The Benefits of Asphalt Paving
Alongside concrete, asphalt paving is one of the most used materials for roadway surfaces. Many homeowners choose this exceptional material for driveways, businesses select it for parking lots, and municipal governments opt for asphalt for city streets and highways. If you’re weighing the advantages of asphalt versus concrete, you should consider several factors before making your decision.
Installation Requirements
Asphalt installation is much faster for projects with a large surface area, such as streets, parking lots and highways. It’s possible to shave several days or weeks off these larger projects. For smaller projects, such as driveways, asphalt takes roughly the same time to install as concrete.
Curing Time
Curing time is also a point in favor of asphalt — at least during much of the year. During periods of cooler weather, such as spring and fall, a patch of asphalt can be ready for road traffic in just a few days — much faster than concrete.
Overall Cost
Both materials and labor costs are significantly less expensive with asphalt paving. When your project finishes several days earlier, that’s a lot of money saved instead of paying workers.
Durability
Concrete can stand up better to intense heat and heavy loads, but it also needs to be thicker, which increases expense. Asphalt provides excellent longevity balanced with cost savings.
Maintenance Conditions
One of the biggest advantages of asphalt surfaces is how easy they are to maintain and repair. Unlike concrete, which requires time-intensive removal and pouring, asphalt can be repaired in smaller sections relatively quickly.
Noise Level
Asphalt is quiet. It’s a great choice for residential areas, city streets, longer driveways and suburban developments. There’s also an attractive quality to blacktop.
Flexibility
Asphalt paving is exceptionally flexible and versatile for projects of different sizes and in different locations. This flexibility also helps prevent cracking and moisture penetration. The surface stays stable and doesn’t require cuts like those needed for concrete. When laid by a professional, this type of surface can last a long time.