Use Your Free Time in Quarantine to Plan for a New Driveway

If you've suddenly found yourself at home more often than usual, consider putting your extra free time to good use by making plans for your home and property. In particular, this may be an excellent opportunity to start thinking about a new driveway. By brainstorming now, once life returns to normal, you'll be prepared to hire a paving contractor who can put your plans into action.

Check Out Your Property

Before you dive deep into home-upgrade plans, go take a walk around your yard.  Look and see the beauty around you. The sky, the trees, the buds popping out on the plants, ah spring is in the air.

Although officials are encouraging people to stay home, that doesn't mean that you have to remain indoors all the time. In fact, the fresh air and sunlight will probably do your mind and body good. As long as you don't stop to chat with the neighbors, walking around your yard qualifies as an appropriate social-distancing activity.

So take a look around, and really think about what areas of your property could use a facelift. You may want to bring a notebook and pen outside so you can jot down your thoughts as you go.

If you're like many homeowners, the driveway may be one of your home's biggest needs. Perhaps it's time for some maintenance or repairs, such as sealcoating, crack filling or resurfacing.

Of course, if your driveway is really in rough shape or going on a few decades old, it may be time to replace it entirely. How can you know whether it's time for a driveway replacement? Look for some of the following signs:

Of course, the driveway isn't the only part of the home that may need attention. You could also think about a new patio or walking path.

Browse for Ideas Online

Once you've decided that it's time for some major outdoor work, your next goal is to consider what you'd like the completed project to look like. Before going inside, close your eyes. Envision how you'd like the area in front of you to look someday.

For example, do you want an asphalt driveway or a concrete one? Would you like to line the edges with brick or have a cobblestone apron? Do you dream of having rows of plants along the sides?

It's okay if you don't have all of the answers right away. Your next step is to search for inspiration online. Once you do that, you'll hopefully have a clearer vision in mind for your project.

For example, you may want to increase your home's curb appeal by using an eye-catching driveway design. This may include matching the color of the stonework to your garage's trim or building a retaining wall along the side.

The following video can help get your wheels turning:

You can find additional inspiration on home design and decor websites, and you may want to check out our article on creative sidewalk ideas.

Do Your Research

In the past, when you had a project in mind, you may not have had the time that you needed to really dive deep into preparing for it. Now you have that time, so you'd might as well use it.

For example, if you're thinking about planting bushes or flowers along the edges of your driveway, find out which plants grow best in your area. Keep in mind soil consistency, local rainfall and the amount of sunlight that your driveway receives.

You could also look into which materials would be best for your new surfaces. For example, asphalt is a smart driveway choice in climates that freeze often in the winter. Concrete is a good option for curved patios, such as those surrounding an oval swimming pool.

Take time to research paving contractors too. This forced downtime eliminates the pressure to hire the first paving company that knocks on your door.

Instead, you can read online reviews, seek out recommendations on social media and call your friends to ask whom they've used. With careful research, you can be sure to hire a local company with experience and a good reputation.

This is also a good time to familiarize yourself with the project process from beginning to end. That way, you'll know what to expect once your contractor is able to get to work. You may also want to read our blog post that addresses some of the most frequently asked questions about asphalt driveways.

Reach Out to the Pros

Finally, take this opportunity to contact your top choice for a paving contractor. Although many small businesses are currently reducing their office hours, you may still be able to get ahold of a team member. Try reaching out through email since it's easy for workers to check this during their own at-home quarantines.

Let the pros know about the project ideas you have in mind and ask for their feedback. You may even be able to send photos of your property so they can visualize the space and provide feedback based on what they see.

Plus, reaching out now means that you may be able to put your name at the top of the list for service once life returns to normal. Just knowing that you've gotten the ball rolling on turning your ideas into reality can help you look ahead to that future day when we'll be able to put quarantines behind us.