Concrete consists of cement among other stone aggregates held together with water and lime-based binders, while asphalt is a form of petroleum. Both are popular driveway materials; however, concrete offers numerous benefits over asphalt despite usually costing more upfront. Learn about these benefits before commissioning your new driveway.

Top 4 Reasons to Use Concrete for Driveways Instead of Asphalt

1. Longevity

Asphalt driveways last approximately 30 years, while concrete lasts 50 years or more. Its longevity mitigates the installation costs, especially since concrete is a much harder material that will not break down as quickly as asphalt. The pliability of asphalt causes it to disintegrate at a faster rate, especially if it is continually subject to scorching temperatures and excessively heavy vehicles.

2. Aesthetic Quality

Concrete offers the versatility many homeowners want as they make home and property improvements. The material offers tinting, engraving, finishing, and stamping or stenciling possibilities to create various custom looks. And, while recent innovations in asphalt include tinting, it is otherwise limited regarding appearance because the material does not accept patterns or textures.

3. Stands Up to Heavy Vehicles

As long as your concrete driveway is well-installed and -maintained, it easily stands up to the heaviest vehicles. Asphalt is too soft to bear the weight of larger vehicles such as RVs and sizable pickup trucks.

4. Less Maintenance

Concrete arguably requires less maintenance than asphalt because oil and grease easily lift with soap and water solutions; granular cleansers work on tougher stains. Cleaning oil and grease from asphalt requires more effort as well as more money because the product needs tri-sodium phosphate — TSP — solutions. Both driveway options benefit from topical sealant to protect them from stains as well as the elements.

Purchase ready-mix concrete from Builder’s Concrete East to pour the perfect driveway. A renowned concrete company serving all of Connecticut for over 50 years, this supplier offers a wide range of products, including specialty and pervious concretes. Call (860) 456-4111 — the Windham location — or (860) 643-5578 — the Manchester location — with questions today, or visit the website for more product information. Get the latest company tips on Google+.