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It’s always important to choose the best driveway materials in terms of cost and looks. Talking about asphalt vs concrete driveway, with these two popular and affordable driveway materials, you find that concrete edges are slightly ahead of asphalt in the popularity stakes.
If you are constructing a brand new driveway, you need to know the best material. What kind of driveway will stand the test of time? Which kind of driveway will give you the biggest return on investment? Asphalt, brick, concrete, gravel? One of the top considerations with choosing a driveway is asphalt vs concrete driveway as these are two highly sought-after driveway materials.
The cost to repave driveway is always going to be cheaper with asphalt. The average cost to expect to repave an asphalt driveway is roughly between $4-$10 per sq ft while with a concrete driveway you are looking at anything from $7-$18 per sq ft.
Home upgrades can be expensive and one has to carefully consider the cost to repave the driveway in difficult financial times. Patching up here and there can be costly and also unsightly. The best solution is to hire a repaving company and have it repaved and have a whole new look.
Resurfacing Or Seal Coating?
When it comes to resurfacing asphalt driveway, homeowners often consider which is best – resurfacing or seal coating. They need answers as to which is better. Resurfacing an asphalt driveway means putting a whole new layer of asphalt over the layer you have.
With a resurface asphalt driveway a lot of the structural damage has to be fixed. Sealcoating is like a preventative measure and it will restore the color of your asphalt driveway. To resurface asphalt driveway is a better option if you can afford it as it can fix things that seal coating can’t fix.
Asphalt Vs Concrete Driveway
Asphalt vs concrete driveway repaving is a viable option. A new layer of asphalt or concrete can be an easy job for experts and requires being in touch with them to get your free quote.
Asphalt vs concrete driveways are always two popular paving types, but even though they are made from similar materials, there are some minor differences. They actually make a big difference when finally making your choice.
You need to take your budget into consideration beforehand. Even though the upfront cost of concrete and asphalt will vary, in general, it takes a few thousand dollars to get your driveway installed.
There are a few things that will always affect the cost of your driveway installation. These are the availability of materials, although both are common materials as well as property size and the size of your driveway. Drainage is also important and can influence the price.
Always work with a reliable contractor otherwise you will find costs heaping up regardless of the material you use. An incompetent contractor with no integrity can see you facing spiraling costs, frustration, stress, and dissatisfaction.
Both Materials Have Excellent Longevity
There’s a lot to think about with a driveway and you will be wanting a hard-wearing, low-maintenance, good-looking driveway. When it comes to asphalt vs concrete driveways, both these driveways will last 20 or 30 years.
Asphalt driveways are always a popular choice in the Northern U.S. area because of the freezing weather conditions. Yes, both asphalt and concrete will crack in places, asphalt just happens to be more flexible, making it less vulnerable to cracking than concrete.
Also, when checking costs in terms of asphalt vs concrete driveway, installing an asphalt driveway costs less than concrete per square foot. In this day and age that is a huge consideration.
Asphalt – Limited Design Options
When you start looking at fancier concrete, such as colored, patterned concrete, the price rises. Concrete can be stamped in all kinds of patterns. Then again, this colored, patterned concrete is a huge advantage over asphalt which comes with limited design options.
Everybody considering a new driveway will have reason to debate between concrete and asphalt. Both of them are laid over a substrate of gravel, and both are essentially a blend of sand and stone.
Both of them are able to give you an attractive, low-maintenance, hard-working driveway, and it’s not always the cheaper option that is best. So when it comes to asphalt vs concrete driveways, it will require some research. This is also because some people will want to consider a crushed asphalt driveway as well.
Crushed Asphalt Driveway
Another name for crushed asphalt is asphalt millings. Crushed asphalt is also referred to as recycled asphalt. Recycled asphalt is crushed and comes out as a cost-effective crushed asphalt driveway.
Once it has been crushed you get a high-grade aggregate that’s coated with asphalt cement. It is cost-effective and durable, great for homeowners on a tight budget. If you are a homeowner thinking of installing crushed asphalt for your driveway, you will be pleased to know it’s affordable, requiring fewer materials and labor when compared to other driveway materials.
Crushed asphalt is recycled asphalt mixed with tar. It’s got a clean, attractive look that is somewhat like a gravel texture. However, a gravel driveway is prone to ruts that will require regular filling. Crushed asphalt will only cost you about $2 to $5 per square foot.
Recycled Asphalt
When it comes to asphalt vs concrete driveway, asphalt is a sought-after surfacing material. It is durable. People often wonder about the difference between new asphalt and recycled asphalt. What is a recycled asphalt driveway?
Recycled asphalt is cracked asphalt that’s excavated when any construction is demolished.
There are quite a few industries that are not dumping old asphalt on dumping sites anymore but are opting for asphalt recycling. Asphalt being non-biodegradable, does not decompose with time.
Processing asphalt involves crushing this old asphalt and then screening the impurities. Old asphalt can be pulverized on-site. Recycled asphalt may therefore be used without the need for transport.
So a recycled asphalt driveway is actually a ‘green driveway as it makes a difference to the environment. When old asphalt is reused, fewer raw resources are required. However, you need to know that used asphalt does not retain its color as the new one does.
Also, the recycling process may mean quality issues such as cracks. So in other words, if you want the classic black asphalt color for your driveway, it will be best to buy new in place of using recycled asphalt. But what about asphalt vs concrete.
New asphalt is a great choice for installing a new driveway for residential and commercial purposes. New asphalt is an attractive option that is durable too and requires little maintenance.
But in terms of asphalt vs concrete, they both ensure durable, attractive driveways. But when it comes to these two, you can’t just go with the cheaper option. Which one is the winning choice? For starters, asphalt is a dark gray color, almost black while concrete is a pale gray color. What color do you prefer?
You can stain concrete to any color you like and also stamp patterns on it so that it looks like brick or stone.
Climate Is An Influencing Factor
In terms of asphalt vs concrete driveway, you have to look at the weather of the area you live in. This is important because asphalt does not do that well in the heat. But then again, concrete does not do well in the extreme cold.
Climate is a top consideration when considering asphalt vs concrete driveways. choosing between asphalt and concrete. If you live in a place such as California where you get hot summers, you might find an asphalt driveway becoming sticky.
Then towards the evening when things cool down, the asphalt hardens again and these extreme heats cause the asphalt to crack. But as suggested, concrete can crack in the coldest winters, especially if your concrete has not been winterized.
Also, your asphalt is going to require sealing every few years as it can start to look grimy with stains. It does not stain too easily, however, as the color of asphalt is dark. It will need to be sealed to protect the surface and provide it with longevity.
After that, you will need to reseal it at least after 3 or 5 years. Fortunately for some DIY-ers, it’s not a complicated job. It’s a case of pouring the asphalt sealer onto your driveway and using something such as a squeegee to spread it over your driveway.
It’s also a good idea to seal concrete but it’s not an absolute must. Sealing concrete will ensure the concrete does not fade. The bottom line with asphalt vs concrete driveways is that asphalt is easier to repair than concrete but that it requires this repair work more frequently.
Most people in this day and age just do not have the time or the financial means to be attending to their driveways.
The Affordability Of Asphalt Is A Major Drawcard
People looking at a new driveway for their place have to consider the two popular choices – asphalt vs concrete driveways.
Certainly, it has been established that the initial cost of concrete can be higher than asphalt. True, it does not require much maintenance, but sealing definitely enhances its looks. People generally find a concrete driveway to be aesthetically more attractive, adding considerable value to a home. So far it seems that when it comes to asphalt vs concrete driveways, that concrete is generally the winner.
It is more durable overall as well but can be a little more costly to repair. In terms of cost, asphalt is always going to be the best option. It is cost-effective and durable and would not require heavy maintenance.
You can safely say that this is quite a likely one of the biggest reasons why people these days prefer asphalt resurfacing over concrete. The good news is that you would not require to replace the entire asphalt driveway if the damage is not too extensive.
Talking about one of the simplest fixes is asphalt resurfacing to mend a cracked asphalt surface. Asphalt resurfacing is as simple as layering new asphalt over the existing asphalt or concrete surface.
It’s the simplest option to keep an asphalt driveway looking its best. It’s certainly a more affordable option than replacement. Resurfacing is great for when there are alligator cracks, unevenness, or pooling water.
Make Sure To Use The Best Material
If you are looking to build a new driveway for your home, making use of the right driveway material is imperative in terms of costs and longevity. Of course, there are many paving materials to choose from, and everyone looks at asphalt vs concrete driveways if they are looking for affordable, low maintenance, attractive driveway.
Though the two materials vary in quite a few ways, they have some similarities. Both of them have a gravel base and both are made with stone and sand. Asphalt is petroleum-based and concrete is made with cement.
As already mentioned, when it comes to costs with asphalt vs concrete driveway, asphalt is the cheaper one per square foot. Today, the cost can be the most important factor. But then, it does not help very much if asphalt is cheaper but it is less durable than concrete. But most people reckon that a lifespan of roughly 30 years is good enough for them as they will in all likelihood be living somewhere else.
Concrete Is Slightly More Popular
There are many factors to look at when considering asphalt vs concrete driveways. You have to look at costs, appearance, and longevity as well as the climate where you live.
With asphalt, you have limited design options. Unlike concrete, it comes basically in one style – smooth and black, whereas concrete comes with unlimited style options.
Generally, when you weigh up the pros and cons of driveways, you can see that concrete might just be the overall winner, because something that is aesthetically pleasing as concrete with its versatile looks, edges it into the top position.
