You’ve put it off as long as you can wait no longer. It’s time to pave the driveway. You’re weighing all your options, balancing aesthetics with durability with cost-effectiveness. This isn’t an easy decision since you expect that new driveway to last many years. Asphalt seems the “practical” choice at first glance. But before you sign that contract, we can give you many reasons we would choose concrete pavers over asphalt any day.
Is Asphalt a Good Choice?
Asphalt has some pros going for it. It is the cheapest material you can use when paving your driveway. It only costs about $4 per sq. ft. And the end result doesn’t look half bad. The dark black, slightly shimmering surface goes with almost any landscape and home. You can drive on it almost immediately as it pours and sets quickly. It’s less prone to those massive cracks pored concrete is known for, but it does have its drawbacks.
Asphalt starts cracking within weeks to months as it expands and contracts. In sunny California, this happens even faster. They begin as micro cracks, but with time, rain, wind, and temperature change, those cracks grow. They collect water, debris, and eventually plant life depending on the year’s rainfall. There is no getting around this. Asphalt is designed to crack. And while this may look okay in some parking lots, it’s not attractive in a neighborhood, apartment complexes, or upscale commercial lots. Of course, it’s easy to resurface. Depending on the frequency of the use, you may be able to go 10 years, but many find they need to reseal and/or resurface as frequently as every two to three years.
You’ll also need to replace it at least every 20 years, although, honestly, you may not want to wait that long because, well before that, it looks pretty cracked up and worn out. Asphalt also doesn’t give you a lot of options. It’s just a paved black surface with no character.
As another consideration, asphalt needs a border. Otherwise, the hot molten asphalt seeps out from your driveway as it’s cooling, creating a messy look along the edges. Many of the estimates you may get on asphalt simply ignore this fact. Many homeowners either don’t get the look they expected or end up paying more than they thought to get proper edging.
So, in short, that much cheaper paving option ends up costing a lot of money on top of not really delivering the look you were hoping for or can feel proud of. With that in mind, let’s look at a different option.
Why Choose Concrete Paving Stones Instead?
If you decide to build a walkway, driveway, or other outdoor construction, there are a number of different materials that you will be able to choose from. Asphalt isn’t the only option. It’s just a popular one because of the low up-front cost. You also have brick, poured concrete, and natural stones.
While each of these materials has its own set of advantages and drawbacks, there are a number of noteworthy reasons why homeowners often choose concrete pavers for their hardscaping projects. If you are on the fence about which material is best for your next outdoor project, consider these benefits of choosing concrete paving stones.
Durability
Concrete pavers are incredibly durable and can withstand large amounts of weight without cracking. This makes them an ideal choice for driveways as well as any other application where durability is a concern.
Ease of Replacement
In the event that a stone in your paver driveway, walkway, pool deck, or other construction does become damaged, all you will need to do is replace the single damaged paver. This, of course, is much easier and less expensive than having to repour concrete when a concrete construction becomes cracked or damaged.
A Wide Variety of Colors and Patterns to Choose From
If you decide to build your next outdoor construction using concrete pavers, the design you create is really only limited by your imagination. Concrete paving stones come in a wide range of colors, materials, sizes, and textures, making it easy for you to come up with a unique and attractive design that is all your own. Even better, they can be installed in an equally wide range of patterns – from simple and straightforward patterns to complex patterns that are made using paving stones of various sizes. Compared to concrete – which offers only limited room for creative designs – concrete pavers enable you to create an outdoor construction that is truly unique and eye-catching.
Longevity
With the proper care, concrete pavers will continue looking great many years after they are installed. If you would like your investment to last as long as possible, concrete paving stones are an ideal choice.
Ease of Cleaning
Concrete paving stones that are sealed using a sealer are completely resistant to stains. In the event that you do spill something on your pavers, they can be cleaned in a matter of minutes using only soap and water.
Affordability
With all of the benefits that pavers offer over poured concrete, it’s understandable to assume that they would be considerably more expensive. In reality, though, building an outdoor construction using concrete paving stones is, on average, only slightly more expensive than building the same construction using concrete. When you consider the fact that concrete pavers are also cheaper to maintain, they are often the more affordable choice over the long run.
Let Titan Pavers Help With Your Next Paver Project!
Whether you are building a paver stone patio, an outdoor kitchen, or anything in-between, there are a number of excellent reasons why you should choose concrete pavers over other building materials. If you would like to learn more about how the paving experts at Titan Pavers can help you design and build an attractive, durable, and long-lasting outdoor construction using high-quality concrete paving stones, be sure to request a free estimate today.