Driveway makeovers:

Chip sealing can be both elegant and affordable

By Lisa Cu LLen

Driveways can be a problem. The property entry is your first chance to make a good impression and sometimes that’s your driveway. Because of this it’s one of the most important and yet trickiest aspects of enhancing curb appeal. All of the effort and money spent on enhancing your home can be for naught if your driveway is an eyesore. It can also be the largest potential budget buster. So, what to do? Chip seal may be the answer.

Chip seal is the process of applying a thin layer of asphalt or other adhesive product into which gravel is embedded. Chip seal is attractive, durable, long-lasting, and many times is the most economical way to make a vast improvement to your home’s approach. Chip seal can be applied atop existing hardscape surfaces, saving thousands in removal and construction costs. Chip sealing offers a more solid surface than plain gravel, and because it has a rough texture, it makes for much better footing when wet, compared to poured concrete, which can be slippery. And chip seal isn’t just for driveways. It can also be used to surface walkways and patios. Plus, design-wise, gravel drives are classic and can be made to fit with any style of home, from modern to traditional.

Cullen, landscape designer and organic gardener owns Montecito Landscape with her husband, Chris She can be reached at 805 969 3984 or www montecitolandscape com