driveway finishing

[springfield]

After talking to people, we are more confused about the best type of finishing for the driveway. Some say pavers, others like stamped or troweled concrete. I know a lot is just a matter if taste. However, from your experience, what are the pros and cons of different finishes? Thanks

[borjo]

We have the Chattahoochie river rock with an epoxy sealer. Looks great but needs to be resealed every year ($250) or more frequently. It gets hazy. If anyone knows how to remedy this, let me know.

[pooh]

I have a painted driveway and it, too, must be cleaned and sealed just about every year. Friends have pavers that also must be cleaned and sealed, probably yearly.

Getting a driveway design, paint, stamped concrete or pavers is all a matter of taste. All will require some maintenance. If you're driving around the community and see a driveway you like, ask the homeowner who did the work. Villagers love to share info with fellow Villagers. I remember when Mike and I were looking at various driveways around our village, we saw one we liked and inquired with the homeowners about who did their work. They were very lovely people, invited us in, showed us some other work that had been done on their lovely home.
Just make sure you absolutely love what you choose....it's there for quite a long time..... ;)

[Warren Kiefer]

I have had paint (never again) My neighbor has the thin pavers, some are coming loose and many have cracked, another neighbor has the 2 inch pavers and they are working out well. I now have what I think best of all, the liquid concrete application. The color is throughout the application and nearly maintainence free. I really like the work of Foorida Deck and Pool for the liquid concrete application.

[jimbo2012]

Is this a TV thing to coat, paint stain etc.

What's the problem with the natural concrete.

Never see done in the north east

Why R many owners doing this?

[Jim 9922]

Is this a TV thing to coat, paint stain etc.

What's the problem with the natural concrete.

Never see done in the north east

Why R many owners doing this?

I guess most everyone is retired and need things to do to fill out the day, like maintain a decorated driveway. I like concrete too, the grass and gardens are enough maintenance for me!:ho:

[asianthree]

looking at two houses one painted drive with their initals and one with pavers with weird design... not a fan of either, so as long as you plan to stay in the house pick what you like

[2 Oldcrabs]

Is this a TV thing to coat, paint stain etc.

What's the problem with the natural concrete.

Never see done in the north east

Why R many owners doing this?

It is a Florida thing. Snow shovels and snow plows would do damage in the northeast. :ohdear:

[2 Oldcrabs]

After talking to people, we are more confused about the best type of finishing for the driveway. Some say pavers, others like stamped or troweled concrete. I know a lot is just a matter if taste. However, from your experience, what are the pros and cons of different finishes? Thanks

My sister has a Painted driveway. It is slippery when wet and is starting to get that "milky look". (3 years old) We still have the concrete look.:duck:

[pooh]

Our driveway and sidewalk were painted to conceal stains made by fertilizer, rain, who knows what else. It can be slippery when wet, but the last time we had it sealed, extra "gripping" material was added to the sealer. So far, the milky appearance has not manifested, it's been 5 years I believe. Nothing wrong with regular concrete, but the stains were bad and we didn't have F9 Restorations around at the time... ;)

[wjoyc56]

Does any one have a phone number for Florida Deck? I can't seem to find it in the phone book or the internet.....

[Jullie]

We got our driveway painted to conceal the ugly color of concrete down here. The driveway also had stains we could not get rid of.
I would NOT recommend painting a driveway. Even after we sealed it every year it continues to fade.
Our neighbors have pavers and are fairly happy. The problems with pavers are they crack & move around when you walk on them. And $$$$$.

[ajbrown]

Is this a TV thing to coat, paint stain etc.

What's the problem with the natural concrete.

Never see done in the north east

Why R many owners doing this?

Our reason in this post:

Why we stained our driveway (https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/406709-post10.html)

[Jim 9922]

Paver applications in TV are really only laying thin veneer bricks on a hard concrete base. Maybe a thin layer of sand is applied but that soon washes away. There are all kinds of problems with that application. Real pavers are 4 to 6 inches thick and are laid in a 4 to 6 inch soft bedding of sand or tru-pack material for proper load dispersal, drainage, and stabilization. As further evidence of the misapplication, true pavers that have been properly fired and are placed in a base with proper drainage, should not have to be sealed.

As an aside, I have not been in many Deep south communities that have the fixation that The Villagers have to decorate their concrete drives. I don't think any of the products being offered can really stand up to the harsh Florida heat and solar conditions or can retain its orginal appearance without extensive maintenance.

[bluedog103]

It's concrete for us. I'm a tinkerer and really need somplace to set up horses and generally play. I'm pretty sure some fancy, schmancy driveway creation would not work for us.

[Warren Kiefer]

Go with a liquid concrete application. Florida deck and pol will give you a wonderful job.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

Once a driveway has been painted, can it be stripped? I don't like the paint on my driveway and would love to have it removed.

BTW, most driveways up north where I lived were asphalt. Maybe that's why they aren;t painted.

[Barkay]

Have your contractor add H&C SharkGrip Slip Resistant Concrete Stain Additive when doing the driveways - makes a Big difference.

[ilovetv]

When you see a blue stucco house with a blue driveway that seems to go right up the wall, well.....it seems like people need something to fill their days or to spend their money on.

If you want to see major undies in a bunch, watch a courtyard villa neighborhood deciding to do the driveway coating allowed by TV, and with which contractor. It's a lot of silliness when there's nothing wrong with the concrete au natural.

[Irishmen]

Who has a avg price for painting a driveway. Avg sq ft price?

[elizabeth52]

Anyone willing to post a ballpark figure for liquid concrete for an average driveway? Much appreciated.

[Lark7]

Yes, an estimate for liquid concrete would really be appreciated - my driveway is yucky.

[jebartle]

the concrete look...tee hee.....I do suggest that you try "Ugly Grout be gone"...for $50 they made a circular driveway look new again!

[butterfly sue]

Be very careful of who you select for doing any SPRAYING on your driveways of any kind. The spray CAN get into your garage. It is best for the contractor to ROLL the sealer on or have you lower your garage door down to a few inches of being closed and have a plastic taped onto your garage door for protection. Make sure you have that on your contract too.

[jimbo2012]

Paint & stain have drawbacks and the contractors get big bucks, IMO warranted.

If I were to do mine thin 1" pavers R what I would do.

They R installed with masonry caulking adhesive ( like liquid nails ).

Material cost is $2 a sq ft labor I guess $1-1.50 a sq ft.

Very easy install.

Should last 100 years

[Joyce Beeman]

After talking to people, we are more confused about the best type of finishing for the driveway. Some say pavers, others like stamped or troweled concrete. I know a lot is just a matter if taste. However, from your experience, what are the pros and cons of different finishes? Thanks


Just wondered if you decided on a finish? I've had pavers and didn't like how the shift and crack and had to be top coated every 3-5 years. I'm going the concrete finish which is a little more expensive but looks GREAT. I've seen several of Artisticrete jobs around here and LOOKS GREAT!!! What have you decided to do? thanks

[jimbo2012]

If pavers shift, they were not installed right

[marsil]

Are their any reviews for HANK @ Cost Less Driveway Designs.
I contracted him to finish my driveway in DYCO silicone Acrylic Concrete.

I am wondering if this is a good product.

[kaydee]

Would like more info & opinions on Liquid Concrete as well as a phone # for Florida Deck & Pool. Thank You

[e-flyer]

......I've had pavers and didn't like how the shift and crack and had to be top coated every 3-5 years. I'm going the concrete finish....


I think all of the typical driveway finishes you see in TV require sealing, some more often than others.

For those who are in the know, I've heard where new concrete should have an extended curing time before sealing or epoxy coating. Can anyone confirm this? We have a home in a new neighborhood, and lots of folks get their garages/driveways treated before or shortly after moving in???

[PennyAnn]

F9 Restorations? New here and the driveway has black streaks. Help! Ideas?

[villager]

We are considering the best of both worlds - having a painted finish put on our lanai (same as a driveway) that has a slightly rough finish so no slipping and the design can can be put on to look like pavers. The company we have spoken with does painting, sealing and pavers. He actually talked us out of pavers, even though it was more money in his pocket. He said most people he knows who have had the pavers have not been happy because they shift, crack and dirt gets in the cracks so then there's the weed problem. He did our driveway and we are super pleased. He is coming back to do our side yard concrete patio and we will probably have him to the lanai, too. His name? Bob at Custom Driveway Design. 352-406-6677

[jimbo2012]

He said most people he knows who have had the pavers have not been happy because they shift, crack and dirt gets in the cracks so then there's the weed problem. 7

I disagree, if they installed correctly shouldn't happen

[Gabbi1393]

Yes, an estimate for liquid concrete would really be appreciated - my driveway is yucky.

Average cost is $5.00 - $6.00 per square foot depending on design chosen.

[e-flyer]

Gabbi1393, Wow, that's a lot more expensive than pavers!

Jimbo2012, you mentioned that pavers should be glued down with a masonry adhesive. Does this apply to every paver they install? I've seen pavers here installed in TV with just sand, and they shifted very quickly (obviously a poor install method). The better jobs install over sand everywhere except they used a masonry adhesive on just the edge/borders and at the street entry. I talked the the installer and they said the outside being glued is the correct install method and the rest of the pavers float but can't move much due to the edges being glued. He said that 1" pavers occasionally crack, but can be replaced easily. Do you think this is a line of BS or is there various installation options with pavers. This is the first time I've seen pavers being installed over concrete driveways. Up north they would have removed the concrete and installed a thick paver base material, vibrate it to pack it down, and then install real pavers 2-3" thick (brick like) not the 1" pavers you see around here.

[llaran]

Pavers will break and need to be replaced also you need to resand and seal. The milky look is from dampness under the sealer. The 3inch pavers don't break but they do need to be resanded and sealed. Also more expensive.

[dgammon6]

For liquid concrete, check out Custom Ram Design, Inc. - Ocala, Fl. (http://www.customramdesign.com)
From home page click on Gallery, then click on ornate design. Our driveway was done 5 years ago and still looks new.