What is a curved driveway?
Curved: an easy curve that can be designed to avoid a tree or when your access point and garage don't line up. A well-planned curved driveway can help add more character to a property. Horseshoe: a circular driveway allows you to enter the property and leave without reversing or turning around.
Is circular driveway good?
Many would say the biggest advantage is not having to back out onto a busy street. Whether there one entrance or two, a circular driveway allows you to drive in and drive out, always facing forward. This is ideal for new drivers or those who aren't comfortable backing up.
What is a ribbon driveway?
Ribbon or “Hollywood” driveways became popular in the 1920s and consist of two parallel strips of concrete, mortar-set stone or brick, or solid or turf pavers with an open, unpaved space in between.
What is a drive through driveway called?
Definition of porte cochere 1 : a passageway through a building or screen wall designed to let vehicles pass from the street to an interior courtyard. 2 : a roofed structure extending from the entrance of a building over an adjacent driveway and sheltering those getting in or out of vehicles.
What do you put in the middle of a circular driveway?
Lay a block or stone path across the inner driveway to give access to the house from the road. Put a focal point in the inner circular center inside the driveway. You can set up a set of boulders, large planters, a line of potted plants, or a small fountain here. Anything that you think will attract attention will do.
What do you put in the middle of a circle driveway?
Rocks & Stones Adding a rock garden at the center of your new circle driveway will certainly be a focal point! You can use other materials, such as stones or boulders, and you can add in some flowers to brighten the garden up with color and life – the choice is yours!
What is a horseshoe driveway?
Circular Driveways Sometimes called a horseshoe driveway, this layout option has an entrance at the road, rounds off as it approaches the house and then has a separate exit lane leading back to the road.
What is the cheapest type of driveway?
gravelOf the four paving materials described in this guide, aggregate (gravel) is the least expensive, followed by asphalt, concrete, and paving stones. If you're installing your driveway on a shoestring budget, gravel is your best choice. If you have more wiggle room, you'll have more choice.
What is a driveway apron?
A "driveway apron" is defined as any paved roadway between the curb line of any street and the adjacent property line or the parkway side of the edge of the sidewalk, whichever is less.
How many types of driveways are there?
When faced with a decision as to which driveway surface works best, most Canadians choose between three options: Asphalt, Concrete and Interlocking Stone (also known as paving stones or pavers). The driveway material should fit the character of the house and the landscape.
What do British call a driveway?
A driveway (also called drive in UK English) is a type of private road for local access to one or a small group of structures, and is owned and maintained by an individual or group.
What is another word for porte cochere?
entrance; entrancewayAlternate Synonyms for "porte-cochere": entrance; entranceway; entryway; entry; entree.
How big should a circular driveway be?
Circular driveways & turnaround areas Typically 10 feet wide by 12-14 feet deep, larger for extended cabs.
How much does it cost to put in a circular driveway?
A circular concrete driveway costs $5 to $15 per square foot or 10% to 20% more than a rectangular driveway because it requires more labor to build curved forms and has a 15-foot minimum recommended width. Borders featuring stone or brick pavers cost $10 to $25 per square foot.
How do you landscape a circular driveway?
How to Landscape a Circular DrivewayLay a stone or block path across the inner driveway area to provide access from the road to the house.Install a focal point in the middle of the grassy area inside the driveway. ... Plant shrubs, perennials and annuals around the landscape focal point.More items...
Does an in and out driveway add value?
How much value does a driveway add to a home? According to Property Price Advice, a driveway can add between 5 and 10% to your home's value.
What is circular driveway?
Circular driveways are so functional and elegant that they have become a popular choice for driveways around the world. These driveways are round-shaped and sometimes have joint entrances. They have an entrance for when you’re coming off the road, then gets round in front of the house, with an exit leading back out to the road.
What is a straight driveway?
Straight Driveways – The simplest type of driveway is the straight one, which provides the clearest line up to the house. It is relatively easy to develop, plan out, and build from a technical and practical standpoint. It has a highly geometric, sleek, and modern shape that blends in nicely with modern homes. Straight driveways are ideal for homes with limited space, and they are especially useful to smaller structures.
What is an L-shaped driveway?
L-Shaped Driveways – The best thing about L-shaped highways is that the bottom part of the L can be used as a road that conveys vehicles straight off the driveway and into a garage or a parking area. This implies that cars won’t be parked right in front of residents’ windows and doors, and they won’t take up precious space that could be used for soft landscaping or a leisure area. L-shaped driveways are particularly beneficial if your home has a long, thin entry with parking off to any side.
Why do people use circular driveways?
Circular driveways are mostly loved because, with them, the driver does not have to drive the car backward when they want to leave the driveway to join the road. These driveways can be configured in several ways, whether teardrop, horseshoe, or a half-circle design. To create a great view in your front yard, use a circular driveway to encircle shrubs, sculptures, or fountains.
What is an S driveway?
S-shaped Driveways – These are both convenient and secure. It enables you to build a driveway on a moderate elevation or a downward slope. This will slow down the car’s approach, keeping nearby lives and properties safe while having an interesting design. It also creates a beautiful entrance to the estate. If your property has a sloppy entrance, you should seriously consider this kind of approach for cars and pedestrians. S-shaped driveways are most suited to houses with bigger lots, but keep in mind that the measurements must be exact while building them.
Why do people put a driveway on their property?
Having a circular driveway on your property not only ensures that your car is off the road but that it is also somewhat safe and visible to all of your neighbors. For this reason, the presence of a driveway in a home, especially one as sophisticated as a circular highway, would drive up its value. A driveway’s return on equity is expected to be at least the amount you paid for it. Using a realistic example, let’s suppose your home is worth $500,000. If you add a driveway, the price of the house may rise from $525,000 to $550,000, which is a significant gain.
Can you double park on a circular driveway?
Also, it’s almost impossible for people to double park on a circular driveway.
What is a semi circular driveway?
Some circular driveways are a complete circle with a straight driveway connecting to the street. More popular, however, are circular driveways that are actually semi-circles. The flat ends of the semi-circular driveway connect to the road.
Why do people use circular driveways?
They usually fit best on larger properties because there needs to be ample front yard space .
What is a freeform driveway?
The freeform turnaround driveway makes a great driveway for the storage of large vehicles. You can keep RVs or travel trailers by the garage and still leave space for other cars to maneuver.
What is a teardrop driveway?
The teardrop turnaround driveway provides you with only one way of accessing the street. However, it does not require any backing up. The teardrop shape creates a cul de sac type of driveway. This makes it easy to turn and exit back onto the street.
How wide is a circular driveway in Florida?
For example, in St. Petersburg, Florida, the circular part of the driveway should be between 10 and 14 feet wide. The driveway can be no more than 20 feet wide where it meets the curb. It is also not permitted to have a circular driveway on a lot less than 60 feet wide.
How much does a gravel driveway cost?
Gravel is the most affordable, between .50 and $2 per square foot. If you’d like a paved or bricked driveway, this will cost you $10 to $50 per square foot. The slopes and curves of a circular driveway will increase the cost of your driveway, no matter the material.
How big is a RV?
Most RVs are between 10 and 14 feet tall and around 8 ½ feet wide. They can be anywhere from 25 to 40 feet long. A sizable circular driveway can help you store your RV with ease. However, make sure to check your local codes to see how big is too big for a circular drive.
What is a circular driveway?
Circular Driveways. Circular drives are one of the most popular driveway layouts. Sometimes called a horseshoe driveway, this layout option has an entrance at the road, rounds off as it approaches the house and then has a separate exit lane leading back to the road. This type of driveway is so popular because it eliminates ...
Why is a circular driveway so popular?
This type of driveway is so popular because it eliminates the need for backing out or turning around so that you can always safely enter oncoming traffic in drive with a clear view of the road. A common variation on the circular driveway is the teardrop driveway.
What is a teardrop driveway?
A teardrop driveway has only one entry and exit point off the road, but opens into a loop that cars may drive around. Whether a standard half-circle, a horseshoe or a teardrop design, circular drives require quite a bit of room, so they aren't typically an option if you have a small front yard.
Does a driveway need drainage?
No matter the layout, a driveway on a hillside needs drainage to decrease soil erosion. A. Cardillo and Sons in Waltham, MA.
Does the best access point from the street line up with your garage?
First is that the best access point from the street does not line up with your garage, requiring the driveway to curve or angle.
Is a straight driveway good?
In this situation your layout options are limited and it is best to keep your driveway simple and functional. Interest can be added to a short, straight driveway with decorative paving materials such as stamped concrete or interlocking pavers, as well as creative driveway lighting and striking plants.
What is the middle layer of a gravel driveway?
The middle layer of a gravel driveway features stones closer to golf ball size, with #57 stone being the prominent type of gravel. Otherwise known simply as crushed gravel, #57 stone also helps promote drainage.
How is a Gravel Driveway Built?
Most gravel driveways are built with multiple different layers of gravel. The bottom layer of an unstabilized gravel driveway usually consists of clean stone, also known as base gravel #3. This gravel is typically laid at least 4 inches thick and is used to help with drainage. The stones are usually no larger than 2 inches in diameter.
What is pea gravel?
Pea gravel is popular gravel for driveway aesthetics. It’s made up of round, small stones that can come in many different colors. This type of gravel will easily migrate and spread under the weight of vehicles, though, and needs to be stabilized for long-term, maintenance-free usage.
What is the process of making a driveway smooth?
2. Quarry Process. It is also called “crusher run” and works well for the surface of both driveways and walkways. It’s made from stone dust fines and crushed stone. The stone dust will settle and become compact to create a semisolid surface that is smooth.
Where is the fill gravel poured?
The fill gravel is poured over the top of a piece of fabric at the bottom of the excavated area where you want your driveway that provides drainage for water and other liquids . It is then compacted and leveled before TRUEGRID permeable pavers are snapped in place over the surface.
How thick is gravel?
This gravel is typically laid at least 4 inches thick and is used to help with drainage. The stones are usually no larger than 2 inches in diameter. Another option for the base layer of a gravel driveway is item #4. Item #4 is comprised of sand, dirt, and golf ball-sized stones.
Do you need pavers for gravel driveway?
The main benefit of using TRUEGRID pavers to build a gravel driveway is that they will keep your gravel in place, eliminating the need for almost any maintenance during the course of your driveway’s lifetime.
How long is a driveway apron?
Driveway aprons vary in length from about eight to 15 feet (starting at the street and measuring toward the house). Since the apron is a part of the driveway, its width (side to side) is identical to the width of the rest of the driveway—most of the time you can’t tell where the apron starts and the driveway stops.
What is an apron in a driveway?
The apron, also known as the approach, is the part of the driveway closest to the road and usually made from the same material as the rest of the driveway. Because driveway aprons are regulated by building codes in most communities, replacing yours—because it’s in bad shape or you’d like to widen the driveway—can be complicated.
What is curb cut?
A curb cut is where the existing curb is cut away to allow vehicles to enter the driveway. While communities are picky about driveway aprons, they’re even pickier about curb cuts because a system of curbs and gutters is a part of a larger drainage system. If you want to install a brand new driveway, not only will you need to follow codes ...
What to do if your driveway apron is bad?
If your driveway apron is in bad shape (presenting a danger to pedestrians), the local Code Compliance officer may ask you to have it repaired, which may include patching it (to the city’s standards) or replacing it. If you don’t, the city could fix it and then charge you for the repairs.
How much does it cost to install asphalt?
Asphalt, which must be installed by a paving company, runs approximately $3 to $6 per square foot. The company may also charge a setup fee, which could add another $1,000. Expect to pay $3 to $10 per square foot for materials if you want to install a paver or cobblestone apron.
Where is the apron on a sidewalk?
If sidewalks are present, the apron typically extends to the edge of the sidewalk closest to the house. In many communities, the area on the street side of a sidewalk is considered an easement that the city controls. This is the area where you’ll find buried municipal water lines and storm drains.
Who can legally install a driveway apron?
When you apply for a permit to construct a new driveway apron, your local codes may regulate the following: Who can legally install the apron (a homeowner, a licensed contractor, or a city crew). The width and length of the apron. The slope of the apron ( water must drain into the gutter ).
