Asphalt or Concrete? How to Know What Material to Use for Your Ravenna Paving Needs
If you are preparing for your next paving project, it would be worth your while to check and see which material would best meet your needs. There are many factors involved, and the following list will help you make an informed decision.
- Consider the Climate of Your Region
This is one of the most important factors you have to consider when you start your paving project. Ravenna, OH, is known for its hard winters. Here, asphalt would definitely be the better material for just about all paving projects. It is ideal for roadways, driveways, and parking lots. Concrete is prone to expansion and contraction during cold weather. This will cause deterioration and even permanent damage to the paving.
- Cracking and Breaking Issues
Concrete is susceptible to cracking and breaking in very harsh winter environments. A cracked concrete surface is very difficult to repair, and the repaired portions tend to stand out from the rest of the driveway. Apart from that, its porous surface is also prone to oil and grease stains that are very difficult to remove. This is particularly true for light-colored concrete parking lots and other paved structures.
Cracks and holes in asphalt can easily be patched and sealed cheaply, and appear less obvious than concrete patches. Moreover, concrete reacts with salt and will deteriorate rapidly in places where salt is used on paved roads and other surfaces to melt ice and snow.
Asphalt paving has a real advantage here because it is neither affected by the cold, nor does it deteriorate with salt usage. Apart from that, asphalt pavement also absorbs more heat from sunlight, thereby melting the ice and snow faster in comparison to concrete.
- Environmental Impact
Asphalt is an environmentally friendly paving material and can be recycled safely and easily. Eco-friendly paving specialists can grind and melt old asphalt and reuse it. Furthermore, there exist different types of porous or permeable asphalt materials that can help with water drainage. These materials enable the water to seep through the pavement all the way down into the soil below. You can also make an asphalt road or driveway a whole lot faster than concrete.
- Ease of Installation and Maintenance
Asphalt is typically much easier to work with than just about any other paving material, including concrete. It dries faster and doesn't need extra care either.
It is surprisingly easy to maintain. You can refresh it by repaving the top layer while leaving the base and middle layers untouched. This makes its maintenance and replacement less expensive than concrete and many other paving materials.
If you are interested in having your driveway or any other area paved with asphalt, just get in touch with Pave All Ohio. We have been working on creating the perfect asphalt-paved areas for over three generations. Rest assured that you can always rely on us for all your Ravenna, OH, Asphalt Paving needs.