveways, its long shelf life – lasting upward of 25 years – will make the initial investment well worth the price.

Asphalt Driveway Benefits in Ontario

When compared to concrete, asphalt driveway installation is more economical. However, asphalt driveway has a life expectancy of approximately 8 years – which is much shorter than concrete. In addition, its limited color pallet, with only black as the option, makes it limiting on design and curb appeal.

Ontario’s temperature fluctuates between 30 degrees Celsius to -20 degrees Celsius in any given year. With this extreme temperature change, asphalt may crack easily after a couple of winters. And during the heat wave days of summer, the black asphalt absorbs the heat, making the surface extremely hot. This high temperature may cause the asphalt to become pliable and soft which makes it easy to scratch, scruff or chip away. In addition, children are advised not to play sidewalk chalk or toys on the driveway to avoid their skin coming in contact with the hot surface which may cause burns.

Summary of Concrete versus Asphalt Driveways

No matter what material you choose, driveway installations should be done by reputable and experienced landscapers. If you are unsure of what material to use for your driveway or want additional information on this topic, feel free to contact us at Markstone Landscaping.

Markstone Landscaping specializes in concrete landscaping for both commercial and residential properties. Our service offering includes poured, stamped, coloured & textured concrete paving.  With over 10 years of experience in installing driveways, front entrances and backyards, we are confident that we can help you with your landscaping needs.

After a severe winter where snow, hail, freeze & thaw cycles occur all too frequently, anything left out in the cold are bound to bare an impact. To ensure your concrete and interlocking driveway in Ontario is looking its best every year, Spring driveway maintenance is recommended. Here are ways to identify problem areas that may have surfaced after a harsh winter and steps to tackle them.

Concrete Driveway Spring Maintenance

When it comes to low maintenance and cost effective driveway options, concrete takes the reign. Asphalt may be more economical to install, however, with the maintenance it requires, the time and money spent in the long run will surpass that of concrete. With concrete’s strong composition, it makes it durable and perfect for areas that are frequently used. To ensure your concrete driveway lives up to all the benefits it has to offer, make sure it is installed by a reputable and experienced contractor. Every step of the concrete installation must be followed to code in order for your concrete driveway to look great for years to come.

The only maintenance and preventative tip for concrete driveways for spring is to power wash and (re)apply sealer to the driveway. De-icing salt may have wreak havoc to your concrete driveway causing flaking, cracking, spalling, pitting & chips. Power washing your concrete driveway will rinse off any salt residue from the winter months. Apply an epoxy coating on your concrete driveway after all salt has been removed and driveway is dry. This will prevent salted water from seeping into the concrete for subsequent winters. Make this a routine every 2 – 3 years to keep the salt water at bay. For more concrete maintenance tips, here are 5 simple tips you can do.

Interlock Paver Driveway Spring Maintenance

Unlike asphalt which is only offered in black, interlock pavers are versatile and can create unique driveway designs. Follow simple spring time maintenance to ensure your curb appeal is intact and fix small repairs regularly to avoid the cost of repaving your whole driveway. For interlock design ideas for your front entrance and walkway, check article Interlocking Design Ideas For Your Front Entrance and Walkways. For additional interlock maintenance tips for your home landscaping, click here. If you want to know more about this popular landscaping material, click here for a comprehensive look at interlock pavers.

Identifying problems on interlock paver driveways:

1. Sunken or shifted pavers

Once all the snow has melted, inspect your interlock paver driveway for areas where the space between each stone is visibly larger. In addition, look for surface dips and uneven ground. Displaced pavers are usually caused by base or sub base settlement. Water may pool on top or underneath the pavers. During the colder months, it will freeze and create a slippery surface on the top or dislodge the stones further if trapped underneath.

2. Loss of sand in driveway border

Thoroughly examine the border of your driveway to look for pockets of loss gravel base and sand. The sand border ensures the driveway’s stability. During the colder months, the sand may have escaped and washed out from under the pavers.

3. Unwanted growth

Check for weed, moss or lichen growth on or between pavers. These unwanted vegetation appears if seeds make their way in-between the joints and germinate.

Interlock Paver Driveway Maintenance & Preventative Tips:

1. Reapply aggregate base to reset pavers

If pavers have shifted or sunken during the winter months, remove the paver or section of pavers that requires leveling.  Add enough sand to the base so that the final surface will be level with the rest of the driveway. Compact additional sand and place paver into place. Use polymeric sand to keep pavers in place by sweeping them into the joints.

2. Replace lost driveway border material

Refill the sand border of the driveway with polymeric sand to keep your driveway stable. It is recommended to do a quick check twice a year (spring and fall) to ensure everything is in place. If required, replace any lost sand.

3. Keeping unwanted vegetation at bay

Once there is space between each paver (caused by un-stabilized sand in the joints), weed, moss or lichen will grow. The first step to a clean, clear paver driveway is to treat the unwanted growth with an appropriate weed killer. Upon confirmation of a successful termination of the weeds, use a power washer to remove the dead growth. Sweep joint sand across the pavers’ surface ensuring all space between each paver is filled liberally. Remove excess sand.

4. Power Wash & Apply Sealer

To revive the natural beauty of interlock pavers, power washing is the most effective and economical solution. Removal of dirt, grime and weeds will instantly restore faded colors. Finish it off with a sealer and it will protect the pavers from weather elements and preserve its appearance for the next 2 to 3 years.

Performing a yearly spring driveway maintenance can help kick off a beautiful, clean, weed free driveway for the full summer. If small damages are ignored, it will turn into larger problems in the coming years which may become costly to fix.

At Markstone Landscaping, we can help you with your landscaping needs. Call us for a consultation or a free no-obligation quote. We’re here to make sure your driveway’s curb appeal is at its best for the whole summer ahead.