You have many options for choosing the best material for your residential driveway or commercial parking lot paving. A quick search will show concrete and asphalt are the most popular methods. Whether it is new construction, a driveway repavement, or a parking lot repair, here are a few things to keep in mind when making the right choice for New England’s notoriously hot summers and bitterly cold long winters.
How Asphalt Is Durable in Different Seasons
Comparing Budget
Before you decide to go with asphalt or concrete for your property, you’ll likely compare costs first. This is often the most significant deciding factor for customers. According to HomeAdvisor, for a residential driveway, you’ll be investing between $2-5 per square foot with residential asphalt paving and between $3-10 per square foot of concrete. If budget is your top priority, asphalt would be the best choice. Any asphalt repair services will also be much cheaper compared to repairs to concrete.
Considering Your Climate
There are also other essential factors to consider when comparing the two options. If you’re hoping for durability, you must look at how each reacts to the climate. How they can withstand temperature fluctuations is a big deal for ongoing maintenance. However, both are not created equally in terms of extreme weather when it comes to asphalt and concrete.
The great thing about asphalt pavement is that it is a porous material that can expand and contract with temperature fluctuations. Concrete, on the other hand, cracks in extreme cold. This would be especially problematic in New England because though we see hot summers, our cold long winters are much more detrimental for our outdoor assets. Concrete can’t stand up to the intense cold as well as asphalt can. You will sacrifice longevity and durability if you don’t pick the right option for the climate.
Maintenance & Repair Bottom Line
Regardless of how well you follow your contractor’s suggestions, at some point, you’ll need repairs and maintenance to your driveway or parking lot. Especially in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, or Southern New Hampshire, roadways and parking lots take a beating. According to HomeAdvisor, you can expect concrete to last about 30-40 years under the best circumstances with little maintenance, but it will be extremely costly to repair if needed. Extreme temperatures (cold and hot) cause cracks, and those cracks aren’t cheap to fix. On the other hand, asphalt does require maintenance, but you’ll still get about 25 years of use. You can patch repair as needed, and it will not break your budget. The great thing about working with expert asphalt contractors is that they already build your maintenance plan, so you don’t have to worry about it.
What’s Best for New England?
Asphalt is by far the best choice for customers in New England. You cannot predict the weather, but you can reduce safety risks and repairs with asphalt paving. When working with the Cassidy Paving team, we make repairs quickly and without breaking your budget. Give us a call today at 866-978-9788 to learn about your options and to get a free estimate.
