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Poll: Concrete or Asphalt Driveway?

O

optoman

Diamond Member
Are driveway needs to be replaced and we are trying to decide between the two. It is currently an asphalt driveway and about 40'x18'. Estimates put the aspahlt at $2100 and the concrete in the $5000 range. I only have one estimate on the concrete, need to get more, but the asphalt is about the same price from three different companies.

So which one?
 
Concrete if you're going to work on it. Ashphalt if you're going to do nothing but pull into your garage.

Asphaslt isn't going to last as long, and if you're a wrench head it won't have as good of a surface for working on. Asphalt also has more maintenance than concrete. Concrete is very "just let it sit" for maintenance where asphalt needs to be sealed occasionally.
 
Concrete has virtually no maintenance and last at least twice as long as asphalt. You don't have to worry about parking in the same spot all the time or parking near the edge and having the asphalt patch. It also doesn't get as hot in the summer and is easier to snow plow in the winter. I live in Western NY where we can have horrible winters.
 
Remember that concrete is good as long as it's poured correctly and the ground is settled enough. Also, if you have to deal with colder climates, asphalt will be better because you'll be able to fix problems that arise from ice freezing in the cracks.
 
The only drawback to concrete is the cost is about twice as much as asphalt but it is a better long term investment for the reasons already stated.
 
Originally posted by: waitman
I prefer concrete, it doesnt ooze tar in the heat of the summer.
Click to expand...

I forgot about that. Asphalt will tend to track into your home. Since our rugs are almost white, that would be a bad thing.

 
does the concrete estimate involve removal of the asphalt driveway?

Concrete will stain easier and look dirty over time but you can acidwash/pressure clean it to solve that.
 
Originally posted by: dman
does the concrete estimate involve removal of the asphalt driveway?

Concrete will stain easier and look dirty over time but you can acidwash/pressure clean it to solve that.
Click to expand...

Yes, it does. I am tending to lean towards the concrete but the wife doesn't like the price. I only have one estimate for the concrete but will be gettting more soon.
 
damn rich people and there fancy stuff, get that asphault out of there and throw some gravel down to help hold the dirt together.
 
Concrete. No need to refinish it every 5 years or so. You may get a few cracks, but that can be greatly reduced by having it poured and finished by somebody that knows what they are doing. Just about any monkey with roller can do asphalt, but concrete is almost an art.

Sorry for the bias...but my father has worked with concrete for 30 years.

 
I have concrete, and its OK but I prefer asphalt. Cheaper, easier to repair and more resiliant to salt.
 
Originally posted by: bernse
I have concrete, and its OK but I prefer asphalt. Cheaper, easier to repair and more resiliant to salt.
Click to expand...

That was my thought.....easier to repair. I've had both concrete and asphalt. With the Asphalt driveway, I blacktopped once every couple of years, but haven't had any problems out of it other than that. I've got family up in Maine that has had a couple of driveways crack into pieces from small cracks filling with ice and freezing. The freezing water expands and makes the crack bigger. A couple of winters and it's time to get a new driveway.... It's pretty easy to fill cracks on an asphalt driveway. 😉
 
Originally posted by: Scarpozzi
Originally posted by: bernse
I have concrete, and its OK but I prefer asphalt. Cheaper, easier to repair and more resiliant to salt.
Click to expand...

That was my thought.....easier to repair. I've had both concrete and asphalt. With the Asphalt driveway, I blacktopped once every couple of years, but haven't had any problems out of it other than that. I've got family up in Maine that has had a couple of driveways crack into pieces from small cracks filling with ice and freezing. The freezing water expands and makes the crack bigger. A couple of winters and it's time to get a new driveway.... It's pretty easy to fill cracks on an asphalt driveway. 😉
Click to expand...

Blacktopping is just resealing those cracks and giving them a little more time before they pop up again. I have neighbors who have had concrete for years and I've never seen them do any repair work on their driveways.
 
Originally posted by: Scarpozzi
Originally posted by: bernse
I have concrete, and its OK but I prefer asphalt. Cheaper, easier to repair and more resiliant to salt.
Click to expand...

That was my thought.....easier to repair. I've had both concrete and asphalt. With the Asphalt driveway, I blacktopped once every couple of years, but haven't had any problems out of it other than that. I've got family up in Maine that has had a couple of driveways crack into pieces from small cracks filling with ice and freezing. The freezing water expands and makes the crack bigger. A couple of winters and it's time to get a new driveway.... It's pretty easy to fill cracks on an asphalt driveway. 😉
Click to expand...

If you life in hash conditions maintenance goes naturally up. So to prevent water/ice cracks you make sure you seal them before the winter, no big deal if you handle it!
 
Originally posted by: Scarpozzi
Originally posted by: bernse
I have concrete, and its OK but I prefer asphalt. Cheaper, easier to repair and more resiliant to salt.
Click to expand...

That was my thought.....easier to repair. I've had both concrete and asphalt. With the Asphalt driveway, I blacktopped once every couple of years, but haven't had any problems out of it other than that. I've got family up in Maine that has had a couple of driveways crack into pieces from small cracks filling with ice and freezing. The freezing water expands and makes the crack bigger. A couple of winters and it's time to get a new driveway.... It's pretty easy to fill cracks on an asphalt driveway. 😉
Click to expand...

If you life in hash conditions maintenance goes naturally up. So to prevent water/ice cracks you make sure you seal them before the winter, no big deal if you handle it!
 
Originally posted by: optoman
Originally posted by: waitman
I prefer concrete, it doesnt ooze tar in the heat of the summer.
Click to expand...

I forgot about that. Asphalt will tend to track into your home. Since our rugs are almost white, that would be a bad thing.
Click to expand...

You wear your outdoor shoes inside and on your carpet? Why in the world would you do that? Even if you had a concrete driveway, you're going to be tracking dirt, gum, dog crap, you name it onto your carpet if you do that. I would think your driveway material would be the least of your worries!

🙂

 
Originally posted by: bernse
Originally posted by: optoman
Originally posted by: waitman
I prefer concrete, it doesnt ooze tar in the heat of the summer.
Click to expand...

I forgot about that. Asphalt will tend to track into your home. Since our rugs are almost white, that would be a bad thing.
Click to expand...

You wear your outdoor shoes inside and on your carpet? Why in the world would you do that? Even if you had a concrete driveway, you're going to be tracking dirt, gum, dog crap, you name it onto your carpet if you do that. I would think your driveway material would be the least of your worries!

🙂
Click to expand...

We don't always walk on the carpet, but we do walk into the kitchen when we are unloading groceries and for other reasons. If you track it into one part of the house then it will get everywhere. I don't know what you walk in but the worst I have ever seen on my shows is dirt. If I have gum or something like that I will usually clean it off when it first gets on them.

 
CONCRETE! I don't know how old you are, or if you have any kids, but if you have a basketball hoop get concrete -- I can't stand playing basketball on asphalt it gets everything dirty as hell.

My .02
 
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