The Best Driveway Paving Alternatives

If you need to install a new driveway, you may be turned off by the cost and hassle of paved concrete. Concrete paving can be an especially tough choice if you have a large or unconventional driveway that needs to be finished. With the cost to pave a driveway the traditional way ranging between $2,526 and $7,294, you may be determined to find cheaper driveway paving alternatives that still look great and stand up to wear and tear. Of course, you might simply desire a high-end, artisan alternative to a paved driveway. Check out six alternatives to a concrete driveway for all of your budgetary and aesthetic goals.

1. Gravel

Unlike smooth paved driveways, gravel driveways consist of small, loose stones and rocks. Gravel is widely considered to be one of the best driveway paving alternatives when you want to get this job done at a low cost. The average cost for a gravel driveway is just $1,800. In addition to being cheaper and easier to install compared to paved driveways, gravel driveways also offer superior drainage in wet or swampy yards. Additionally, they are relatively easy to maintain and fix.

The big thing to know about gravel driveways if you're strongly considering this option is that loose gravel will inevitably migrate over time. Homeowners need to manually rake gravel back into place to keep driveways intact. You should also consult with a gravel pro if your driveway has a slope. With factors like erosion and gravity in play, loose gravel can cause your driveway to essentially "slide away" in some yards. The effect can be worse in areas with heavy rainfall.

2. Pavers

A paver driveway is considered an upscale alternative to a paved driveway. Paver driveway costs generally range from $6,000 to $18,000. Prized for their beauty, paver driveways let you choose from a wide range of stone types, colors, shapes, and textures. You can also add mosaics and borders.

Pavers also offer a variety of practical benefits. Unlike concrete which requires a curing process after being poured, pavers are ready to use as soon as they're installed. They also offer the benefit of permeability. If you're in an area that requires good storm-water management, pavers allow water to be absorbed into the ground instead of "running off" the concrete. Just be sure to have your pavers sealed every two years. If you're planning to invest in heated driveways cost, a paver driveway is just about the only non-paved option that works.

3. Interlocking Pavers

Choosing interlocking pavers can allow you to bring the cost of a paver driveway down to $1,500 to $7,000 on average. This option uses a predesigned grid to make installation faster and cheaper. Like standard pavers, interlocking pavers are permeable enough to provide good storm-water management. They are also resilient against extreme temperature changes, heavy loads, and stains caused by gas and oil. If an interlocking paver does crack or crumble, you can simply replace the affected part without disrupting the rest of the driveway.

While many interlocking pavers are commonly made from concrete or cement aggregates, some brands create pavers using some combination of brick, rubber, plastic, wood, and composite. If you're looking for driveway paving alternatives partially because you're trying to avoid the need to seal a concrete driveway, you may be happy to hear that synthetic interlocking pavers usually don't require any sealing to stay durable and beautiful.

4. Brick

Offering unparalleled elegance and refinement, a brick driveway can cost between $5,000 and $20,000 on average. In addition to being a showstopping option that adds some old-world, old-money charm to any property, brick is a standout choice for drainage because of the way it's laid out to prevent standing water. With brick driveways easily lasting more than 25 years when properly maintained, this could be a once-in-a-lifetime investment for a property owner.

While bricks look stately and delicate, the way they stand up to the elements speaks to their understated ruggedness. Brick can withstand exposure to heavy winds, rainfall, hot temperatures, and cold temperatures. Homeowners with brick driveways don't have to constantly worry about the warping that can occur with standard asphalt driveways when melting temperatures show up in the summertime.

Don't let the high-maintenance look of brick fool you. What makes this one of the best driveway paving alternatives is that brick can easily be swapped out when a piece becomes damaged or worn. Brick also resists staining beautifully. However, brick should be sealed about once every two years.

Finally, the little-known benefit of a brick driveway is that it's actually safer than other options. Brick's abrasive texture makes it a naturally slip-resistant surface. Homeowners don't have to worry about the skidding and slipping that is common with both paved and loose-stone driveways over time.

5. Cobblestone

If you want that true carriage-house look in front of your home, there's no alternative offering the class and customization of cobblestone. Costing between $8,600 and $24,800 on average, cobblestone driveways are as durable as they are beautiful. There's a reason why cobblestones have been used for generations on busy city streets around the world. A well-installed cobblestone driveway can easily last for 100 years. Cobblestone also holds up nicely in harsh weather. If you have a long driveway that will be plowed frequently in heavy snow or ice conditions, going with cobblestone can help you avoid cracking and chipping caused by the weight and pressure of a plow.

Perfect for historic homes or custom "heirloom" new constructions, cobblestone driveways are perfect when you want an old-world look. However, they don't always pair well with modern homes because you won't get the style versatility that you'd get with something like a paver driveway. Additionally, cobblestone isn't ideal if people will be walking up your long driveway without an alternative path simply because the uneven nature of cobblestone can pose tripping risks.

6. Asphalt

If you're looking for a smooth driveway that isn't made of concrete, asphalt is the most logical choice. Unlike concrete, asphalt is easy to install and ready for use the same day without a multi-day curing process. With the average asphalt driveway cost ranging from $3,124 to $7,377, this can be a cheaper option compared to concrete. A local asphalt company near you can break down the cost of asphalt versus other driveway paving alternatives based on your driveway's size and orientation.

Asphalt creates a smooth, durable driveway that is resistant to cracking, crumbling, and warping. Its ability to withstand heavy loads and heavy car traffic makes it a very practical choice for busy households. Asphalt is also highly stable in areas with erosion and heavy rainfall. A properly maintained asphalt driveway can easily last 20 years. When issues do pop up over time, the average asphalt driveway repair cost is around $1,071 to $4,011.