Whether you’re thinking about remodeling the front of your property or your house’s curb appeal has gone down over the years, there are plenty of things you can do to spruce things up. Among the biggest ones is redoing your driveway.
Over time, your driveway goes through a lot with different seasons and climatic conditions, among other things. But, one of the biggest choices with getting a new driveway is choosing what type of driveway you want for your house. While there are some other options, most people prefer concrete or asphalt driveway.
To give you an idea, here are some things you should know about concrete and asphalt driveways to choose the best one for your house.
Costs
The first thing many people consider about home renovations is the cost of going through it. After all, it doesn’t matter how good an option is if you can’t afford it.
Getting a concrete driveway apron can be more costly than the asphalt option. But, asphalt prices can go higher or lower depending on the current oil prices. With concrete, it can depend on the type of finishes you get aside from the standard installation.
Maintenance
When you are done with the initial costs, you have to think about the maintenance expenses that you will have to pay over the years of owning a driveway.
With asphalt, you will have to seal the driveway every few years or even earlier under many conditions. But when you consider concrete, you won’t have to worry about getting the seal on it over and over again.
While asphalt surfaces may crack more easily than concrete, it is also easier to fix them. With concrete, it can be incredibly difficult to fix the cracks. But since the concrete surface is tougher, it is less likely to crack.
Lifespan and Durability
Another important aspect to consider is the lifespan of the driveways. After all, you wouldn’t want to go through all the trouble again in a few years or a decade.
If you choose to go with the asphalt driveway, then you might have a good-looking driveway for about 30 years. But that is only with proper maintenance. Realistically, you can take off a few years from the number.
On the other hand, concrete driveways show a lot more promise because they are much more durable. If you take care of the occasional degreasing and repairs, your concrete driveway can last around 50 years.
The durability of the driveways can depend on the climatic conditions in your area. If you live in cooler temperatures, then you should consider going with asphalt because the concrete can crack from freezing, thawing, and salting in cold weather.
With hotter climates, going with concrete makes more sense because asphalt can get soft and sticky in higher temperatures.
Customization and Aesthetics
Finally, you might want to consider how your driveway will look with either material. With asphalt, the only option you have is a black color driveway. On the other hand, concrete offers a lot more options because it can be stained, tinted, etched, or stamped. That allows you more opportunities to customize your driveway.