Ready to pour that driveway? What about a parking lot for your business? Asphalt and concrete both deliver amazing results with lots of pros from both. How do you decide which is best for your property? We’re here to help! Renaissance Asphalt Services is your local professional for all things asphalt and concrete, and we’re more than capable to help you decide which is best for your specific needs. Here are some considerations:
A lot of decisions come down to cost. When it comes to pouring an RV pad, driveway, parking lot, or anything else of large scale, the long-term costs need to be considered as well as the up-front investment. Considerations such as material availability, size of the job, drainage needs, and elements of the design will need to be discussed. We often find people really need a mix of both materials, especially when it comes to commercial properties. For example, it may be best to lay asphalt for the parking lot and add concrete for sidewalks and disability service options. Concrete typically costs more up front but is generally more durable than asphalt. Asphalt is usually the inexpensive choice but requires a bit more service through the years.
Of course, you want your project to last as long as possible, but what’s the main goal? Depending on usage and where you live, the material you pour will make a huge difference. Concrete is prone to cracks, but it’s also durable. Asphalt is prone to potholes, but’s they’re also easy to fill and repair. Consider the drainage needs, your daily wear and tear, and how well you’ll be able to keep up on maintenance needs before you decide on the material for your project. Both materials have a long and reliable lifespan, but concrete does outlive asphalt on this one.
Before you pour concrete or asphalt, be honest about how much time you want to spend on maintenance. Both require some sort of upkeep such as reducing accumulation of water, avoiding harmful products on the pavement, protecting the edges from heavy equipment, removing stains when you see them, and watching for cracks or settling. You’ll also need to be aware of snowplowing to make sure you don’t break off parts of the pavement. Asphalt driveways will need seal coating and immediate repairs of holes or damages, but these repairs are manageable and fairly easy to remedy. They hold up very well with ice melting products, so you don’t need to worry about salt ruining your driveway when you pour some for the visitors coming over on Christmas. Concrete driveways don’t do quite as well with ice-melting chemicals, but they are extremely durable otherwise and hold up well to high traffic.
With all things, there are pros and cons. When it comes down to it, your unique needs are what’s important to our team. With a trusted company like Renaissance, you can be confident they’ll give you the best recommendation for what works best for you.
