Your business’ driveway is more than just a lane that allows employees and customers entry into your parking lot – it’s the first point of contact anyone has with your property. Just as your building exterior must make a strong, positive impression, so too should your driveway. Aesthetics are only part of the equation, too. A sturdy, smooth driveway is bound to make a better impression than a bumpy one. Additionally, you don’t want to waste precious resources worrying about frequent driveway repairs or commercial paving projects. With all this in mind, which material should you choose for your commercial driveway?
The four main options for driveway paving projects are asphalt, concrete, brick paver, and chip seal. Here we’ll go over the pros and cons of each of these paving materials so you can make the right choice for your business. At Cassidy Paving, we only work with asphalt for commercial and industrial properties, and soon you’ll understand why.
What to Know About Paving a Commercial Driveway
What to Know About Asphalt
The majority of businesses (and homes) stick with asphalt driveway paving, and for good reason. Asphalt is readily available, recyclable, relatively inexpensive, easy to install and maintain, and durable. The dark surface offered by asphalt helps melt snow and ice quicker in the winter, but it also reaches scorching temperatures during the summer. Your asphalt driveway contractor can also tell you that despite the material’s durability, it does require resurfacing every few years on average – still, most resurfacing projects aren’t too costly or time-consuming. Likewise, most forms of damage to your asphalt are relatively easy to fix with a proper maintenance schedule.
The Pros and Cons of Concrete
Concrete falls right behind asphalt in terms of its popularity for driveway paving projects (in some areas, concrete is even more prevalent than asphalt). Concrete’s prominence is largely due to its durability, ease of installation, and low maintenance needs. Concrete surfaces don’t require frequent resurfacing, and owners might not notice signs of damage for a long time following installation. However, concrete is more expensive than asphalt upfront. Concrete is also more customizable than asphalt, so you can choose from a variety of color and textural options – for most industrial properties, however, this customization isn’t a major priority.
Brick Paver Benefits and Drawbacks
Generally the most expensive option offered by general driveway paving services, brick paver is undoubtedly versatile, durable, and pleasing to the eye. Even if certain brick materials cost less than concrete, the time and skill required to install these driveways run up the price. This cost barrier means you won’t find many businesses that opt for brick paver driveways – so, businesses that do feature this type of driveway stand out all the more. When properly installed and sealed, brick paver surfaces last a long time and provide unique beauty to any property’s exterior.
What About Chip Seal Surfacing?
Last but not least, a chip seal (also known as “tar-and-chip”) is actually the least expensive option for a commercial driveway, utilizing gravel, asphalt, and crushed stone to create a dense, highly visually-textured driveway surface. Of course, tar-and-chip driveways also require the most maintenance and frequent resurfacing, as surface-level stones can begin to come loose over time. Still, resurfacing a driveway that’s been previously chip sealed is usually not much of a burden.
The Verdict
So, what’s the best paving material for your commercial driveway? The answer certainly depends on your needs and goals. However, at Cassidy Paving, we stick with asphalt for its overall durability, low cost, ease of maintenance and repair, classic design, and sustainable process. Simply put, if you’re looking for a reliable, cost-effective, eco-friendly commercial or industrial driveway, stick with asphalt. At Cassidy Paving, we’re here to help you navigate any commercial paving questions you may have, and we offer the best asphalt paving, repair, and maintenance services in New England.
Call us today at 866-978-9788 to receive a free estimate on your next asphalt project.
