What Should You Do If You Can't Decide Between Asphalt Paving and Concrete?

This page is for you if you're trying to pick between asphalt paving and concrete paving for a parking lot, driveway, or road.

Whereas in the past, concrete was the chosen method for paving roads and parking lots, asphalt is now the preferred approach.

Let's compare and contrast the features and benefits of each form of pavement by looking at how concrete and asphalt are manufactured.

Crushed rock and sand aggregate, cement, and water are used to make concrete. The cement bonds the concrete and holds the aggregate together as it dries. Concrete is a tough, unforgiving material after it has hardened. Concrete, on the other hand, is prone to cracking and fracturing if the surface beneath it is not absolutely smooth.

Aggregate is also used to make asphalt. Instead of cement, bitumen, a black, sticky material generated from crude oil, is utilized as a binder. Hot asphalt is placed onto a layer of heavy aggregate and then crushed into it with a steamroller to create a parking lot or driveway. Asphalt is tough enough to sustain automotive traffic once it has cooled. While asphalt is highly hard and durable, it also has enough flexibility to accept irregularities in the underlying surfaces, which is something concrete lacks.

There are various other advantages of asphalt paving over concrete or cement paving. In opposed to concrete, one advantage of asphalt is that it is relatively simple to remove and replace damaged asphalt. Asphalt is totally recyclable as well. Because of the high demand for asphalt for recycling, it is uncommon for this material to end up in a landfill.

Another advantage of asphalt construction projects is that they may be completed and roads opened for traffic considerably faster and at a lower cost than concrete construction projects. Furthermore, compared to cement pavement, asphalt pavement maintenance and repair is faster, easier, and less expensive. Repairing tiny cracks in asphalt driveways and sidewalks is so simple that with the right knowledge, one person can do a minor asphalt repair project in only one afternoon. A benefit of performing a simple, low-cost asphalt repair is that it can considerably extend the life of an asphalt surface.

When more than simply asphalt crack repair is required, restoring asphalt paving takes less time and money than replacing cement paving. Unlike concrete, which must be removed and replaced when major cracks emerge, asphalt can be resurfaced in a fraction of the time and cost.