Asphalt and Paver Driveways

Two very popular surface materials for home driveways are pavers and asphalt. These materials are popular for several reasons including their durability, long life, and relatively low cost. But even though they have many benefits, there are times when they need a bit of maintenance. Here are some suggestions on how you can bring new life to your asphalt or paver driveways.

Paver Driveways

The paver driveway has become one of America's favorite types of driveways. These interlocking stones are used for other landscaping features as well, including pathways, garden walkways, patios, and entryways.

Another reason they have become so popular is because they are easy to install and easy to maintain when maintenance is required. Pavers come in a huge variety of colors and laying them in unique patterns is fairly easy to accomplish.

When installing pavers, contactors will lay them over a sand base. If they are installed correctly, they provide exceptional strength and will last for decades. They are very stable, which is a benefit for driveway applications, and they are incredibly resistant to various weather conditions. Because pavers are installed as individual blocks, they will expand and contract with the changing temperatures. This reduces the possibility of cracking.

Should a paver driveway become damaged for any reason, one or more of the blocks can simply be removed and replaced without having to rip up the whole driveway or even large patches of the driveway. It is important that homeowners who install a paver driveway purchase extra paver blocks so that they will have them for repairs.

Asphalt

Asphalt has been used for driveways and parking lots for ages. It is a fast, affordable way to get a smooth and durable driveway. One issue with asphalt is that it is not very attractive but even so it has many benefits.

Asphalt is very stable and sturdy. It holds up well under traffic and it is very weather-resistant. On the whole, it requires very little ongoing maintenance. One maintenance tip for homeowners with asphalt driveways is to apply a periodic application of top sealer. This is a job that most homeowners can do over the course of a weekend. Top sealer is applied to the driveway to minimize cracking and to keep it looking shiny black.

The original installation of an asphalt driveway should be performed by an experienced driveway contractor. There are many reasons for handing this project over to the pros. One very obvious reason is that most homeowners simply do not have access to the specialized equipment needed for asphalt installation. Another reason to let professionals do this type of work is that there are many important steps that must be taken during the installation process. If any step is done incorrectly or missed altogether, the entire project may fail.

One issue with asphalt driveways that is not commonly known is that the longer the driveway is the more economical asphalt becomes. A very long driveway that is surfaced with pavers, for example, will become expensive due to the cost of the stones. Compare this to a long driveway surfaced with asphalt and the savings will be dramatic.

Whether you choose pavers or asphalt for your driveway, understand that there are local driveway contractors available to assist you should you need them.