Your driveway looks like a simple stretch of asphalt, but homeowners know all too well that driveway paving can be expensive. When cracks, crumbles, and potholes start to litter the surface of your aging driveway, it can be easy to choose a quick fix over total replacement. In some cases, simply patching a pothole is an adequate solution, but not always.

Beausoleil & Sons in Cranston, RI, has been serving homeowners for 40 years. Their experts will help you determine whether it’s best to patch or replace your old driveway. Here are three things to consider when making your decision:

• Age: If you hired a professional paving company to install your original asphalt driveway, you can expect it to last about 25 years with regular maintenance. But, if your driveway is pushing 20 and is already falling apart because of cracks and potholes, patching is no longer a cost-effective option. The money and time it takes to patch a pothole will barely prolong the inevitable.
• Curb Appeal: There’s no doubting the fact that a brand-new driveway looks better than one that’s old and covered with patches. If the look of your property doesn’t matter to you, patching potholes can be a viable solution. But if you prefer your property to always look its best, a replacement is the only way you’ll get what you want. If you plan on selling your home, the clean look of a new driveway will also attract potential buyers.
• Damage: Small cracks and divots in your driveway are not necessarily cause for alarm. They’re minor issues that can easily be solved with a quick patch. A full-blown pothole, on the other hand, is a different story. If the pothole is deep, it could reach all the way to the driveway’s foundation and cause serious structural issues. The edges of the hole will crack, crumble, and eventually spread, and patching isn’t always enough to stop the damage.

If you’re still not sure which solution is best for your property, ask a trusted paving contractor for their honest advice. Beausoleil & Sons is committed to customer satisfaction, and they’ll give you a direct answer without pushing you toward an expensive decision. Call them at (401) 632-0203 or visit their website to learn more about driveway paving.