Orlando Asphalt Paving

Having a smooth asphalt driveway or parking lot is essential for your home or business. Not only does it help it to look its best, but it also improves safety and access to your home or business. We offer a full range of asphalt services, from adding in new components to smoothing and resurfacing and more. 

If you’re looking to improve your parking lot, driveway, or other surfaces, consult the experts at Driveway Repair Orlando about what options are best for you. We’ll work with you on deciding whether asphalt is the right choice for you, given your unique situation and the costs involved. 

Choosing between concrete and asphalt can be confusing at first, so continue reading for some details on the difference between concrete and asphalt. 

Asphalt Paving vs. Concrete: Which one is right for me? 

Asphalt is the traditional surface that you see when you have people driving and parking their vehicles. Although asphalt is more common, concrete is another viable option, so it’s essential to know which one is better for you, asphalt or concrete. There are several differences between the two that we’ll cover so that you make the right decision for yourself and your home or business. 

Cost 

The average cost per square foot of asphalt is typically cheaper than that of concrete. It is mostly due to the difference in how the materials bind together. In concrete, the bonding agent is cement, which is more expensive outright. 

Asphalt uses petroleum as a bonding agent and is generally the cheaper of the two. The one thing to note is that the price per square foot of asphalt varies with the price of crude oil. On the high end, the base cost can be pretty comparable to concrete. 

Including finishes and detailing, concrete can cost upwards of $15 per square foot. 

Durability and Lifespan 

In terms of overall lifespan, concrete is a much more durable and sustainable option. With meticulous care, you can expect to get 20-30 years out of an asphalt driveway or parking lot. 

Concrete, on the other hand, can last 50+ years with regular maintenance and care. This is what makes it the right option for heavy use and long-term ownership. 

Climate Conditions 

Weather conditions can affect both concrete and asphalt negatively. In the case of concrete, cold conditions and lots of moisture can make concrete prone to break and crack. This can be a problem in more Northern areas or during the occasional deep freeze in the South. 

Asphalt, on the other hand, fares poorly in high heat. Extreme heat makes asphalt become dangerously hot, to the point that it can even melt and stick to shoes. This also increases the maintenance cost. 

Depending on the average temperature and weather conditions, one choice may be more viable than another in terms of which type of surface requires more or less maintenance and repair over time. 

Regular Maintenance and Care 

Apart from weather conditions, there are maintenance costs associated with the regular use of asphalt and concrete. 

For asphalt, once installed, it must be sealed six months to a year after installation and then routinely resealed every few years after that to maintain a solid surface. 

Concrete only needs to be sealed once to enhance the durability and finish. Afterward, depending on use, a degreaser may need to be applied regularly to keep it clean of oil spills and the like. 

Both concrete and asphalt are prone to cracks. The difference here is that asphalt is much cheaper and easier to finish, often the crack can be filled in, and the surface smoothed. Concrete repairs are a bit more extensive and generally cost more, and are more time-consuming. 

Aesthetic Details 

This is where one of the significant differences between the two comes in. Due to the nature of the material and installation, asphalt is limited to the typical black color, and standard rolled on application. 

Concrete has a number of other options available such as tinting, etching, and stamping, that allow for a variety of color and design options. Concrete can often be customized to match a particular pattern or design aesthetic, such as brick or wood paneling, making it the more versatile choice.