6 Surefire Ways to Spruce Up Your Home's Curb Appeal

Curb appeal is mentioned all the time in the real estate world, and can be a make or break factor when selling your home.

Even if you aren't looking to put your home on the market, maintaining good curb appeal is a great way to awe your house guests and make your neighbors jealous. Here are six ways you can improve yours.

Tidy Up Your Landscaping

Curb appeal is just as much about your landscaping as it is about your home. Do whatever you need to get your yard in shape – mowing your lawn, trimming your hedges, pulling weeds, mulching your garden beds, and planting some colorful flowers are all good places to start.

Re-Paint Your Siding

Your siding makes up a majority of your home's exterior, so it is important that yours looks as good as possible. On average, wood and aluminum siding should be repainted every five years to maintain good appearance. Vinyl siding, on the other hand, is colored all the way through, so it never needs to be touched up.

Refresh Your Hardware

Sometimes, the little things make the biggest difference. Installing new locks, doorknobs, and house numbers can all make your home stand out that much more.

Make Any Necessary Repairs

Does your home have any obvious eyesores – such as missing shingles, rotting wood, or cracked windows? Spend some time to fix them; your home will thank you!

Fix Up Your Front Door

Your home starts at the front door, don't you want to make a good first impression? According to Remodeling Magazine, installing a new steel entry door offers a return of investment of over 90% and is one of the best investments you can make for your home.

Install a New Driveway

The driveway is one of the first things that your guests see when they pull up to your house. A freshly-paved asphalt surface or beautifully-designed brick driveway can help make your home the talk of the neighborhood.

Looking for more ways to improve your curb appeal? Check out these 20 ideas from Better Homes and Gardens.

If you live in Fairfield County, Connecticut or Westchester County, New York, Roccie's Asphalt can help you with all of your paving and stonework needs. We offer professional asphalt driveway installations and masonry services, and have an A+ accreditation rating with the Better Business Bureau. Call us for a free estimate at 888-88-ROCCIES.

Asphalt, Concrete, and Brick Driveways: Pros and Cons

If you are thinking about installing a new driveway, one of the biggest decisions you will face is which material to use. While many options are available, concrete, asphalt, and brick are by far the most popular. Each choice comes with its own set of advantages and disadvantages, read below to learn all about them.

Concrete Driveways

    Pros:

• Longevity: Concrete lasts longer than any other driveway material (25-50 years). Cracks don’t occur for quite a while and the only up-keep is stain removal.

• Temperature control: Concretes light coloring allows the temperature to stay cool for the summer months.

• Color options: You have the option to stain the color of your driveway to complement the style of your home.

• Snow removal: The texture of concrete allows snow removal to be a breeze compared to other driveway material.

    Cons:

• Costly: $4 to $8 per square foot. If your driveway spans across a larger surface area, it is suggested to go with an asphalt driveway.

• Stains: Because of concrete’s light color, it is the most prone to stains and tire marks. Removing these marks usually requires a special stain remover.

• Repairing troubles: Unless installed correctly, concrete driveways are prone to cracks caused by changes in the weather. If this happens, you will have to replace the entire driveway instead of being able to fix a specific area.

Asphalt Driveways

    Pros:

• Inexpensive: An asphalt driveway will perform much like concrete, but at a lower cost. A basic asphalt driveway costs about $2 to $5 per square foot.

• Maintenance: If you keep up with maintenance, there is no need to spend money on a new driveway, unlike concrete.

• Color: Because of it’s dark color, asphalt won’t show stains as easily as concrete does.

    Cons:

• Maintenance: If homeowners don’t keep up with topcoats, layers of sealers, and power washing, asphalt driveways can deteriorate more rapidly. Plant growth can also occur without proper maintenance, which can lead to cracks.

• Low shelf-life: Asphalt typically lasts 10 years less than concrete driveways.

• Texture: Asphalts oily texture softens in heat and sunlight, and can also become very hot in the warmer months.

Brick Driveways

    Pros:

• Maintenance: Maintaining a brick driveway is as simple as washing and sealing twice per year.

• Long lasting color: The color of brick will not change over time, which is a huge plus in our book.

• Environmentally friendly: Bricks are made from renewable resources and are very durable, which means you rarely have to replace them.

    Cons:

• Costly: Brick driveways are more labor intensive, which in turn leads to it being a bit more expensive than other material. Brick driveways, on average, cost over $15 per square foot.

• Maintenance: Uneven surfaces from tree roots, erosion, and plant growth cause serious headaches for homeowners.

• Choice Diversity (or lack thereof): Bricks are only available in certain shapes and sizes and only come in certain colors.

If you want your new driveway installed correctly, don’t trust anyone but Roccie’s Asphalt to get the job done. For more than 60 years, we have been the most trusted paving contractor in Fairfield County, CT and Westchester County, NY. Call us today for a free quote at 888-88-ROCCIES.

How Your Asphalt Driveway Can Water Your Landscaping

Did you know that landscape irrigation accounts for roughly one-third of all residential water use? According to the EPA, this translates to nearly 9 billion gallons of water per day!

Imagine if there was a way to reduce this number by using rainwater to irrigate our landscaping. A solution that homes across the country could implement to save billions of gallons of water.

Luckily for us, that solution already exists. It is called porous pavement.

Porous pavement is a type of asphalt that is intentionally designed and installed with small holes on the surface. This allows for water to drain through the pavement, generally into a stone bed sub-base. From there, the water slowly infiltrates the soil, providing an efficient, cost-effective way to irrigate your landscape.

Here are a few benefits offered by porous pavement:

• Reduced demand of irrigation water. Much of your landscape is watered through the pavement, helping you save money and the environment.
• Less surface water. Water is one of asphalt's biggest enemies because it causes premature deterioration. Porous pavement keeps this water off of the surface, helping to prevent damaging cracks and potholes.
• Accident prevention. Water left on the surface can cause accidents such as hydroplaning, and is a slipping hazard during the colder months.
• Naturally returns water to the ecosystem. Porous pavement is an environmentally-friendly option that allows rainwater to return to the ecosystem.

Porous pavement is most commonly used for commercial parking lots, but it works with residential driveways as well. Want to install porous pavement on your property? Contact the paving experts at Roccie's Asphalt. We have proudly served Fairfield County, CT and Westchester County, NY for more than 60 years. Call 888-88-ROCCIES today for a free estimate.

5 Things to Think About Before Your Next Paving Project

The summer months are a very popular time for homeowners to complete paving projects around the home – whether that means a driveway, sidewalk, basketball court, or patio. Before you dive into your next paving project, consider these five factors:

Permits

Asphalt paving requires heavy machinery, and will will require a permit from your town. Research your local laws and ordinances before beginning your project to make sure you aren't breaking any laws.

Sealcoat, Resurfacing, or Repaving?

If you are repairing your asphalt driveway, it is worth into looking into all three options. Sealcoating is the cheapest and quickest, but it is not effective at repairing large cracks. Repaving on the other hand, will give you a brand new driveway, but it is the most time-consuming and expensive option.

Drainage Solution

If you are a regular reader of our blog, you know that water is one of asphalt's biggest enemies. In order to prevent your new surface from prematurely deteriorating, it is essential to have a sufficient draining system planned out and properly installed.

Materials

Your driveway is only as durable as the materials you use to build it. Using low-cost materials in an effort to save money will only wind up costing you more in the long run.

Contractor

The best materials in the world won't be effective if they are not properly installed. Choosing the right contractor is the most important decision you will have to make during the paving process. Here are some qualities to look for to help you separate the good from the bad.

Planning a paving project for your Connecticut or New York home? Look no further than Roccie's Asphalt to get the job done right. We have been the #1 paving contractor in Fairfield County and Westchester County for the past 60 years. Visit our website for more information, or give us a call at 888-88-ROCCIES.

4 Things to Consider When Installing a Patio

If you are looking to turn your backyard into the perfect summer hangout spot, a patio is just what you need. But before you purchase your materials and dive into installation, you must first consider these four factors...

Patio Size

There are a variety of things that can impact the size of your patio, including available space, budget, and intended use. Allow ample space for activity, furniture, traffic flow, and give yourself a little bit of extra leeway room to be safe.

Material

There are many options to choose from when it comes to patio materials – including bricks, concrete, gravel, and more. Ideally, you want to pick something that fits your budget, matches the style of your home, is easy to maintain, and lasts a long time.

Location

Do you want your patio attached to your home, or as a standalone gathering space in your backyard? The choice is completely up to you, but know that you are stuck with your decision for the next several years.

Contractor

Your patio will only be as good as the contractor who installs it. Many people opt for a DIY installation without any formal training or experience, or hire the cheapest contractor they can find. More times than not, these same people are wondering why their patios are falling apart three years later.

If you are planning a patio for your Fairfield County or Westchester County home, don't trust anyone but Roccie's Asphalt to get the job done right. For more than 60 years, we have been Connecticut and New York's premier paving and masonry contractor. See for yourself what we are capable of by taking a look at our online gallery. Like what you see? Call us today for a free quote at 888-88-ROCCIES.