Upgrade Your Driveway Edge With This Rustic Material

There's a lot to be said for increasing your home's curb appeal. You'll not only look good to your neighbors, but it's also a simple way to drive up the value of your home if you're in the market to sell. Whether you're looking to boost your pride-of-ownership factor as you arrive home or you're already considering your next property, upgrading the front exterior of your home is far simpler than many people think. While features like landscaped gardens, meticulously laid pathways, and clever front-yard lighting can all make a significant difference, some simpler features often get overlooked. Driveways are one of these.

The thing about a driveway is that it's mostly seen as a slab of concrete or paving that you can't really do much with. Sure, you can plant some flowers along the edging and tackle any cracks that appear, but mostly it's ignored. What a lot of people don't consider is the edging of a driveway — that area where the concrete or paving meets the house, grass, or garden. There's a rustic driveway edging called corten steel that can completely transform the space. While it has many uses, when it comes to edging, corten steel is highly effective at creating a rustic contrast between the driveway and the rest of your front yard. There's another key benefit, though.

While corten steel adds a great aesthetic to your front yard, it's also very durable. Also known as weathered steel, it's impressively tough and is used in bridges and all sorts of architectural designs that need to withstand the elements. Its durability comes from the various metals it's made of, including copper, nickel, chromium, and phosphorus, which make it rust-resistant. When exposed to wet and dry cycles, as your driveway is, it develops a patina that protects it from corrosion. What this patina also does is create an unusual feature in your front yard, turning the edging of your driveway into a warm orange color that contrasts with the lighter concrete or paving. The best part about this material is that it only gets better with time, with the natural patina slowly appearing as nature does its work. 

How long can you expect corten steel edging to last, though? It all comes down to its thickness, but you can expect to get between 25 and 40 years out of it. Another reason it's an architectural favorite is that the material complements many of the elements around a home, such as wooden walkways, stonework, and the garden's natural greenery. If you're looking for a simple driveway edging that will enhance your home's curb appeal, corten steel is a great option.