When you are needing to decide on a type of material to use for paving your driveway, sidewalks or patio, you will want to avoid automatically assuming that concrete will be the best choice. More specifically, asphalt is an option that every homeowner needing these upgrades should consider.

Asphalt Is The More Affordable Option

A key benefit of choosing asphalt over concrete will be that it is much more affordable to install. A lower installation cost is not the only way that asphalt can be superior, as it will also have much lower maintenance and replacement costs in the future. For those that are extremely conscious of the costs of this project, this can give asphalt a decided advantage in most instances.

Maintaining Asphalt Surfaces Is Fairly Simple

Asphalt has extremely simple and easy care needs. Typically, the only work that you will really need to do to this surface is to regularly clean it to remove vehicle fluids, leaves, and other substances. Sometimes, you'll need to do some asphalt patching to maintain the life of the asphalt you've had done. Furthermore, you might want to extend the life of the asphalt by seal coating it every few years. For those that will need to regularly apply deicing chemicals to the asphalt, it will be necessary to rinse these substances off of it as soon as possible so that you can minimize the wear and tear the pavement suffers.

Asphalt Will Require Specialized Equipment And Tools To Install

When it comes to installing asphalt, you should always be prepared to hire a professional for this task. You may have poured concrete or installed paving stones, but asphalt is much more challenging to install. This will stem from the need for the asphalt to be extremely hot when it is poured. Not surprisingly, this will require specialized equipment to complete, and you may suffer serious injuries if you are unfamiliar with the steps for safely using these tools.

Asphalt Will Need To Be Protected Against Erosion

The soil eroding away from your pavement can be a major problem to suffer. When you start to encounter this issue, your pavement will develop deep cracks, large potholes, and numerous other structural issues. Preventing erosion from removing the soil from under your driveway will require a drainage system to be put in place. These systems will often utilize a series of gutters and French drains to move water away from the pavement while disturbing as little soil as possible. Comprehensive soil analysis can prove instrumental in allowing you to anticipate the amount of erosion that the area around your new pavement might experience.