There is only one driveway that is suitable for you, but does concrete or asphalt have more advantages than disadvantages?
Updating your driveway may completely transform the appearance of your home and increase its curb appeal. However, if you’re embarking on this project, you might be torn between concrete and asphalt driveways, which are the most prevalent materials.
Despite their variations in cost, beauty, durability, and care, both materials are excellent choices. Examine the benefits and drawbacks of each material to determine which is best for your driveway.
Concrete Driveways
A concrete driveway is created by pouring a mixture of cement, sand, and gravel and allowing it to set for a week. This makes the material durable and sturdy.
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Concrete Driveway Advantages
Cost
Although concrete has a higher starting cost than asphalt, it has a lower maintenance cost. Overall, it is economical.
Maintenance
It doesn’t take much maintenance, but sealing your driveway will improve its appearance over time. It will simply require routine cleaning and degreasing after that. For the longest-lasting and best-looking pavement, research the optimum time to seal your driveway.
Durability
With adequate upkeep and environmental conditions, concrete can last for 50 years or more. Concrete can also withstand larger loads than asphalt, making it an excellent alternative for parking trucks and RVs.
Street appeal
A concrete driveway is aesthetically pleasant to many people. It has the potential to improve the curb appeal and elegance of your property.
Design
Concrete is adaptable. Manufacturers can stain, stamp, engrave, or tint it with different colours to match it with your home’s colour palette or create a pattern to add some character. However, your ideal design will come at a higher cost. Consult with concrete driveway experts in your area to create your ideal design.
Eco-friendliness
Concrete is a reusable substance. It also lasts for half a century, reducing resource consumption and waste.
Climate
Concrete absorbs less heat and reflects light than asphalt. Concrete is cool to walk on in the summer, making it an excellent choice for hot weather.
Concrete Driveway Drawbacks
Cost
A concrete driveway costs €3 to €10 per square foot to install, which is twice the price of asphalt.
Installing
It takes seven days for concrete to cure. It will take a week for it to be ready for automobile traffic.
Maintenance
Overall, concrete is more durable, but it is more expensive and difficult to repair, replace, or resurface. Because of its light tint, concrete stains easily. To keep in good shape, it must be cleaned and degreased on a regular basis.
Climate
Concrete does not fare well in extreme cold. It cracks easily due to freezing and thawing, resulting in dangerous gaps in your driveway. Furthermore, the surface of concrete is sensitive to snowplows and road salt, which can create stains and reduce the lifespan of the driveway. Concrete is better in warmer regions because it is less likely to discolour.
Driveways in Asphalt
Asphalt is made out of stone and sand, with petroleum chemicals serving as an adhesive foundation. High temperatures are used by local asphalt professionals to soften, mix, and roll the material before it cools and hardens into a firm driveway.
Asphalt Driveway Advantages
Cost
When compared to concrete, the initial cost of installing asphalt is €2 to €5 per square foot, which might save you money on your overall driveway paving expenditures.
Installing
Even though asphalt takes two to three days to dry entirely, you can drive on it right away.
Durability
Asphalt typically lasts 15 to 20 years, but with proper upkeep, it can last even longer.
Street appeal
Asphalt driveways can improve the appearance of your home. If you want to blend in with the crowd, this material is a wonderful choice. Additionally, if you want to sell your property soon, it will boost its value.
Maintenance
Cracks and potholes in asphalt driveways are quite straightforward to fix (and DIY) without leaving a noticeable difference. These fixes match the rest of the driveway well. Because of its dark hue, asphalt does not show oil stains or rust.
Eco-friendliness
Because asphalt may be combined with asphalt from your existing (or other) driveway, it is recyclable and saves energy during building (s).
Climate
Because asphalt is a porous material, it drains rainfall better. It’s also more flexible and less prone to cracking, which is beneficial in cold weather.
The Drawbacks of Having an Asphalt Driveway
Cost
Although asphalt is initially less expensive than concrete, it has a longer life cycle and requires more maintenance.
Durability
Asphalt driveways typically last 20 to 30 years, but they are less durable than concrete driveways.
Design
Asphalt has a lower visual appeal than concrete because there are fewer alternatives for styling your driveway. For a more artistic aesthetic, manufacturers have begun combining asphalt with naturally coloured rocks or recycled glass and applying coloured sealers.
Maintenance
Six months to a year following installation, asphalt requires a coat of sealer. To safeguard the surface and extend its life expectancy, it must be resurfaced and sealed on a regular basis every three to five years. To maintain your driveway looking and performing at its best, consult with local driveway sealing professionals like PaveLink in Dublin.
Repairing cracks and damage, as well as resurfacing asphalt, are relatively simple do-it-yourself chores.
Eco-friendliness
Asphalt is a somewhat environmentally friendly solution because it is recyclable and uses 20% less energy than other materials to manufacture. However, it is made of petroleum compounds and can leak oil when heated.
Climate
Asphalt may not be the best choice for hot weather because it absorbs and retains heat. On a hot day, you should avoid touching the asphalt with your bare hands and feet.
Asphalt can turn mushy when the temperature reaches 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Asphalt is a better choice for moderate to cold regions because it can adhere to your tyres or shoes and stain your house floors.
Final Thoughts
Simply call PaveLink in Dublin by visiting pavelink to make a better decision. Our paving professional can assist you in selecting the best driveway material in Dublin.
