Wednesday, May 20, 2015

Asphalt Vs Concrete Driveways


Asphalt Driveways

Asphalt driveways seem to be a more common choice among homeowners due to how cheap it is compared to a lot of alternatives. When comparing asphalt driveways with alternative material, asphalt seems to be cheaper and fits within a homeowner's budget. Asphalt driveways are more serviceable, meaning they're easier to repair when needed. Not only that, but they're also easy to resurface and it's easier to fill in potholes compared to concrete. An important aspect of asphalt driveways is that they're better suited for colder climates.

An issue with asphalt driveways is that they require a lot of the maintenance over the years. While it's true that an asphalt driveway can last at least 25 years, this doesn't mean they don't have to be serviced a numerous amount of times within those 25 years. Cracks and potholes will form over time due to abrupt temperature changes between seasons. The good thing is that you can easily fix these issues without causing yourself too much stress; however, you may have to resurface your driveway and fill in potholes every few years, which can add to the total cost in the long-run.

Concrete Driveways

If you're looking for something that requires less maintenance and is more durable to harsh environments, then you might want to consider concrete driveways. Not only do they require less repairs compared to its counterparts, but its lifespan could last up to 30 years. Concrete driveways are also good insulators, so heat energy is more easily stored into concrete. This means that concrete will be much cooler on a heated day.

While concrete driveways are better suited for warmer weather conditions, cooler temperatures could cause a concrete driveway to break adhesion and form cracks. These cracks and potential potholes won't be as easy to maintain as asphalt. Although durability is one of concrete's strengths, the cost is probably enough to make most homeowners choose asphalt for their driveways. The cost of manufacturing concrete and the raw material needed fluctuate, usually causing concrete to cost as much as it does.

Conclusion

You have to account for the area you live in and your budget. Living in a colder environment, you should probably consider asphalt for your driveway. If you live in a much warmer environment, concrete will probably be your choice for your driveway. Now, if you live in an area with moderate climate, you're going to probably have a harder time deciding between concrete driveways and asphalt driveways. If you break down some of the factors mentioned in this, it will be much easier for you to decide which to choose. If you're looking for something durable and cheaper in the long-run then concrete will probably be a better choice for you. You don't have to perform any maintenance on it as often as you would with asphalt and it's more durable. At the same time, if you can't afford to pay for concrete material then asphalt may be a better choice for you. Although it requires more maintenance than concrete does, asphalt is usually the choice people go with when trying to maintain a decent budget.

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