Concrete Vs Asphalt Driveway

A well-designed and properly constructed driveway can enhance the beauty of your premises. Even though the construction of driveways are done better by professionals, it is always better to share your ideas and requirements with them. The same applies during the selection of the paving material, which is a very important part of the driveway. There are many types of paving materials, but concrete and asphalt are the most widely-accepted ones. Both have their own advantages and disadvantages. But you have to decide the right one for your driveway as per the climate of your region, and your interest and budget.

Selection of Paving Material for Driveways

There are many types of paving materials available for the driveways, but you have to select one which is best suited for you. While deciding the right paving material, you have to take into consideration, landscaping, the climate of your region, the upkeep and maintenance charges, and the cost. The material you choose must gel with the landscape design, as driveways can be an important part of your landscape. While some paving materials are best suited for regions with cold climates, some others are meant for hot places. Some paving materials can be used in almost all places, but according to the surroundings.

Hence, you must know the pros and cons, and all the other details regarding these materials before selecting the right one. Since asphalt and concrete are the most common and popular driveways, we shall take a look at the various aspects of concrete vs asphalt driveways. While concrete driveways are made of poured concrete over a proper sub-base, asphalt is primarily small stone particles mixed with petroleum. Hot asphalt is spread in layers (4 to 8 inches deep) using a paving machine, and a heavy roller compacts it to create a smooth black surface. Now, we shall go through the various aspects of concrete vs asphalt driveways in detail.

Visual Aspects

It is a common misconception that asphalt driveways can only be black and concrete driveways are always off-white in color. Both can be tinted to various colors using other materials and some techniques. While, certain colors cannot be achieved in case of asphalt, the options are more in concrete. Stained and stamped concrete is very popular nowadays. There is a risk of carrying oil stains to the house for those who use asphalt driveways, which in fact releases oils. Though there can be no oil stains in concrete driveways, any other stain can be easily seen in this material, as it is light in color when compared to asphalt.

Combating Climate

It is a well-known fact that asphalt is more suitable for houses in cold regions, because hot climates can make the material soft, and this can make it prone to cracks and holes. Unlike asphalt driveways, concrete driveways are suited for hot climates as it is resistant to high temperatures. But in case of cold regions, care must be taken to fill the base of the concrete driveway with compact gravel. Frost heaving can prove detrimental to concrete driveways if the base is not properly constructed. Moreover, use of salt on concrete driveways to melt the ice can also damage the driveway.

Installation Cost and Maintenance

As compared to asphalt driveways, concrete ones cost around 45% more. This is the reason that asphalt being more widely used than concrete ones. However, the maintenance of asphalt can be more, as it has to be resealed every three to five years. Even if the sealing and asphalt driveway repair can be done by the homeowner himself, it takes a minimum of four days to get dry. The first sealing should be done only after nine to ten months of the installation of the asphalt driveway. Otherwise the material can become soft and get damaged easily. Hence, compared to an asphalt driveway, the concrete ones can be considered as almost maintenance free. If properly maintained and sealed, asphalt driveways may last for a period of around thirty years, and concrete driveways may last for around fifty years. Poor maintenance may reduce the life of asphalt driveways to a short period of five years. You can even seal a concrete driveway to enhance its lifespan.

Now, as you know the various facets of concrete vs asphalt driveways, you can decide the right paving material for your driveway, which can enhance the beauty of your landscape and the house.