Driveway is one of the most important, yet overlooked components of your house. If you are looking to mend your weather beaten driveway, you will need to consider the type of material you want to use. There are a number of options when it comes to driveway maintenance; however, the most common materials for driveway include asphalt and concrete. In this article, we will be looking at the different characteristics of both asphalt and concrete in order to help you make a better decision. 

Concrete vs. Asphalt

Here are the most commonly observed advantages and disadvantages of both the materials that will help you make a better decision.

Cost

Asphalt ($3 – 6$ per square foot) usually costs more than concrete ($ 11 -$16 per square foot). However, the rates can vary by state and city. To understand the concrete and asphalt rates in your area, contact your local builder or material supplier.

Repair And Maintenance 

Concrete requires more maintenance as compared to asphalt driveway installation. Concrete pavements can last as long as forty years, but when it comes to driveway maintenance in the long run, it is cheaper than the asphalt. In addition, small holes and weather effects in the long run are much easier to cover in case of concrete driveway installation.

Longevity And Durability

Concrete is less durable than asphalt because of its tendency to easily break down. The biggest downside of concrete is that it cracks under pressure and adverse weather, in contrast to asphalt that retains its appearance even in the worse temperature. Concrete also suffers from oil and gas materials that leave visible stains. Asphalt, on the other hand, remains intact. However, regardless of the downsides, concrete lasts longer than the asphalt driveway installation.

Environmental Impact

As compared to asphalt, concrete is 100% renewable material. In fact, it is one of the most recyclable materials in the world. Therefore, concrete does not end up in the landfills, but instead it is crushed and used into new pavements and other building and construction projects. Concrete also takes fewer resources for the manufacturing process.

A Federal Highway Administration technical advisory reports that asphalt as opposed to concrete, takes five times more fuel in the manufacturing process. In addition, concrete is a naturally reflective material that absorbs less sunrays than asphalt. Asphalt can easily heat up in the summers while concrete can provide a cool pavement for a summer evening walk.

Apart from the above-mentioned points, various other dissimilarities make the two construction materials complete opponents. When looking for a construction material for your driveway, make sure that you consider all the pros and cons of different materials.

Here are some of the things that you should consider before buying a construction material for driveway:

Your location

Quality of the material

Material rates in your area

Location is the most important thing to consider, as the weather in your area can greatly affect the material installation time. Contact your nearest construction expert for better understanding of the materials and their installation time.