If you have had enough of your current driveway’s ruts, cracks, and stains and are considering building a new one, you’re probably talking about the two most common solid materials: concrete and asphalt.
It is important to use the right material for the driveway. There are two essential paving materials to choose from for driveways: concrete and asphalt. Most ask the first question: “What is the difference between asphalt and a concrete driveway?”
While these materials differ in many respects, they have some similarities as well. Next, there is a gravel foundation for both asphalt and concrete. Both are constructed from stone and sand. The key distinction concerns their adhesive materials. While concrete is made of cement, asphalt is petroleum-based.
Concrete Driveway
To provide an aesthetically pleasing, robust material for the driveway, concrete blends cement and small pieces of rock. If your concrete driveway is built by a contractor, you can have to wait up to a week to use it. With the right maintenance and weather conditions after installation, your driveway will last for decades.
Pros of a Concrete Driveway:
- Long-life driveway
- Easy to Maintain
- Design Versatility
- Energy-efficiency improvement
- Pleasant in the summer
While installing a concrete driveway has several distinct advantages, there are also some drawbacks that you should consider:
Cons:
- Higher upfront cost
- Difficult to repair
- Sensitive to salt
- Expensive
Asphalt Driveway
Asphalt, like concrete, is an aggregate substance of a mixture of stone and sand, but as the adhesive foundation, it contains tar-like petroleum instead of cement. High temperatures are used by contractors to liquefy hot asphalt mix and build the driveway until it cools and becomes firm. Instead of waiting a week for the material to recover, you could use your asphalt driveway within hours after installation.
Pros of Asphalt Driveway:
- Lower upfront cost
- Higher resale value
- More convenient to repair
- Lasts longer all year long
- Eco-friendliness
- Naturally aesthetically pleasing
- Better at draining water
- Asphalt is less expensive
- The material offers 30+ years of use
Cons:
While asphalt driveways can increase your home’s value and require minimal repairs over the years, they are also vulnerable to the following disadvantages:
- It does not have the creative design aspect
- it requires more maintenance
- Hot in the summer
- Lack of customization options
Conclusion:
Both are popular, but 93 percent of roads are asphalt. In general, the lowered cost and ease of repair make it the preferred option. Asphalt lasts 20-25 years while concrete lasts 30-40 years.
While each one has its merits, for budget-conscious homeowners or those living in areas with temperature fluctuations, asphalt driveways are better. For colors, textures, and embellishments, concrete driveways offer more options but are prone to cracking and costly to repair in cold weather. While concrete lasts longer, it’s easier and cheaper to resurface asphalt.
