Most commercial and residential driveways are finished with asphalt or concrete. Both are profitable, but asphalt has more benefits. If you are paving a new driveway or renovating an existing one, you are probably wondering about the relative benefits of asphalt over concrete.
Asphalt offers speed of installation and ease of use
Typically, an asphalt road can be laid in one to two days, depending on the size of the project. Concrete, on the other hand, usually takes twice as long to set and even longer to set. Depending on the season, the best asphalt driveways sealer can be ready for use in as little as two days after completion, while concrete can take up to a week to cure.
Asphalt offers driveway durability
Unlike concrete, asphalt is not subject to surface flaking caused by poor installation, improper mix preparations, and the application of salts to melt ice and snow. Known as "chipping," this surface chipping is an ongoing problem with many concrete driveways, especially those that were installed in haste. Given its flexibility, asphalt is also considerably less likely to crack over time.
Asphalt pavement offers lower maintenance costs
If your asphalt road starts to show linear cracks, you can easily and inexpensively repair them. The crack sealant products you need are widely available through home improvement retailers, don't cost a lot, and can be easily applied on your own, even if you don't have previous paving experience.
Additionally, regular preventative maintenance such as crack filling, seal lining, sweeping, and general maintenance can extend the life of your asphalt road to 20 years or more. Concrete is more difficult to maintain because it cannot be heated and repaired as easily as asphalt pavement.
Asphalt pavement offers additional benefits
An added benefit of asphalt is that its black color helps attract and retain more heat from the sun. In the winter, this means that snow will melt faster on an asphalt road than on a concrete road. Not only does it improve security in residential settings and commercial commercial properties, it makes property maintenance easier for everyone!
With asphalt paving, it's easy to request a free estimate
If you have any questions about the benefits of asphalt paving or are interested in a free paving quote, contact us today!
With 75 years of asphalt paving experience, from highways to driveways, we are your local source for all your asphalt paving needs. Wolf Paving offers professional paving services from Milwaukee to Madison and anywhere in between, including all areas around: Sun Prairie, Oconomowoc, and Waukesha.