Sometimes it’s hard to tell which surface material you should choose for your paving project. Both asphalt and concrete have their benefits. However, it’s worth comparing them to figure out which you should choose for your driveway, sidewalk, or parking lot. You’re trying to discover which will hold up longer, cost less, and yield a better surface. Maintenance is also a question.
Simply put, it depends. It depends on a lot of factors. Let’s get into how various factors will influence your paving surface performance and affect your choice.
Is Asphalt or Concrete a Better Paving Choice?
Scroll on down, read each section, and think about your unique situation. For driveways, residential walkways, and corporate paving scenarios, different surfaces will perform better.
1. Usage
Here are the questions we’ll need to answer when deciding which paving surface to recommend.
· Is the area private or open to the public?
· How much traffic do you expect daily?
· Can you keep traffic off the area until it’s firm?
· Will you keep heavy loads on the pavement?
· Does the ground freeze in the winter?
· How large is the pavement area?
· Which matters most: cost or performance?
Talk with our asphalt and concrete paving professionals! They’ll help you work through the answers to these questions.
2. Weather
Concrete and asphalt are not equal when it comes to how climate affects them. Choosing the correct pavement for your area is the difference between a durable, long-lasting surface and one that will cost more to maintain and may deteriorate more quickly.
Short answer: asphalt is better for colder climates that experience freezing ground. It isn’t affected by the cold and road salt won’t deteriorate it. It also soaks in the sun’s heat and allows any ice to melt faster than it would on concrete. On the other hand, concrete expands and contracts dramatically in freezing temperatures, which will lead to cracks. Salt also causes deterioration to concrete.
In hot climates, concrete does an excellent job and will last a long time. It reflects more of the sun’s rays and doesn’t become sticky or oily like asphalt does in the hot sun. In addition, as asphalt re-hardens overnight, it can crack and sag, leading to much sooner need for replacement.
3. Installation & Maintenance
Here’s a quick guide to the basics of installation and maintenance for asphalt or concrete. Hopefully, this will help you narrow down what matters most to you.
Cheaper installation: asphalt | Faster installation: asphalt |
Less maintenance: concrete | Less frequent repair: concrete |
Cheaper repair: asphalt | Cheaper maintenance: asphalt |
DIY potential: asphalt | Longer lifespan: concrete |
Still trying to choose between asphalt or concrete? Is asphalt or concrete a better paving choice for your project? We can help! Call us for professional, no-strings attached consultation.
Wright Construction is your first choice for the area’s best commercial and residential asphalt paving, asphalt repair, concrete paving, concrete repair, and paving surface installation. Contact us today!