It is important to remember that a high-end driveway will not just boost your home’s overall appeal, but it will increase its value too. When it comes to adding a new driveway to your home, the best course of action is choosing asphalt as the primary material that will offer you a peace of mind and durability.

You should remember that asphalt is cost-effective and long-lasting solution that will provide you everything you wanted in the first place. As soon as you enter here, you will learn more about this particular material. We wish to help you understand the reasons asphalt is the best material for your driveway. Let us start from the beginning.

What is Asphalt?

It is vital to remember that asphalt is a combination of sand and crushed stones or gravel. It is a specifically designed to provide you an exceptional durability compared with other materials, meaning it can withstand harsh winter and warm summer days. 

We can differentiate two types of asphalt, including: 

• Hot Mix – It is most commonly used option, which is poured at temperatures between 300 and 350 degrees. In most cases, people use it for highways and driveways. Hot Mix is specifically designed to provide you with durability, meaning you can use it continually without any additional hassle. 
• Cold Mix – This particular type is more suitable for minor projects such as patching areas that do not have a lot of traffic. The most common application for Cold Mix is when it is too cold to use other forms of asphalt, and you still need to repair a specific area. 

Benefits of Asphalt Driveway

Before choosing a material for your driveway project, it is vital to remember advantages of using it. The benefits of asphalt over other driveway materials, are: 

Resistance to Harsh Weather Conditions

It does not matter where you reside, because asphalt should fit your specific situation regarding weather conditions. Therefore, you should use materials that will stand the test of time, which is where asphalt comes in. It is designed to be more durable during heavy snow or rain, and during different temperature fluctuations as well. 

Overall Durability

A well-maintained and properly-installed driveway can last up to thirty years. Besides, it is specifically designed to provide you with additional flexibility, meaning it can withstand more wear and tear than concrete. 

Lower Cost

Asphalt comes from recycled materials, meaning it will cost less to purchase and install it than other materials. At the same time, it is simple to maintain it, which will offer you a return on investment in the long run. Besides, we have to mention the higher value and curb appeal of your household after adding asphalt driveway. 

Concrete vs. Asphalt Driveways

When it comes to materials, you can choose two options: asphalt or concrete. We recommend you to check out more about asphalt contractor Fairfax as well as their contact for additional info about this material:

Deciding between these concrete and asphalt options can be challenging, which is why we decided to present you crucial differences you should remember.

Asphalt Can Withstand Extreme Weather Conditions

As mentioned above, you probably understand by now that asphalt is better material for extreme weather conditions. During winter, both concrete and asphalt can crack when the earth is moving during dramatic temperature changes or freeze-up.

Asphalt crack filling is a DIY project, while concrete repair may require expert by your side. The salt used to ensure driveways are safe can stain concrete and reduce its visual appeal. Ice and snow melt faster on asphalt compared with concrete, which is vital to remember.

Repairs and Costs

Since it comes from recycled materials, you should know that asphalt is more affordable for both installation and mixture. When we compare an average driveway, you should remember that asphalt counterparts can be half the cost of concrete. Still, asphalt requires more frequent maintenance, but the repairs and fast and affordable.

Curb Appeal

The main idea is that you can tint and stain concrete to match the colors and aesthetics of your household. On the other hand, asphalt comes in a single shade. On the other hand, you should know that spills from vehicles will be more noticeable on concrete, making asphalt more durable and appealing altogether.

Lifespan

With regular care and installation, concrete driveway can last up to forty years, while asphalt is less durable, meaning it can last up to thirty years in the best-case scenario. Watch this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCnxmcPXmw0&pp=0gcJCdgAo7VqN5tD to learn more about asphalt paving process. 

Remember that maintenance plays essential role in the longevity of your driveway, meaning you should conduct maintenance at least once a year to ensure you get the most out of it.

As a result, you should inspect it for cracks in the winter and summer days. The moment you notice cracks; you should repair them as soon as possible to prevent further expenses. Make sure that you find an expert that can help you with the process, because contractors are more suitable to handle regular upkeep.