Keeping your everyday cars, racecars, airplanes, and service vehicles, driving safely, you need the best material.
Choosing between asphalt and concrete can be difficult while you set up your paving project. There are many factors to consider while weighing your options. Many managers might not have the experience to know which situations call for concrete and which would be better suited for asphalt. This article will focus on various situations comparing concrete vs. asphalt for your paving project.
Asphalt vs. Concrete: Physical Differences
Asphalt, at least the hot mix variant, is made of stone, sand, gravel, other aggregates, and an oil-based glue binding it all together. Concrete comes from limestone, rock, and water.
Asphalt vs. Concrete: Safety Differences
Asphalt will need more maintenance throughout its life. That means that your street, racetrack, or airport runway will need maintenance crews on it fewer times. The strength of concrete also means you will have fewer potholes and thus need to patch fewer potholes.
No one likes highway construction or congestion anywhere. With concrete’s low-maintenance needs, you won’t have to worry about disturbing drivers.
Asphalt vs. Concrete: Cost Differences Over a Lifetime
Concrete pavement can end up lasting anywhere from 20 to 40 years! Asphalt tends to last about 15 years with regular maintenance during that time. When you factor in the cost to maintain asphalt, it ends up being up to five times as expensive as concrete.
Asphalt vs. Concrete: Environmental Differences
Concrete is completely recyclable. Crews can break apart older concrete and use those materials in future projects for paving or other construction.
Aside from the recycling factor, we should consider the fuel that goes into creating the paving materials. It can take up to five times more diesel fuel to make asphalt than it takes to create concrete of a similar quantity. With less maintenance over its life, choosing concrete could end up saving even more fuel.
Hiring the Right Crew for Your Project, No Matter the Paving Material
Concrete and Asphalt are both solid contenders for your paving project. Depending on the location, climate, and use of the paved area, your need may call more for one material over the other. Working with experienced pavers like those at Ajax Paving can help you get the best quality project completed, no matter the demands. In our more than 50 year history, we have brought many projects to completion. Give us a call today for us to bring this expertise to your project.