What To Know Before Trying This Budget-Friendly Way To Give Your Driveway A Faux Paver Look

Concrete is the most popular driveway material for good reason. It's very hard-wearing, and with a little care will last decades. That said, adverse weather conditions or lack of regular maintenance by a former owner could mean that yours is looking tired. If you want the easiest way to boost your home's curb appeal and the price of a new driveway seems like highway robbery, then a budget-friendly alternative that creates a faux paver look might seem like an excellent idea. Before you dive in though, here's what to know.

The project comes from Karlin Summer on TikTok, and the problem she's facing is not uncommon. The driveway has cracks, and the surface is looking tired. She starts by tidying the edges, clearing weeds, and giving the entire surface a good clean. Fortunately the cracks aren't serious. They're the kind of thing that can be filled with one affordable solution, and experts generally recommend using a pressure washer and a wire brush to get all the debris out before applying it. All good so far.

Unfortunately, Karlin runs out of concrete crack sealer, which may need to be applied in several layers for a proper repair. Instead, she uses some ceramic tile caulk she had left over. The problem here is that tile caulk is not generally for outdoor use. It will shrink and pull away. The cracks will soon reappear, ruining any finish applied on top.

Assuming you've used a product specifically for filling concrete cracks, followed the instructions, and allowed it to cure, you will have a surface ready to paint. It's not clear from the video what Karlin uses, but there are two options: acrylic latex or epoxy. Acrylic is a popular choice because it is water-based and simple to use. It can be applied with a brush, roller, or spray gun, and if you want to paint lines for the faux paver look Karlin has done, it is easier to apply. Unfortunately durability may be an issue, and acrylic usually has to be recoated within 5 years. Covering it with a polyurethane sealer can extend this to 10 years, but those products add considerable cost to the project.

Epoxies are a lot tougher but much more expensive. They can be either one- or two-part. They are more difficult to work with, and the latter has to be mixed carefully. They should be applied with a brush or roller. They usually dry to a gloss finish, so it's important to paint the lines first because they wouldn't adhere properly if added over the top.

Whether the faux paver look appeals to you is a matter of personal taste, and you may just want to repaint in a single color after filling cracks. Having made repairs, you'll want to check out the essential tasks that will help prevent your driveway cracking in the future.