For many people, a driveway is a desirable addition to a property. Not only do driveways keep vehicles safe and off of the road, but a properly laid driveway can enhance the aesthetic appeal of a property. Two of the most commonly used materials for building a driveway are asphalt and concrete. Many people find that using asphalt will bring more advantages. This article compares the two materials, and highlights the advantages of using asphalt rather than concrete.
Speed
Typically, concrete will take longer to dry than asphalt. While asphalt—in the correct conditions—can be fully dry and ready to use around forty eight hours after installation, concrete usually needs up to a week to fully dry and use.
Additionally, an asphalt drive can be installed in a couple of days; concrete drives may take up to five or six days to correctly install. This time difference can mean a lot to the property owner. Not only can they use the driveway much sooner if it is made of asphalt, but they can avoid having a building site on their property for extended periods of time.
Durability
Concrete, if installed incorrectly, can suffer from what is known as spalling. This is when the concrete begins to crack due to the presence of water. The water will contract in the cold, and expand in the heat, meaning that the concrete is under stress. This stress manifests itself as cracks in the concrete; these cracks can increase in size and spoil the look and practicality of the drive.
Asphalt, on the other hand, is a more flexible material, and this means that it it less likely to suffer from stress, and therefore, cracks.
Easy To Repair
Asphalt repair kits are available from almost all DIY outlets. These kits are easy to use on any cracks in the asphalt that do occur; even a person with no DIY experience can follow the instructions to do a good repair job. Concrete repairs are more complicated, and sometimes new concrete must be made and used to repair any damage.
Heat Retaining
Due to its dark color, asphalt will absorb and retain more of the sun's heat during the colder months. This means that snow and ice lying on an asphalt drive will melt quicker than snow or ice on a concrete drive. This is important for the homeowner, as less snow on the drive means that it is easier to move vehicles in this weather.
These benefits combine to make asphalt an attractive alternative to concrete when considering driveway installation. For more information on benefits, consult with local experts such as Active Asphalt.
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