7 Great Reasons for Edging a Driveway:
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Does a Driveway Need Edging?
The edges where the driveway meets the softer landscape is relatively weak and vulnerable to sinking or crumbling under vehicle weight. Edging a driveway lets you fortify, contain & beautify it.
The purpose of a driveway is to provide your cars and trucks with an even, stable and strong surface to drive on. The driveway should be able to withstand soil movement, weathering and vehicle load.
All driveway materials, such as concrete, asphalt, gravel, pavers, etc. attempt to do just that.
However, the edge of the driveway is the transition zone where the reinforced system of subgrade, sub-base, base and driveway material meets normal landscape earth. The edge is the “Achilles Heel” of the driveway.
The edges of the driveway are vulnerable to sinking or crumbling into the softer ground under forces of erosion and non-uniform load from the cars driving close to the edge.
Why Does a Driveway Need Edging?
A driveway edging is typically a firm, stable border of a material different and harder than the driveway material. However, a thicker and therefore a stronger border of the same material can also be used as the driveway edging.
Here are the 7 great reasons for edging a driveway:
1. Edging Provides Definition
By edging a driveway you define the driveway in the same way a frame defines a painting. The driveway edging demarcates the driveway from the surrounding landscape, visually in case of a flat edging and both visually & physically in case of a raised edging.
2. Edging Increases Driveway Durability
A very important function of the edging on a driveway is to provide strength and durability. The sub-base and the base of a driveway at the edge could get weekend due to soil erosion in the adjacent loose grade of the landscape.
When drivers get too close to the driveway edge, the vehicle load can cause the edge to crack, disintegrate or sink into the softer soil alongside.
Without a fortifying driveway edging the driveway durability will be compromised as under:
- Concrete driveway edges can chip & crack
- Asphalt driveways without edging are notorious for cracking edges
- Gravel driveways can lose gravel at the edges as tire movement flings them away
- Pavers can become uneven & dislodged
Enhance the durability of your edged concrete driveway even more by resealing it every fall to protect it from harsh winter conditions.
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3. Edging a Driveway Improves Drivability
It is a lot easier to drive on a driveway with edging because the driveway is visually defined. In case of raised driveway, it is also physically defined. Visual and physical definition will keep the drivers from straying off the driveway into the landscape.
Improved drivability is especially desirable when
- You have a long, narrow driveway
- Visibility is low such as on a stormy night
- Parking a car or truck
A raised driveway edging, in a contrasting color to the driveway and the lawn, will make driving on your driveway a breeze.
Enhance the experience further, by using highly visible colors such as white & yellow. You can also add solar powered lights on or along the edging as an aid to night time driving.
4. Edging Adds a Decorative Accent
Concrete, asphalt and gravel driveways have a terribly boring & dull appearance because of the natural color of the driveway material. A driveway edging is a great way to add some decorative accent to your driveway.
Use light colored, white or yellow driveway edging to make the gray or black driveway pop! A contrasting color combination between a paved driveway and its edging can take the cub appeal and value of your home to a much higher level.
5. Edging Helps Contain the Driveway
The edging on the driveway helps to contain the loose materials used in driveway construction. This is quite obvious in the case of a gravel driveway. Without a driveway edging, gravel stones will keep getting flung into the surrounding lawn, every time a vehicle goes past.
A deep enough driveway edging also helps contain the aggregate in the base and sub-base. They will stay secured and move away due to soil erosion and vehicle load.
6. Protects the Lawn Too!
A driveway edge not only protects your driveway, it also protects your lawn. For one it ensures that you or your guests don’t drive off the driveway and mess up the beautiful lawn.
It also helps in keeping children and even adults from walking off the driveway onto the lawn.
7. Reduces Maintenance
By having a raised edge on our driveway, you can stop mulch, grass and mud from migrating from the lawn onto the driveway. This will make the job of keeping your driveway clean a lot easier.
The fact that the edge of your driveway will not be crumbling or sinking also helps reduce the repair & maintenance costs in the long run.
Bottom Line
The bottom line is that there are 7 great reasons, edging a driveway is totally worth it!
Thank you very much for reading this post. I do hope you found it informative and helpful.
