The house for sale in your neighborhood is in excellent condition. The high quality shingles held up to las summer’s hail and wind storms while many other neighbors had to replace the lower quality shingles on their home. The couple who has decided to downsize to a ranch floor plan has taken immaculate care of the two story home that has nearly 4,100 square feet of finished space. The recently finished basement does not even count into the square footage as it is tabulated by the local realtors, but it includes a safe room that even has a FEMA approved door and vented opening. In fact, the house is so well cared for that you and your husband actually joked about packing everything up, buying the neighbor’s house, and moving across the street.
Nothing short of the fond memories that you have of raising your children in your current home could keep you from jumping at the chance to upgrade to the bigger house across the street. The house with more square footage, newer higher graded and updated appliances, and a perfectly landscaped front circle driveway. As you and your husband attempt to look over the towering shrubs that need to be trimmed in front of your whole house porch, you again acknowledge that home ownership is a lot of work. Perhaps if both you and your husband were both retired you would also spend your mornings pruning the bushes, dead heading flowers, and following a monthly schedule of home maintenance tasks that your neighbors follow.
Do You Have Home Maintenance Issues That Could be Corrected by a Driveway Contractor?
Instead, you decide to tackle the one problem that you know will have an immediate impact on the way the neighbors, both new and old, see your property. First thing tomorrow morning you have a driveway contractor coming to give you a bid on three separate projects around your home. First, the driveway contractor will assess the current state of the concrete that leads to your three car garage. A few cracks, missing caulk, and one one broken corner may be enough for the contractor to suggest a complete replacement of your concrete driveway.
Second, a sunken and tilted square of sidewalk has been the cause of at least one bike accident in front of your home. The driveway contractor has indicated that if you are already pouring new concrete it might make sense to replace that square as well. The final and third task is a bid on a larger concrete patio that sits at the site of your walkout basement door. since finishing your basement, you and your family have actually spent more time outside in the yard beyond the walkout door. A larger patio could allow you to create another seating and entertainment area for both your family and guests.
Concrete Is a Versatile Surface That Needs Limited Care
If it is installed and maintained correctly, a new concrete drive can have a long useful lifespan. In fact, some driveways will last 25 to 50 years if they are carefully poured. And while it may seem that all concrete driveways are the same, many contractors offer driveway products that can compliment the exterior of your home. For instance, although the offerings may vary by contractor, colored concrete is available in as many as 250 hues and shades. A subtle change in the color a driveway can dramatically increase the street appeal of any home.
The beauty of concrete surface repairs and replacements is that they can actually be very friendly to the environment. Did you know, for instance, that in today’s processes, much of the old concrete is broken down and reused again as surfaces for roads and parking lots? And while 94% of the covered surface in this country are actually asphalt, the concrete surface is actually more durable and makes more sense in many specific locations throughout the country.
Homeowners looking for a quick improvement to their home often select concrete work as a project that changes the way neighbors see your home. Whether those are neighbors who have lived across the street for years, or new neighbors
