1) Lifecycle Expense
An asphalt driveway may be less expensive than concrete, but they don’t last nearly as long. On average, a concrete driveway will last 50-60% longer than asphalt. Also, the upfront cost savings of purchasing an asphalt driveway is offset by its higher maintenance costs. The binder that holds the asphalt aggregates together is known to crack and disintegrate from sunlight, oxidation, water and chemicals. On the contrast, a concrete driveway London ON is very low maintenance and doesn’t disintegrate near as easily as asphalt. Concrete driveway repair is also straight forward and can be done on a low budget.
2) Curb Appeal
Concrete, unlike asphalt, is a widely versatile building material. While the standard light grey surface of concrete is modern and attractive, concrete can be stamped and coloured to match any building’s aesthetics. A stamped concrete driveway in London ON can add an appealing texture and design to the front of your home and a coloured concrete driveway can lighten or darken your property. Many homeowners use this building material to create a modern concrete driveway for their home.
3) Reaction to Heat and Light
When it comes to the absorption of heat and light, asphalt and concrete are very different. An asphalt driveway will absorb heat (resulting in am extremely hot driveway), where as a London Ontario concrete driveway will reflect more UV rays (resulting in a cooler surface). By walking barefoot on the two types of surfaces on a hot day will make you appreciate the reflectiveness of London driveway concrete.
4) Load-Bearing Capacity
Since concrete is a rigid, non-flexible material, it can handle more weight than an asphalt surface. Asphalt flexes, which means that when it’s bearing a heavy load, the surface can be damaged. Because of this, most homeowners purchase a concrete driveway in London Ontario so they don’t have to worry about their driveway being dented or damaged.
5) Maintenance Expense
Concrete can be prone to crack and chip, but with the use of contraction joints and penetrating concrete driveway sealers, homeowners can reduce the maintenance costs of their concrete driveway. Clear sealers will protect against de-icers and moisture absorption. Contraction joints isolate cracking that occurs as concrete shrinks. From the day your asphalt driveway is installed, the binder begins to dry out. Even with sealants and other maintenance products, an asphalt driveway won’t last near as long as a concrete driveway.
6) Surface Characteristics
When an asphalt driveway is first installed, it releases evaporative oils that can get on the soles of shoes. When an oily or corrosive compound gets on an asphalt surface, there is the possibility of tracking sticky, oily material into your home or vehicle. This is an even bigger problem in hot weather. The surface of a concrete or stamped concrete driveway is not subject to this kind of dissolution.
7) Environmental Considerations
Since the embodied energy costs of a concrete driveway in London Ontario are lower, it is a more environmentally friendly driveway option. This means it requires less energy overall to both produce and install a concrete driveway. In contrast, when dealing with an asphalt driveway, a considerable amount of energy is required to heat the asphalt to be able to pour (200-250 degrees F). By having to sealcoat an asphalt driveway every 3-5 years, it also consumes more petroleum products.
8) Resale Value
If you are considering selling your home in the near future, a new concrete driveway is far better for resale value than asphalt. A modern concrete driveway could make it easier to sell your home in the future.