Waco Concrete
Concrete Driveway
Benefits of a Concrete Driveway Instead of an Asphalt Driveway
Despite the fact that asphalt is a good choice for the cooler climates it doesn’t hold up well in the hot central Texas climate. The material isn't as eco-friendly as concrete because the sand and stone aggregate components in asphalt are held together with tar which is made from oil. With concrete you have to worry about the environmental impact of constructing a new driveway.
While concrete is much more expensive than asphalt, it will last longer in our hot climate and be a better investment. Besides that, you can also recover some of the cost of the concrete driveway if you decide to sell your home in the future.
Another benefit of concrete is its durability. While asphalt driveways are prone to cracking and chipping in cold weather, and melting and sagging in hot weather, concrete will last for over 30 years.
While concrete is much more expensive than asphalt, it will last longer in our hot climate and be a better investment. Besides that, you can also recover some of the cost of the concrete driveway if you decide to sell your home in the future.
Another benefit of concrete is its durability. While asphalt driveways are prone to cracking and chipping in cold weather, and melting and sagging in hot weather, concrete will last for over 30 years.
What’s the Difference between Concrete and Asphalt Driveways?
Concrete and asphalt are both durable materials and the reason for preferring one over the other will depend upon the climate you live in and your budget. If you are considering a new driveway for a new house under construction or for your old house you may have been wondering whether you should go with concrete or asphalt. Although concrete and asphalt are both laid on top of a packed layer of gravel, and they are both a mixture of sand and stones, they are held together by different adhesives. Asphalt is held together with tar and concrete is held together with cement.
Is asphalt or concrete the best choice for your driveway?
Spoiler alert, if you live in Texas then concrete is your best option for a driveway.
Climate is a major consideration when choosing between asphalt and concrete.
Asphalt is about 50% cheaper than concrete on average but that is a moot point in Texas where we have long hot summers and the temperature is often hot from May into October. Asphalt effectively melts in high heat and becomes soft and prone to deformation and damage. When asphalt goes through cycles of softening in the heat, and re-hardening at night when it cools down, it eventually develops numerous cracks. So asphalt is not a good driveway choice if you live in Central Texas.
Climate is a major consideration when choosing between asphalt and concrete.
Asphalt is about 50% cheaper than concrete on average but that is a moot point in Texas where we have long hot summers and the temperature is often hot from May into October. Asphalt effectively melts in high heat and becomes soft and prone to deformation and damage. When asphalt goes through cycles of softening in the heat, and re-hardening at night when it cools down, it eventually develops numerous cracks. So asphalt is not a good driveway choice if you live in Central Texas.
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Concrete offers a variety of visual choices.
Asphalt is dark gray to black and that’s why it is called “blacktop”. Unlike asphalt, concrete can be colored or stained and stamped with patterns to make it more decorative and complement the architectural accents on your home. Concrete is great because you can match your home’s color scheme, recreate the look of slate, cobble stones, brick, or many other patterns. If you go with a colored or stained concrete driveway it’s a good idea to have a quality sealer applied to the concrete because it helps cut down on color fading.
A drawback for a concrete driveway is that when engine oil and gasoline drip on the driveway they will leave stains. The strains can be removed with a good degreasing detergent and a power-washer but stain prevention is another good reason to seal your concrete driveway. Concrete is more difficult to repair than asphalt. New concrete patches are usually easy to spot unless you resurface the whole driveway.
Concrete driveways typically last longer than asphalt. On average, if a concrete driveway is installed properly in Central Texas and maintained regularly, it should last between 30 to 40 years. A new concrete driveway needs to dry or cure for at least a week before you can drive on it.
A drawback for a concrete driveway is that when engine oil and gasoline drip on the driveway they will leave stains. The strains can be removed with a good degreasing detergent and a power-washer but stain prevention is another good reason to seal your concrete driveway. Concrete is more difficult to repair than asphalt. New concrete patches are usually easy to spot unless you resurface the whole driveway.
Concrete driveways typically last longer than asphalt. On average, if a concrete driveway is installed properly in Central Texas and maintained regularly, it should last between 30 to 40 years. A new concrete driveway needs to dry or cure for at least a week before you can drive on it.
Which costs more Concrete or asphalt?
In general a concrete driveway costs about 50% percent more than an asphalt driveway. But in Waco Texas we don’t have a choice. A driveway is a big expense so the decision comes down to which driveway is best for our Central Texas climate, and the answer is concrete.
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