Home paving needs and small business commercial paving needs are very similar. Both residential homeowners and small businesses need attractive and functional driveway and parking space, but neither needs a very large area. Here is a comparison between asphalt vs. concrete for residential and small commercial projects.
Though many paving materials are available for your project, two of the most commonly used are asphalt and concrete. Asphalt has many advantages over concrete; here are a few great reasons to choose asphalt for your paving needs.
Price
One major advantage of asphalt over concrete is the difference in price. Asphalt is typically 30-40% less expensive than concrete paving, which can be a major advantage for customers on a tight budget. Saving money is often very high priority, but there are plenty of other reasons to choose asphalt that do not include monetary savings.
Time
Paving projects can be a hassle, especially when you are repaving a high traffic area that is used often. An asphalt driveway can usually be laid in as little as a day or two. Parking lots and roadways take longer, but typically take 50% or less time than the time it takes to construct concrete surfaces due to drying time. Asphalt surfaces are generally ready for use after as little as two days, but concrete can take a week or longer to dry enough to be used without damaging the surface.
Durability
Asphalt is also very highly durable. Because it is so easy to install, there are less likely to be errors during installation. With concrete, your surface can be subject to things like incorrect preparations. Concrete is mixed with gravel and poured onto a pre-prepared bed of sorts. Gravel settles and often creates air bubbles that rise to the surface, creating a hole.
Salt is often used in winter to melt ice and snow, and on concrete surfaces can create surface flaking. Because it is so flexible, asphalt is also much less likely to crack than typical concrete pavement. Also due to its durability, asphalt often has much lower maintenance costs than concrete. Even when it does crack, asphalt is easy to repair with crack sealant.
Appearance
Color is another great advantage of asphalt surfaces. The darkness of asphalt paving helps it to draw and retain heat from the sun, which means in the winter snow and ice take longer to form and a shorter time to melt. Additionally, road and parking lot markings stand out more against a dark surface for increased safety. Concrete, on the other hand, may be stained and stamped to take on the appearance of other hard surfaces.
Pros and cons involving asphalt and concrete are fairly easy to sift through. Make sure you have all of the right information before making the decision on how you will pave your driveway or parking lot. The more you learn about both asphalt and concrete, the better prepared you will be to make the decision when the time comes.
