Asphalt Driveway or Concrete Driveway?

If you are redoing or installing a driveway, you’ll probably be looking at the most popular paving materials on the market for driveways—concrete and asphalt.   Both materials have advantages and disadvantages, however, asphalt is undoubtedly the best way to go if an asphalt driveway is appropriate for the landscape look you are going for and your community doesn’t prohibit its use.

A well-constructed and well-designed driveway can enhance the beauty of your home or office.  Choosing the type of material to use for your new or remodeled driveway is your first objective to creating the landscape look you want. And, while paving materials abound, the two most popular driveway materials are asphalt or concrete. You’ll want to check out the resilience of these materials, how they hold up in your area, the one that best suits the climate in which you live, and the one that passes community standards before you purchase the driveway material.  

Selection of Material for Your Driveway—an Asphalt Driveway or a Concrete Driveway

When selecting the type paving material you wish to use, take into consideration:

• The landscaping in which the driveway will sit
• The climate of your region
• The upkeep and maintenance of the driveway material you choose
• The cost of the driveway material

Choosing a driveway material that meshes with your landscaping is important. And, some driveway materials fare better in cold climates and some in hot climates. Generally, concrete is a hot-climate driveway material and asphalt a cold-climate one.  Concrete driveways are made from poured concrete that is spread over a proper sub-base; while asphalt driveways are made of small stone particles that are mixed with petroleum and spread hot in layers that are four to eight inches deep.  Asphalt driveway construction requires the use of a paving machine (a heavy roller that compacts the surface into a smooth black surface). 

Visual Appeal and Asphalt Driveways and Concrete Driveways
 

Asphalt driveways don’t always have to be black and concrete driveways don’t always have to be off-white as you might think.  Both materials are capable of being tinted and can be altered to produce a variety of colors. And, while colors are limited when you use asphalt, light concrete colors will show stains more easily than asphalt driveways.  Asphalt driveways, being petroleum based, can release oils that may be carried into your home. However, the use of a good asphalt sealant can eliminate the oiliness of asphalt.

Climate Affects Asphalt Driveways and Concrete Driveways

Hot climates can soften asphalt driveways, making them prone to holes and cracks, making asphalt driveways very suitable for cold regions. Concrete driveways, on the other hand, are highly durable in cold regions, but must be well laid with compact gravel as a base fill to prevent deterioration of the driveway in a heavy frost. Also, use of salt on a concrete driveway for the melting of ice will damage a concrete driveway as well.
 

Installation Cost and Maintenance of Asphalt Driveways and Concrete Driveways

Concrete driveways cost around 45% more than asphalt driveways. Consequently, asphalt driveways and more widely used than concrete ones. Maintenance of asphalt driveways can be more expensive than that of concrete driveways as a asphalt driveway has to be resealed every three to five years. One good thing is that asphalt driveways can often be repaircan often be repaired and maintained by individual homeowners, while the repair of a concrete driveway requires the services of a paving company. And, if an asphalt sealant is properly used on an asphalt driveway, maintenance is almost negligent except when the driveway needs a reseal, every three to five years on average. Properly maintained asphalt driveways can last some thirty years or more.