How do I Choose the Best Brick Driveway?

Brick driveways can provide a charming, elegant alternative to tar or cement paved exterior entrances. The colors and patterns of bricks that can be used for driveways are endless, so finding the best options for your home should be possible after you make a few considerations. First of all, make sure that a brick driveway is what you really want, so it will be worth the expense.

Since the bricks, or pavers, used to create driveways must be hand set, the labor cost is much higher than for paved options. Yet, a quality brick driveway can increase the curb appeal of your home, making it a plus when you want to attract home buyers. The style, color and pattern of the bricks should coordinate with your home's landscaping as well as its exterior.

Take a good look at the outside of your home — not only at your driveway, but the walkways and yard portions that connect to it. You may want to have your front door entrance and walkways done in the same brick you'll choose for your driveway. If you don't decide to use the same material, the surface colors and patterns of these areas should still look connected to the driveway portion of your home. The total exterior of your house should look cohesive rather than like a series of mismatched home improvement projects.

After you've examined the exterior areas of your house, and perhaps made some notes, you can start looking at the brick driveway options either online or at stores. Collect photographs and details about the pavers that you like best. Narrow down your brick options by ruling out any that won't work on your driveway. For instance, you'll have to consider the load capacity for vehicle weight and other specifics.

In many cases, a herring bone brick driveway pattern is considered the best for keeping an even surface for vehicle pressure. The pavers are placed in an end-to-end pattern in rows. Diamond or basket weave brick patterns may also work well. You should speak with experts about your best brick and pattern choice.

Once you've picked the type of brick and pattern, you should carefully consider all the color choices available. The four main brick tones are red, pink, purple and tan. Choose the basic tone that best complements your home's paint color as well as any architectural details you'll be using, such as a metal door, lamp post and mailbox hardware.

If you want to use pavers around a swimming pool, you'll need to consider the heat-retaining properties of brick. A brick pool deck isn't usually the best option in a hot climate, as the sun tends to create a surface uncomfortable to walk on barefoot. Yet, a paver trim around the pool that matches your brick driveway can provide an attractive contrast to the deck material. Brick pavers can also be used attractively in landscaping, such as around a water fountain or on a garden path.