What kind of driveway material is appropriate for a midcentury home? Pavers? Concrete? Pea gravel? Asphalt? Reader Jane does not like the pinky-gray brick paving blocks added at some point as the driveway of her 1958 home, and welcomes our ideas and suggestions. I have some immediate reactions and thoughts… but I have not researched this topic… Readers, what do you think? Read on for Jane’s complete question and story…
Jane writes:
I searched your site for any info on driveways… but I think it is a topic you have yet to cover! My midcentury home has been unfortunately renovated with a pinky-grey interlocking brick. I [*h*-word edited by pam] interlocking brick. With a passion. Looking up ways to cover it seems to result in no answers – apparently, everyone on the internet wants to put this in, not cover it or take it out!
Wondering if you have any thoughts on midcentury driveways — I think concrete looks best… but maybe pea gravel would be a cheap way to cover up the interlock… I dunno. I was thinking to maybe post a pic of my Midcentury Don Mills (Ontario) house exterior and have some of your readers weigh in on cool midcentury driveway ideas.
Forgive the lawn, it’s Canadian winter, everything is dead at the moment.
I just got a quote from my family contractor, he said 8 to 10 THOUSAND dollars just to rip out the interlock and put in plain concrete. Ay caramba! Now I know I need some more options! I wonder what else would look good with this house.
Dumping pea gravel over the interlock is looking like the cheapest option… but can you roll giant recycling bins over that stuff? Will it get all over the road? So many questions!
Can you just pave over interlock? I’m guessing the experts will say no…
I also asked Jane for more info on what got her into this lovely home. She responded:
I have always had a fetish for Mid Century houses. Didn’t grow up in one, but I had friends who did. I swore one day when I could afford one, I’d buy one! We bought the house in 2010 after a very loooong search – they say no one leaves Don Mills, except in a hearse. People all moved in in the late 50s when it was built, then loved it so much, they never moved out. So housing stock is hard to come by. Don Mills is the only area in Toronto (within commuting distance to my job) that has these types of homes. First modern planned community in Canada. Lots of great MCM houses. And a great place to live.
Anyway, after 10 months of searching, we found this one. Unfortunately it had fallen prey to some ‘flippers’ who bought it in 2008, put in some cheap Home Depot/Ikea updates, then resold in 2010. I’m in the process of trying to undo all that they did, such as putting fake wood floor over perfectly good linoleum (arrrgh!), painting over wood panelling (gasp!), ripping out kitchen (silent weeping), etc.
I have pics of what the original house looked like in ’58 – but doing before and afters will wait for another time, when I am happy with my interior (but will I ever be happy?) haha.
By the way, the grey in the front was picked from that palette of Eichler colours you posted ages ago – Chelsea Grey. Thanks for that – they have been very useful. I’m picking some more from that set for my fence.
Cheers, Jane
Thanks, Jane, for all this information. This is a good one. Readers: Read more about historic midcentury Don Mills at Jane’s blog, Don Mills: Rediscovering the Suburban Dream.
And now: Let’s hear your ideas… I’m gonna hang back, read your ideas, think about ’em, and pop in later with an opinion and ideas…
Laura E. says
LEAVE IT. It may not be the most authentic, but it’s maintenance free and perfectly OK looking. As someone who constantly struggles with upkeep on old houses, I say if it’s not broke, don’t fix it.
My parents had the two concrete strips for many years. It was OK, but keep in mind that there’s usually a dead patch in the middle from liquids from the car–the odd oil or other drip kills the grass. (Unless you actually park in a garage!)
Pete says
I actually think the pavers look great! They are done very nicely and add an architectural element to the driveway as well. In the end it is up to you to decide if $10-15K is a justifiable expenditure to make the driveway period appropriate.
Just think of all the nice period appropriate furnishings you could buy with that kind of money! 🙂
Also I would ask, what do the other homes in your area or street block use? If the driveways in your area are original, then that should answer your question as to what was the norm back in the day.
Louisa says
Our neighborhood assoc. did a survey of our 600+ 1930-1960 homes, including the driveways and garages. There were still some of the driveways that look like two sidewalks going back to the garage with grass in between.
It’s a good look and is more eco-friendly as it doesn’t add to more run-off. I would think it should be cheaper than a solid concrete drive?
A lot of us are planning to do the two concrete strips when we redo our drives.
Lee in Florida says
Louisa (and Jeanne),
Those are called “Hollywood” driveways. You can google image search for ways people have jazzed them up. However, I like them the regular way, they do help with run-off, and the enviros are hyping them up as alternatives to full driveways. Remember, when those were popular, tires were narrower that they are now.
As for Jane’s driveway, I’d say, leave the pavers and think about painting or staining them.
Patty says
The tires were narrower? Weren’t the cars wider?
Zach Woods says
The width of each tires footprint was narrower than the majority of tires today. The width of automobiles track (distance from left side tire to right side tire) might have been wider but it depends on the size of the current vehicle as to how wide it’s track is likely to be (and many small cars have wide tracks in order to provide adequate interior space).
Jeanne says
Thanks for the info, Lee! I will do a google search for some inspiration. I suppose if I spruced them up somehow, I’d be happier with them. The term “Hollywood” makes the two strips seem hip now. 😉
lynda davis says
You could do a test spot to stain the driveway. I would have to say that the midcentury modern driveway would be concrete. Do a google image search of midcentury modern houses and look at driveways. Houzz had some good pictures. However, concrete is expensive. The pavers with the curb to me look nice. Maybe it is the landscaping that needs enhanced along the drive.
ChrisH says
If it were me, I’d leave it. If it’s functional, then it’s fine. I don’t think it looks too bad with your house. Driveways are big, so costly, no matter what you do.
I do agree, concrete would look best, if you must replace the brick.
IMO every detail does not have to be period perfect. I’d live with the driveway and put the savings into mid century furnishings. But that’s me.
Lisa Coleman says
I agree with Chris. And speaking of Canadian winters….it’s no fun to shovel snow on pea gravel, or that pea-gravelesque (sealed) stuff.
Gavin in the UK says
Personally I would love the multi coloured crazy paving option, but in this case would agree that tarmac would be the easiest/cheapest option. And there are quite a few options to have a gravel type surface finish applied to the tarmac. Looks like gravel but without it turning into a beach!
Alice says
I actually like the pavers – the pattern is interesting and I think it works well with your home.
BungalowBILL says
There is a process called tar and chip or macadam where a tar is sprayed down and pebbles are impressed into the top, giving the look of a crushed stone driveway but more solid like asphalt. It is an old fashioned process, they way roads were made in the old days. Here is a youtube video http://youtu.be/IgYnrFt3TqM
Another option could be large precast concrete squares? Large squares were popular in patios back then.
Jeanne says
Do not do pea gravel! I had a pea gravel driveway at my first house and I hated it! The gravel would get stuck in your tire treads and roll out to the street. It was always a mess.
I’m a fan of the pavers. I wouldn’t spend money to change a thing. They look like they are in good shape. I wish I had a full driveway. My 1952 home has two cement “ribbon” strips that I can never seem to hit with my tires, so I have a big tire divot on one side and the grass is dead between the two strips. It’s a major eye sore for me.
Dave says
I’m no expert, but loose gravel would just end up being a mess. Not to mention rolling your recycling bins over it.
Concrete guys will probably tell you you need a solid base under their concrete and your pavers probably wouldn’t qualify as solid. Once concrete dries it has no flexibility. It just cracks.
My first thought as a “best bet” would be asphalt. It goes down soft. And stays somewhat flexible. It might be able to get into the cracks of the pavers and which would help stick it into place.
An inch or two of asphalt is what I would be pursuing.