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Driveways are an important part of any property. It is the first thing that people see when they drive up to your home. The material you choose for the driveway will tell people how much you care for your property. The type of driveway you need will depend on what kind of environment you’re in, whether there are children around, and if you live in a hilly area or not.
Driveways are the most durable home improvement project for your home. They can be helpful in any season to ensure that your vehicle has a place to park, even during heavy snow. You may choose concrete over asphalt or vice versa. But, there are risks involved on both sides, so homeowners will need to consider what they are willing to spend on this type of project before proceeding with the installation process. Concrete and asphalt are both popular choices for a driveway for a home. But which one should you choose? If you are unsure, read on to learn more about the pros and cons of both.
Importance of a Well Constructed Driveway
A driveway is a standard extension of the home, and as such, you shouldn’t overlook its importance. A good driveway can serve as a functional packing space, add to the property’s beauty, and boost its value. Apart from considering asphalt vs. concrete, it would be best if you had a well-designed and well-thought-out driveway plan to suit your needs.
Your driveway should be large enough to maneuver your car comfortably and fit all your outdoor engagements when required. A driveway is an important structure in a home and It gives the first impression for anyone who steps into the property. A driveway should be well-lit and neat with no broken stones or cracks. It should also have a strip of grass on either side, which would make it seem more expansive. In addition to enhancing the aesthetics of a home, a driveway can also provide functional benefits such as creating an area for car parking and storing outdoor supplies like gardening tools and barbecue tools on one side.
On the other side, you can use it as an open space for children to play or parents to protect their children from traffic while crossing the street. The best type of driveways can also be used as an outdoor living space or without looking too cluttered or chaotic.
Characteristics of Concrete and Asphalt Materials
Driveways are essential in the building process to make it easier for people to get in and out of their homes. It is worth noting that there are different types of materials that can be used for driveway construction, including asphalt and concrete. Each driveway has its advantages, but knowing when one would be more suitable for a building project than the other is essential. Before discussing the use of these two materials for driveways, it is vital to understand both characteristics.
Concrete
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The word ‘concrete’ derives from the Latin word concretus, which means ‘coagulated.’ The word refers to the process of mixing the ingredients. Compressive strength is a crucial characteristic of concrete, which determines how much weight it can carry before deforming. Concrete also retains its strength in damp conditions. It also has good insulation properties and acts as an insulator against heat or cold.
Concrete is a composite material: a porous and dense aggregate embedded in fine and coarse particle matrix. The aggregate acts as the primary reinforcement for the material, while the paste functions as both binder and matrix. The aggregate can be composed of suitably durable granular material such as sand, gravel, crushed rock, or recycled concrete. The paste typically consists of cement mixed with water to form a slurry that binds the aggregate when it hardens. You can include a wide range of additives in the mix to improve concrete’s physical properties and limit its potential damage to human health.
Concrete is easy to use and has high compressive strength. It is mainly used for foundations and other structural purposes like buildings, roads, bridges, pavements, monuments, etc. Concrete is fire resistant because it contains air pockets that don’t carry heat too well. It also doesn’t rot or decay quickly due to its dense structure.
Asphalt
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Asphalt is a petroleum-like material with the consistency of a viscous liquid. It is used in construction for pavement, roofing materials, and other purposes. Typically asphalt is grey or black. It may be either sticky or hard, depending on its temperature. Asphalt blacktop roads are constructed as a part of many highway and freeway projects. They are typically anchored with steel or plastic expansion anchors and maybe topped with a type of surface such as concrete, asphalt concrete, oil-bound macadam, or aggregate interlocking concrete paving stones.
You can mix it with sand and gravel to form asphalt concrete for construction purposes. One of its unique traits is that it can be heated to make it more malleable. Construction companies use asphalt for various favorable reasons:
- It is easy to work with since it does not require any special equipment or skills to use.
- It’s cheap because no additional materials are needed other than oil and aggregate (sand or gravel).
- Asphalt can withstand changes in temperature, water, and air pressure better than traditional materials like concrete or brick, which means that you don’t have to worry about cracks developing over time due to environmental changes.
Concrete or Asphalt Driveway: Factors to Consider
Choosing the best material for your driveway also depends on the factors you are most worried about. Some people are concerned about the environment, while others are more bothered about the cost associated with the materials and construction. Whichever group you belong to can inform your decision on the best type of materials to choose.
Durability
Concrete is the first choice material for driveways and good reasons. One, It does not wear out quickly, and it can be constructed in many shapes and sizes to fit the needs of the project at hand. One such need might be a concrete driveway constructed using concrete slabs, poured concrete, or pre-cast concrete panels.
Concrete is also a popular choice for driveways these days due to its durability and strength. It provides a nice, smooth surface and can be made to look like several different things, from natural stone to brick. Furthermore, it’s a relatively inexpensive option for installation, especially with other alternatives such as asphalt or gravel. Investing in a concrete driveway is a perfect investment and decision as it can withstand the wear and tear brought about by elements of climate. They also offer an excellent finish for any home.
One of the main reasons people choose asphalt over concrete is that asphalt is longer-lasting, concerning its absorbent properties, concrete cracks, and warps when it absorbs water. In contrast, asphalt does not succumb to these damages. It can be expensive to install an asphalt driveway because it requires a lot of petroleum products to create the slurry mixture that coats the ground’s surface before laying down the new pavement on top of it.
Ease of Maintenance
In addition to being durable and solid, concrete slabs are very low-maintenance. They’re immune from weed growth and don’t need repainting every few years as asphalt does. In terms of safety, they’re much better in the wintertime. This is because there is less risk of slipping on ice or snow, resulting in severe injury or even death. It also doesn’t cause problems with drainage.
Asphalt is not slippery when wet; it also makes it easier for people to know where they are walking or driving. This is due to how the manufacturers make it. While concrete has large chunks of aggregate (pieces of stone), which would allow water to pool in between them, asphalt has an even surface with smaller pieces that act like tiny suction cups which grip the water rather than letting it sit in between them.
Cost
When it comes to price, asphalt is generally cheaper than concrete. Concrete is derived from limestone and other ingredients, mined from the earth, and then sold in bags, whereas asphalt comes straight out of the ground. This means that there are no middlemen to gouge prices to make profits.
Installation
Concrete needs to be set for a few days before you can use it, but asphalt can be used almost straight away. Asphalt is also oil-based, which means that it does not need to be mixed with cement-like concrete. It also has anti-freeze capabilities because it has an agent that prevents water from seeping into the ground.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the pros of concrete driveways are that they last longer than asphalt, and they don’t crack or deteriorate like their counterpart material does over time. They also offer better traction, and they provide a smoother surface for vehicle tires to drive on even if it rains or snows.
Asphalt is less expensive than concrete, and you can install it more quickly. However, this material poses some long-term problems as it deteriorates over time and cracks under the weight of heavy vehicles. It is also not as durable as concrete which will last much longer than asphalt. If you’re unsure of the best choice to make for your home, you can consult the help of professionals to help you make the right choice.