The most common question for anyone building a house is, What do I put in my Driveway? Is Granite a good option? Will it be able to handle the weight of my car and multiple other questions. Here we try to answer most of them so you can make an informed choice.
What to use?
When we talk about driveways, there are 2 most suitable products available.
1. Granite,
2. Tiles.
Both are equally good for use in driveways. They both can handle the heat and moisture outside, but have their own pros and cons. Now that we know what product to use, let’s see what specifications we need to use to get the best results.
Specifications and Thickness?
The next important part is the specifications of the product, wrong thickness can cause it to break under pressure. So here are a few pointers for each.
1. Granite.
Minimum thickness should be 18mm, which gives it enough strength to hold cars or even a trucks weight on it.
Next is the finish of the granite, never go for polished finish on the complete driveway, the polish on any stone fades away due to UV light which may give it a dull look in sometime therefore it’s best to avoid it and go for a rough finish. Rough finish has its own benefits such as consistent look, anti-skid surface for walking and cars, cleaner looking and many more.
Granite’s though being extremely hard stone has some porosity. In simple language we can say lighter the color, higher the porosity. So, it is best to use darker colors as much as possible in your driveway. It helps with unintentional oil spills, dirt etc with which it might come in contact with outdoors.
2. Tiles
For outdoor flooring always use a tile with a thickness of 16mm+. These tiles have high tensile strength and are able to support any vehicles weight on it and also the rough outdoor conditions.
Always look for a full body tile, these have a consistent color throughout the tiles body which helps when the top surface gets scratched. The base color being the same reduces a scratches visibility and hence increasing longevity. Since a tile cannot be repolished, this is a very important feature.
Tiles are also available in rough finishes similar to granite. This makes them anti-skid and a good surface to walk or drive on without losing grip.
Tiles can also be used in a lighter color as they are non porous, these are the best option if one wants to go for a very light color. As with granite’s lighter the color, higher the porosity.
Maintenance and Durability
Both tiles and granites have good durability. They are both tough and highly resistant to wear and tear, both have anti-skid properties and are very stain resistant. Granite has an additional benefit of being able to buff and seal it again to remove any stains or grim that might get absorbed into it and give it a new look. It doesn’t take much time or cost. The same cannot be done with tiles.
One common factor that plays an important role in end results of both is the application of the material, if the application is not proper and pockets of air are left under them then they can crack under pressure at any given point of time. It is especially important to make sure the application is done properly to avoid any future issues.
Both products have almost similar maintenance cost. Since both are equally tuff and wear and tear resistant, they do not require much upkeep to keep them looking like new. A simple wash with plain water ones in a while is enough to remove and dirt or grime on it.
Cost
This is the point where things start to differ in these two options. Price of both the product is almost equal, what separates them is the cost of application. It is higher in granites when compared to tiles. Since granites require a lot of cutting to make it into sizes you can install the cost increases. Whereas tiles are available in ready to install sizes.
This is offset by the benefit granite offers in terms of flexibility in piece sizes, tiles are generally fixed in size such as 2×2 or 4x2ft, but with granite you are free to choose your own size which best suits your area and has minimal wastage.
Conclusion
So, it comes down to your personal preference and the kind of design and look you want to achieve. If your design doesn’t allow the use of a darker color, tiles are the best choice. If it does allow along with your budget, then granites should be your pick.
