Asphalt prices tend to fluctuate with fluctuations in crude oil prices. Asphalt needs a layer of sealant six months to a year after installation. It also requires constant resurfacing and sealing every three to five years to protect the surface and extend its useful life. Check with local driveway sealing professionals near you to keep your driveway running as smoothly as possible.
An asphalt driveway is considerably cheaper than a concrete one. In fact, installing a concrete driveway will cost the landlord at least 45 percent more. Concrete is a preferred material for driveways, and for good reason. Concrete slabs are very strong and durable, and require very little maintenance.
The combined strength and longevity make concrete relatively good value for large paving areas. As a driveway surface, concrete is more expensive than gravel and asphalt, but it is considerably less expensive than a driveway made with brick, cobblestone or concrete pavers and usually lasts longer than all of these. If you need a new driveway for your home, you need a reliable and durable material, even in the harsh weather conditions you experience in central Pennsylvania. Asphalt pavement tends to be cheaper than concrete, with a concrete access road costing almost twice as much as an asphalt one.
On the other hand, asphalt concrete (asphalt, asphalt, bituminous macadam or laminated asphalt) is also a mixture composed of asphalt and aggregate. It doesn't require much maintenance, but sealing will improve the look of your driveway over the years. However, in a neighborhood with paved roads or streets, your driveway will always match them perfectly. Of course, black roofing is cheaper than concrete by about 40-55%, a reason why it is very popular and preferred by many people.
The typical life expectancy of an asphalt driveway is 15 to 20 years, while a concrete driveway can last 40 years or more. In its most basic forms, asphalt is dark gray to black, so its common name of “blacktop” and concrete is pale gray. This is where a concrete driveway offers a distinct advantage, as it offers a useful life twice to triple that of asphalt. Cracks and potholes of the asphalt roadway are quite easy to repair (and do it yourself) without any noticeable difference.
If you are going to install concrete, you need to build a concrete form fastened by stakes around the area for pouring concrete. Concrete to tell you which one is cheaper and give you the ideal weather conditions to guide you on where to use what. In addition, concrete can withstand heavier loads than asphalt, making it a great choice for trucks and recreational vehicles in the driveway. Both asphalt and concrete create durable and attractive driveways, but there is more to choose between them than simply opting for the cheaper option.
In many applications, concrete is reinforced by placing steel metal reinforcing wire or reinforcing bars inside the slab.