For many homeowners, the decision to pave is voluntary. Many people get by with dirt driveways or areas finished with crushed stone instead of hard paving. However, paving your driveway adds value to your home, helps to curb the dust and dirt you track inside, and provides a finished look to your home.

When you’ve made the choice to finish your driveway, you have some options, including concrete, asphalt, individual pavers, and even decorative bricks. Each has their pros and cons, but sometimes, asphalt can be the best choice for your needs.

Learn below when asphalt paving has an advantage and why it’s a strong contender for your driveway needs.

Maintenance

One area where asphalt shines is with the maintenance. All surfaces need some sort of maintenance, and asphalt is no different. However, in general asphalt is easier to repair than concrete finishes, and the repairs blend in more easily with the existing finish.

Asphalt surfaces need sealing every few years in order to increase longevity. The new sealing helps to restore the blacktop look of asphalt that it has when it is brand new. Asphalt will crack or even crumble in some areas as it ages, but repairs for cracks and patches are not costly. Many homeowners can even do cold patches themselves for smaller repairs.

Appearance

Many people worry that asphalt will not look refined enough. However, newly rolled asphalt that is properly installed will look as polished as a concrete or brick surface. Concrete and bricks allow for a print or design in the finish. Because asphalt is compacted under high pressure, imprints used to be rare.

However, stamped asphalt is now possible. You can choose decorative finishes the mimic pavers or geometric designs. These stamps are applied after the asphalt is rolled. This process works because the stamps themselves are heated. The surface can be finished with sealer that helps to give depth to the design.

Parking lot black is not your only option. Some higher-end asphalt products can use tinted binders that give your driveway an appealing color.

Asphalt also has a unique way of hiding stains. Uncolored concrete and bricks show and absorb oil stains or stains from falling leaves or tree berries. The naturally darker finish of asphalt will not show stains from vehicle leaks, and asphalt also will be more resistant to leaf tannins that affect concrete surfaces.

If your asphalt is looking rough, you can choose to have it resurfaced. This quality is unique to

asphalt surfaces. You can replace bricks, or you can break up, remove, and re-pour concrete, but no other paving material can be reused with a replacement top layers.

Durability

In the cold weather climate of Minnesota, asphalt shines as a superior product. Asphalt does better in extremely cold temperatures. Concrete and bricks are more prone to cracks and breaking with drastic weather changes.

Also, asphalt will hold up better to salts and other products used to melt ice from the driveway. A new concrete driveway is susceptible to pockmarks from certain salts.

Furthermore, because salt is hydrophilic and because concrete is porous, the salt draws water into the concrete, where it freezes and expands. The result is concrete that crumbles from within, especially if the salty water reaches the supporting rebar in the concrete, as the salt can cause corrosion.

Comparatively, an asphalt driveway that has been properly sealed will be more water resistant, even if the water has been mixed with ice melt chemicals. If the winter is particularly hard, you may need to reseal your driveway more frequently.

Readiness

If you need a project done quickly, asphalt is the best option. It can be driven on after only a day or so, depending on the temperature and the moisture outside. Concrete surfaces take longer to cure, and they may even need to be poured in stages.

When you don’t have the luxury of waiting a week to use your driveway and want to have the project done, asphalt is your best choice.

Cost

Finally, many homeowners worry about the cost of paving. Asphalt is usually the winner here. Concrete costs around 45 more percent at installation, which is why many people find asphalt to be the better option for the budget. Bricks take a lot of labor during installation, which drives up the price per square foot.

If you’re concerned about the cost to the environment, you should know that asphalt can be made from recycled materials. You can also recycle old asphalt into new product. Using recycled asphalt helps to cut back on the use and refinement of raw materials. Asphalt is the most recycled material in the United States.

For more information about whether asphalt finishing is right for you or to get an estimate for your driveway, contact us at Plehal Blacktopping.

For many homeowners, the decision to pave is voluntary. Many people get by with dirt driveways or areas finished with crushed stone instead of hard paving. However, paving your driveway adds value to your home, helps to curb the dust and dirt you track inside, and provides a finished look to your home.

When you’ve made the choice to finish your driveway, you have some options, including concrete, asphalt, individual pavers, and even decorative bricks. Each has their pros and cons, but sometimes, asphalt can be the best choice for your needs.

Learn below when asphalt paving has an advantage and why it’s a strong contender for your driveway needs.

Maintenance

One area where asphalt shines is with the maintenance. All surfaces need some sort of maintenance, and asphalt is no different. However, in general asphalt is easier to repair than concrete finishes, and the repairs blend in more easily with the existing finish.

Asphalt surfaces need sealing every few years in order to increase longevity. The new sealing helps to restore the blacktop look of asphalt that it has when it is brand new. Asphalt will crack or even crumble in some areas as it ages, but repairs for cracks and patches are not costly. Many homeowners can even do cold patches themselves for smaller repairs.

Appearance

Many people worry that asphalt will not look refined enough. However, newly rolled asphalt that is properly installed will look as polished as a concrete or brick surface. Concrete and bricks allow for a print or design in the finish. Because asphalt is compacted under high pressure, imprints used to be rare.

However, stamped asphalt is now possible. You can choose decorative finishes the mimic pavers or geometric designs. These stamps are applied after the asphalt is rolled. This process works because the stamps themselves are heated. The surface can be finished with sealer that helps to give depth to the design.

Parking lot black is not your only option. Some higher-end asphalt products can use tinted binders that give your driveway an appealing color.

Asphalt also has a unique way of hiding stains. Uncolored concrete and bricks show and absorb oil stains or stains from falling leaves or tree berries. The naturally darker finish of asphalt will not show stains from vehicle leaks, and asphalt also will be more resistant to leaf tannins that affect concrete surfaces.

If your asphalt is looking rough, you can choose to have it resurfaced. This quality is unique to

asphalt surfaces. You can replace bricks, or you can break up, remove, and re-pour concrete, but no other paving material can be reused with a replacement top layers.

Durability

In the cold weather climate of Minnesota, asphalt shines as a superior product. Asphalt does better in extremely cold temperatures. Concrete and bricks are more prone to cracks and breaking with drastic weather changes.

Also, asphalt will hold up better to salts and other products used to melt ice from the driveway. A new concrete driveway is susceptible to pockmarks from certain salts.

Furthermore, because salt is hydrophilic and because concrete is porous, the salt draws water into the concrete, where it freezes and expands. The result is concrete that crumbles from within, especially if the salty water reaches the supporting rebar in the concrete, as the salt can cause corrosion.

Comparatively, an asphalt driveway that has been properly sealed will be more water resistant, even if the water has been mixed with ice melt chemicals. If the winter is particularly hard, you may need to reseal your driveway more frequently.

Readiness

If you need a project done quickly, asphalt is the best option. It can be driven on after only a day or so, depending on the temperature and the moisture outside. Concrete surfaces take longer to cure, and they may even need to be poured in stages.

When you don’t have the luxury of waiting a week to use your driveway and want to have the project done, asphalt is your best choice.

Cost

Finally, many homeowners worry about the cost of paving. Asphalt is usually the winner here. Concrete costs around 45 more percent at installation, which is why many people find asphalt to be the better option for the budget. Bricks take a lot of labor during installation, which drives up the price per square foot.

If you’re concerned about the cost to the environment, you should know that asphalt can be made from recycled materials. You can also recycle old asphalt into new product. Using recycled asphalt helps to cut back on the use and refinement of raw materials. Asphalt is the most recycled material in the United States.

For more information about whether asphalt finishing is right for you or to get an estimate for your driveway, contact us at Plehal Blacktopping.