Do you have a driveway? Do you own an apartment building or a rental property with a parking lot? Do you own a business with a patio? Do you manage a small town or a parks department? If you've answered yes to any of these questions, you may occasionally need to hire a paving company to provide paving services for you. These companies can do anything from small paths and patios to large parking lots. They can put in plain gray concrete or dress it up with acid stains, etchings, and more. All the options can be overwhelming, but this blog is here to help. Enjoy.
An important, yet overlooked, aspect of your property is the parking lot. This is where customers park th
Most people who are having a driveway paved have to choose between using asphalt or concrete. If you're h
If you have a business with a paved parking lot, then you may need to invest in a repaving at some p
Concrete is a great medium for a lot of things, but it does have its limits. Pouring concrete is not over
Asphalt pavement is a flexible material that can provide you a solid and durable surface for your drivewa
When you're considering what to do to transform your driveway, one of the things you might be considering is having the whole area paved. Opting for asphalt can be a great choice, especially if you have a lot of traffic in your driveway or you're hoping to build a retaining barrier on either side. However, many people dismiss the idea of asphalt because they don't understand the many benefits that can come from it. Here are a few of the reasons why you should consider asphalt over gravel, concrete, or dirt for your driveway.
It's Practical And Cost-Effective
Unlike some paving options that require extensive maintenance and upkeep, asphalt is a practical, affordable option that doesn't need a whole lot of care. You may need to have it sealed every few years, but even that shouldn't be done until fresh asphalt has had nearly a year to cure and set up. Cracks are easy to fill in and seal as well, so you won't have to worry about surface damage costing you a lot of money. In fact, filling asphalt cracks is simple enough that you may even be able to do it by yourself, saving the cost of labor.
It's Quick To Install
When you see the paving projects on the roads that seem to progress slowly, you might be discouraged about the idea of paving your driveway. If you're worried that it's going to leave your driveway unusable for a long time while the installation is done, you're likely to be surprised. The fact is that most asphalt contractors can pave your driveway and be finished within one or two days. You'll need to plan an extra day or so to have the sublayer dug out, filled, and leveled to the proper grade, but after that's done, you'll be able to use the driveway within a few days of your final application. Just remember that it takes asphalt driveways up to a year to fully cure, so when the asphalt gets particularly hot, you might find that your driveway suffers from some scarring and other surface damage until it's cured.
It's Very Forgiving
When you live in an area with extreme temperatures, whether it's hot or cold, you'll want a driveway material that's going to be more forgiving and tolerant to those extremes. Asphalt is a great option for that, because it is pliable. It will move and shift as needed with the ground beneath, so you won't risk the same types of cracks and damage that can result when concrete or pavers are subjected to that type of situation.
It's also great for combating ice buildup since asphalt's dark color absorbs the heat from the sun. That means it'll heat up faster, melting the snow and ice if you live in a cold climate. That can save you a lot in ice melt treatments, chemical applications, and physical labor.
It's Versatile
Every paving situation is unique, and each one poses its own set of challenges. However, asphalt is versatile enough that you can find a solution for most anything. For example, if you live in an area that sees a lot of rain and your property doesn't drain well, you can consider a porous asphalt application with a drain and filter system beneath it. That way, water running off onto your driveway will filter down into that system and away from the house and yard.
With all of this information, you can see why asphalt paving is a great option for most any residential driveway. If you're interested in exploring the possibility, talk with a local paving contractor at a company like R Williams Paving LLC today to see if your property is conducive to paving and what your options would be if you decided to go that route.
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