concrete vs asphalt
All You Need To Know About Asphalt Driveway & Paving
They may seem similar, but there are a number of differences between asphalt and concrete that you need to consider before deciding which product to use for your next project.
Once laid, it will obviously be extremely timely and costly to tear it up and start over. So do your homework and your due diligence ahead of time, so you can be confident in the final choice you make for yourself and for your business.
Both asphalt and concrete possess different characteristics, including durability, resistance to wear and efficiency, not to mention the overall cost. This means that what’s good for one project may not be your best choice for another one. The expertise in this article comes from the Texas Asphalt & Paving Company out of San Antonio ASC Paving with over 20 years experience.
Concrete
What It’s Made Of [Asphalt vs Concrete]
At its core, this is one of the biggest issues you should study when deciding which product to use for your company’s next project.
Concrete is really nothing more than a mix of sand, gravel and crushed stone that’s bound together by liquid cement. Asphalt, on the other hand, is a mix of several minerals that is bound together by natural asphalt, or bitumen.
This difference causes a range of average prices, which we’ll discuss below. [Asphalt vs Concrete driveway]
Concrete foundation
Longevity:
Asphalt
On average, concrete will last twice as long before needing to be resealed, averaging around 50 years as compared to 20 to 25 years for the average asphalt paying job.
If this is the chief concern for your next project, then there really is no comparison in this regard. Concrete will last you a lot longer than asphalt will, generally speaking.
Finishing Options:
This is another area where concrete is the clear winner, as the finishing options when it comes to asphalt are extremely limited.
With concrete, you can easily choose different types of colors and designs, options you simply don’t have when you’re laying down asphalt.
Designs can be stamped, engraved, etched and sketched into concrete, giving your project any kind of unique look that you desire.
Possibility of Damage:
No clear winner here, unless you live in a climate that’s exceptionally hot or exceptionally cold for a good portion of the year.
Asphalt can soften or deform in extreme heat, so it’s not ideal for tropical or warmer than average climates. Concrete has the opposite issue, tending to crack in temperatures that are extremely cold. Salt from melting snow can also cause blotches on concrete, degrading the overall appeal of the pavement.
So take your average climate into consideration before deciding which product to use moving forward.
Price:
Asphalt Road
And here we have the main area that asphalt comes ahead in, just about every time. If you’re looking to save some money and finish your next project at or under budget, then asphalt is probably the way you’re going to want to go.
On average, asphalt cost ranges from $2.50 to $4.50 per square foot, compared to $4 to $6 per square foot for concrete.
So if the price is your chief consideration, asphalt is the clear choice in this area.
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