Cottage country is full of rolling hills that result in longer, wider driveways that can be hundreds or even thousands of feet long.
These long drives often lead to brilliant homes and cottages hidden by the natural environment. They can also need some creative paving done.
“With a big driveway you have lots of options,” explains Niki Pickett, owner of Ital Paving. “Sometimes I don’t like the look of it paved right into the road because it takes away from the coziness of the cottage surroundings.”
Niki says there are times when a well-done hybrid driveway makes the most sense. They will pave half or even three-quarters of the driveway up to the garage, then closer to the road it becomes gravel.
This gives vehicles have a smooth space to travel while providing guests a solid space for parking and walking.
“You also have to think about snow removal on the road,” says Niki. “Is your driveway in a position where the plow’s going to catch the end of the driveway? Gravel works better in those situations.”
Privacy also needs to be considered, as a paved driveway can be an invitation for strangers to use it to change directions. The opposite effect happens with gravel: people don’t want to risk getting stuck or damaging their vehicles.
“For some reason, asphalt makes everyone think oh, I’ll just go up here and turn around,” says Niki. “So, to protect people’s privacy, we cut it short, so that from the road you don’t see it’s paved all the way in.”
Good reputation
Ital Paving has built a reputation for being fair, honest, and meeting deadlines for almost 40 years. Their team consists of certified and experienced professionals.
As members of the communities they serve, the Ital Paving team looks at each project as taking care of their neighbours. Niki says they see their work as more than just doing a quick paving job.
“I treat every project as if it’s my own,” she says. “What would look good in this location? How would I protect my driveway from the snowplows and traffic?”
Their team looks at the surroundings, the waterflow, the ground, and the curb appeal.
“Paving is a bit of an art, really,” says Niki. “We don’t want every cottage driveway to look industrial, we still want a bit of that cottage feel. That’s why we tackle each project as its own custom job.”
TEXT CHRIS OCCHIUZZI
PHOTOS ANDREW FEARMAN
