First Impressions
When your driveway is in front of your house, it is often one of the first things people notice when they arrive at your home. The driveway can make or break a potential buyer’s impression of your property and you want to be sure that it reflects the best possible image for your home. If you have just purchased a new home with a driveway in the front, make sure you understand the importance of maintaining it. Keeping the driveway in front of your house well maintained and landscaped is one of the best ways to ensure a good impression is set.
One of the main reason home owners find themselves with a driveway in the front of their house is due to a lack of a side entryway or garage. Due to this the front of the house becomes the primary parking spot for the cars. Many houses do not have the space on the side of their house to have a full driveway or a garage, so not only can a front of the house location be useful, sometimes it is a necessity.
There are many different design choices and styles to decide on when looking into driveways in front of houses. Each one comes with its own uses and looks that can be suited for your wants and needs
Landscaping Needs for Driveways in Front of the House
Landscaping and maintaining the driveway in front of your house is extreme important and should be done regularly. As mentioned before, when the driveway is in the front of the house it is the first thing people notice. Just by keeping your driveway well maintained you can hold a great presentation for your entire home.
Due to the location and direct alignment with the street, the driveway will experience lots of debris such as water, sand, and dirt that gets brought in via natural use of the driveway. These elements can do more than simply make your property look dirty. If build up reaches a certain point, these elements can actually be hazardous to cars parked in your driveway. By having consistent maintenance and clean ups in your driveway in front of the house, you can increase not only property value but also keep your cars from becoming damaged and dirty.
Design Ideas for Driveways in Front of the House
When looking for which design choice to go with when looking at a driveways in front of your house, there are many factors to consider. A homeowner can prioritize appearance, practicality, or find a good balance of both. Just like all driveways, this style is still one that will be used every day, so having some practicality and function is one of the most important factors. Again, everything is all according to the preference of the homeowner, but there are many different options to start out at.
Some of the most common design choices for a driveway in front of the house are either a circular or round driveway, and a covered option. Both options come with their own benefits and unique style that allows a homeowner to hone in on what they feel is the best option for their house.
Circular Driveway in Front of House
The most common design of a driveway in front of houses you will see is a circular or round design. There are many reasons why this style is the most common, but the main reason is the balance between function and style. Having a circular driveway allows for one of the most convenient designs, as it allows a driver to pull into and out of the driveway in one motion. Having the ability to pull directly through a driveway is an option only seen in circular driveways in front of houses. The easy access, and easy departure makes this driveway style one of the most practical choices for many home owners.
Typically this style of driveway also offers more landscaping and stylistic choices than a typical driveway. These driveways usually have islands or some other form of landscape inside the circular shape that can be decorated however the homeowner chooses.
Covered Driveway in Front of House
Another extremely common choice for designing a driveway in front of a house is a installing a cover over it. This style of driveway offers the most protection from the elements for both your vehicle and yourself when getting in your car. As mentioned regular maintenance on your driveway in front of your house is the best way to ensure there is no long term damage as well as allows the appearance of the property to stay at top shape. By adding a cover to the driveway, you are preventing lots of weather elements from gathering in your driveway that could potentially lead to damage down the road. When water pools and forms in driveways, it can freeze, expand, and create massive structural issues for the driveway. This design choice can limit those effects.
A covered driveway in front of the house is also a great replacement for the lack of a garage. When the property does not have enough room for a standard garage, covering your front driveway allows for there to be a safe place to store your cars without worrying about weather damage. Similarly to a garage, a covered driveway also allows access to your car without you having to feel the effects of bad weather.
