Asphalt vs Concrete - Which Is Right For You?
1. What is your budget?
Cost is important to any project. In general, a simple concrete driveway can cost $2-4 more a sq. ft than an asphalt driveway. It’s commonly noted to be 40-60% less expensive to choose asphalt as your material choice. There are several different finishing styles of concrete from staining to texturing, and each option can increase your cost dramatically. Studies have shown that rural interstates made of concrete wind up costing three times as much to construct and maintain as similar asphalt interstates!
2. How extreme is your climate?
Do you experience cold winters? Concrete is likely to crack in freezing temperatures - and is often challenging to repair. Salt used on roads to treat for ice and snow will damage concrete. Concrete is less flexible than asphalt, so there is possibility of frost heave cracking concrete in the sublayer is not compacted smoothly enough.
Does your climate lean more towards the very hot side? Occasionally asphalt can become softer in extreme heat conditions, making it more important than ever that you don’t neglect regular maintenance.
One winter advantage to asphalt? The dark color means that it warms more quickly than other materials, so that snow and ice can melt even when temperatures are below freezing.
3. How much maintenance is necessary to keep it looking brand new?
Both asphalt and concrete require regular maintenance - but both materials are also considered permanent paving solutions.
The key maintenance needed for asphalt is sealing it. It’s recommended that asphalt be sealed after six months of installation, once the oils have fully oxidized, and then repeated every three to five years. If any cracks occur, you will want to seal them to prevent water from entering them.
Concrete does not need to be sealed, but it’s often recommended to do so, especially to prevent corrosion and staining. Sealing can also help reduce dust, abrasion resistance, and chemical resistance. Because concrete is a porous material that absorbs liquids easily, liquids can enter unsealed concrete and freeze, leading to cracks and breaks. Because of its light color, it is also recommended that concrete is thoroughly cleaned at least once a year to prevent any dirt buildup. Any cracks in concrete should be sealed immediately to keep a sound structural surface.
4. Asphalt vs Concrete - which repairs more easily?
Asphalt is generally pretty easy to repair. If any holes or cracks occur, they can be filled and sealed - often in one afternoon. The great thing about asphalt is that you can easily resurface it if the top surface is showing signs of regular use, or becomes damaged. An older never sealed paved surface becomes as good as new with a resurfacing.
With concrete, ease of repair depends on the type of damage. Is it salt damage from rough winters? You might be better off replacing the entire paving. Are there cracks? Concrete cracks can be repaired, but it’s likely to not be as aesthetically pleasing of a repair, as one can achieve with asphalt. Is there a stain? Replacement may also be necessary.
Still deciding between asphalt vs concrete? Let us hear your specific needs! To arrange a consultation on whether asphalt vs concrete best suits your project’s needs, contact Basic Construction today at (757) 249-3789.
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