Concrete vs Asphalt Driveways

Picture this; it’s time to sell your home, and you’re stunned to learn that it’s worth less than you thought.
This is a nightmare scenario for homeowners, but it can be avoided with the right investments. Both concrete and asphalt driveways can boost your home’s curb appeal and overall value.

Even if you aren’t planning to sell anytime soon, it’s always a good idea to invest in your property. Once you’ve decided to get a new driveway, your next decision will be between concrete driveways and asphalt driveways.

 
The decision depends on several factors including your climate, your driveway design ideas, and your maintenance expectations. The article below goes through each of these factors in detail, so read on to help inform your decision.

How Does Climate Affect Concrete Driveways?

While asphalt holds up in cold weather, it does contains materials that can actually begin to melt in extreme heat. Concrete isn’t affected by heat making it an ideal material for places where the temperature gets over 100 degrees in the summer. 

What Are the Design Options for Concrete and Asphalt?

If you have a bigger budget for asphalt driveway cost, you can add seals to the top or cobblestone edges, but that’s about as far as you can go in terms of changing the appearance.

When examining your concrete driveway cost, remember that it usually lasts longer than asphalt. One of the drawbacks with stamped designs on the concrete, however, is that the designed areas are more likely to crack than the flat concrete areas of the driveway. Still, you can expect to get about 30 years out of a concrete driveway, as opposed to 20 from an asphalt driveway. 

How Much Upkeep Does Each Material Require?

If your driveway does develop cracks, asphalt is much less costly to repair than concrete. This is because asphalt cracks can be filled, whereas a cracked concrete driveway must be replaced entirely to restore its appearance. 

The Final Word on Concrete vs Asphalt

You can move your decision-making process along by getting an estimate on your concrete driveway costs. Contact us at Advanced Construction for a free estimate today!