A well-paved driveway is a crucial aspect of your property’s curb appeal. It also offers safety for cars and pedestrians. Asphalt is flexible and can withstand minor ground movements without cracking or flaking. It also resists salt and other anti-ice chemicals better than concrete. Its dark color helps absorb and retain heat, allowing snow to melt faster. This makes for safer winter driving conditions.
Longevity
Asphalt is known for its longevity and can last up to 20 years, depending on how well it’s maintained. It also doesn’t crack as easily as concrete in cold climates or during the freeze-thaw cycle. Its dark color hides oil stains and other contaminants, which helps it look clean and new. The dark surface also helps asphalt absorb noise from traffic and reduces highway noise, which makes your home or business quieter. An asphalt driveway offers the benefits of durability, ease of maintenance, and a smooth, attractive surface that enhances curb appeal. Asphalt’s water management abilities help redirect stormwater to grassy areas or other suitable places to avoid heaves or flooding when a driveway is not laid correctly. Its durability allows homeowners to spend less time and money on repairs and replacements than other materials. It can also withstand de-icing salts and the freeze-thaw cycle better than other materials.
Durability
Asphalt is strong and durable, allowing it to handle the pressures of motor vehicles. This durability also reduces maintenance costs by deferring costly repairs and replacements that can occur with concrete pavement.
Asphalt doesn’t crack as efficiently in cold climates and can withstand de-icing salts. Its dark color also helps it absorb and retain sunlight to facilitate snow melt. It’s quieter to drive on, too. If you live near a busy road, asphalt paving can help reduce traffic noise. That’s because it reduces the friction between tires and the roadway surface. In turn, this decreases engine and transmission noise pollution. The asphalt paving process is earth-friendly, using 20% less energy than other materials. This is an essential benefit for the environment.
Safety
Asphalt is less prone to surface flaking due to poor installation or the use of de-icing salts, which is often a problem with concrete driveways. It also dries quickly and resists freeze-thaw cycles, making it a safer option for cold climates. Its dark color hides oil stains and rust, requiring less frequent cleaning and maintenance. Asphalt also provides a smooth, safe surface for walking and driving, which reduces trip and fall risks and ensures easy mobility for those with physical disabilities. Slippery roads minimize vehicle wear and tear and improve fuel efficiency. They can also be built faster and cost-effectively with asphalt than other pavements. When working with asphalt, it’s essential to use protective gear like gloves and a face shield or safety glasses. A respirator should be used to reduce exposure to asphalt fumes and solvents for added safety.
Easy Maintenance
Asphalt is a much easier material to maintain than concrete or other materials. It requires little to no specialized procedures, and the dark color hides engine oil, gas drips, and stains well. A simple regular sweeping will suffice to keep asphalt looking like new! Asphalt’s durability means it can withstand the freeze-thaw cycle and anti-icing salts more effectively than other materials. It will also hold higher traffic levels with fewer cracks and repairs.
Asphalt is also a good choice for reducing traffic noise because of its skid resistance and ability to absorb sound. This can help reduce stress on vehicles and improve fuel efficiency.
Aesthetics
Asphalt offers design flexibility and can be used to create patterns, designs, and symbols. This helps to elevate the aesthetics of a driveway or road, and it can also make it more recognizable. It is also resistant to the freeze-thaw cycle and de-icing salts, which benefits homeowners. This is because the asphalt will crack less and be more accessible to repair when the temperature fluctuates. In addition, the black color of asphalt reflects the sun’s rays more effectively, which can help melt snow and ice faster than other surfaces. This can improve visibility for drivers during inclement weather conditions. This is particularly important for roads, which see a lot of traffic. Asphalt can also reduce roadway noise as it absorbs sound. This is another significant benefit for homeowners near busy roads or highways.