The end of your driveway is the beginning of curb appeal
Making the transition from your driveway to the road can be challenging if you’re unsure how to approach it. While a driveway apron idea may not be a big part of the design process, this section of the driveway is an opportunity to make your driveway stand out—or save money. Whether you’re going for wow factor, uniformity, functionality, or affordability, these driveway apron ideas will get you on the path.
Concrete can be plain but durable and does the job. A broom finish is standard, but you can discuss adding decorative finishes or details in the control joints with your concrete contractor. Typical concrete aprons are poured about 4 inches thick, but if heavy waste collection trucks or other utility vehicles drive on your apron, your concrete may be more susceptible to cracking. Ideally, pour your concrete apron 6 inches thick on an 8 to 10-inch crushed stone base. If you’re thinking of replacing your driveway, doing it all at once can lower the per-square-foot cost to repave your driveway if you do more of the job at once.
Even when a public walk passes through your paver driveway, installing a matching paver brick apron is a perfect finishing touch. Be aware that some areas allow municipalities to tear out your apron to work on drainage or other utilities—and they may not necessarily be obligated to replace your approach with the same materials. Aprons are often replaced with gravel, asphalt, or concrete with a broom finish. If you’re installing the whole driveway already, doing everything simultaneously can lower the driveway apron cost per square foot.
In some communities, you don’t necessarily have to delineate the driveway apron as a separate piece. While some areas and existing layouts have public walks passing through your driveway to create readymade distinctions, other scenarios let you take your driveway design to the road without breaking up its overall design and layout.
Materials like pavers naturally suit creating a perimeter border around your driveway, including where the end of the driveway apron meets the road or curb. Because pavers come in many different styles and colors, creating an attractive border to distinguish the apron from the rest of the driveway and the road should be no problem—the most difficult decision will be choosing which pavers to use.
Among the most cost-effective materials compared to concrete, pavers, and asphalt, gravel serves well as an apron. It tends to drain well and is easy to repair by simply regrading to fill in the holes and ruts that develop.
If you have an asphalt driveway, why not take it to the road? Asphalt is an excellent option for an apron, no matter what the rest of the driveway is made of, as it’s relatively easy to repair and reseal. It also holds up well in areas that use salt to keep roads clear in the winter and is somewhat reasonable to replace. As a bonus, it’s often among the materials that local road commissions will use to replace your apron if they do any utility work requiring demolition.
The range of color and pattern combinations available with stamped concrete is equal to, if not surpassing, that of pavers. Stamped concrete is an excellent choice for a driveway apron. You’ll want to weigh costs and benefits, as you’ll need to clean and reseal stamped concrete every year or two. If the road has a lot of gravel, you may damage the surface if gravel or stones end up on the apron and you’re driving over it frequently.
Also, if you live on a road that gets salted in the winter, you’ll need to be vigilant about keeping the concrete sealed, or the salt may end up peeling the concrete surface (that goes for any concrete). Finally, if you ever need to replace the driveway culvert, the apron must be replaced, too. But you're all set if you live in a subdivision or the apron is adjacent to a road with little to no loose stone.
Exposed aggregate concrete uses a decorative aggregate such as pea gravel rather than standard crushed stone. At just the right time, after the concrete is poured, graded, and given a preliminary finish, the surface is rinsed off to expose the aggregate inside the concrete. This process adds some cost compared to a regular broom finish, but the added visual appeal can elevate the look of a concrete slab.
You can pour concrete with color mixed into it, anything from red to earth tones to blues and greens (which tend to cost a bit more because of the pigment cost). The concrete can still be finished with a broom texture like a standard concrete driveway. Integral color without the stamping or patterns added can be a way to add character to your apron and driveway that’s usually more cost-effective than stamped concrete or pavers.
Whether you pour standard concrete or add integral color, you can add an interesting touch by asking your concrete contractor to add a swirled trowel finish that gives the apron the look of scales or a fan pattern, which works naturally due to the radius of the concrete finisher’s arm radius as they work across the slab. The best way to determine the options available is to discuss with a local driveway paving contractor.
The size of your driveway apron will vary based on your town's building codes. On average, they range between 12 and 24 feet wide and eight to 15 feet long. One end of the apron usually matches the width of the driveway—10 to 12 feet wide for a single-car driveway—while the street end flares out to allow cars to turn in and out.
The best material for your driveway apron is one that matches your driveway. This creates a cohesive look and boosts your curb appeal. For durability and a long lifespan, concrete is an ideal material, but they’re susceptible to cold weather and difficult to repair. The most common driveway apron materials are concrete, asphalt, and pavers, but the material may not be up to you. Each town has rules and regulations, and your town may regulate what materials you can use for your driveway apron as well as determine the dimensions for your driveway slope and the length and width of your driveway.
