Asphalt is a popular driveway surfacing material. It is oil-based, and normally contains crushed stone and bitumen.
People often know asphalt as Tarmac, as the two materials are closely related. Lots of homeowners decide to get an asphalt driveway because it is long-lasting and reasonably priced.
But is asphalt the right driveway material for you? To help you make a decision, we’ve compiled a list of its pros and cons.
Pros
Long-lasting
Asphalt can last for a long time. If your asphalt driveway is installed correctly and looked after, it can last over 30 years. Your driveway will also last a long time if it is not exposed to very high or low temperatures.
Flexible
Asphalt is flexible, so is unlikely to crack in extreme temperatures. This is as opposed to other surfacing materials like concrete and paving, which can develop cracks.
Affordable
Asphalt is fairly inexpensive to purchase and install. This is unlike other driveway surfaces like concrete and paving, which are more expensive.
Easy to repair
It’s fairly straightforward to repair asphalt. If it does crack, these can be filled in and the surface can be sealed. Whilst patching is not completely unnoticeable, it does blend in effectively with the original asphalt surface. Other surfaces, like concrete, are significantly more difficult to repair. Concrete is most commonly replaced rather than repaired, which is expensive.
Cons
Affected by weather
Even though it is flexible, asphalt can still be damaged by the weather. It will shrink in very cold temperatures and expand in extremely hot temperatures. This means that it can become warped out of shape. It also gets hot and soft in warm temperatures. This means that it can be painful on skin contact and may become misshapen.
Needs maintenance
Asphalt should be regularly maintained. To preserve its condition, it should be swept and hosed down every 6 months. It should also be seal coated every 2-5 years. This prevents your driveway from fading and fills up tiny cracks. Big cracks should be filled in with asphalt as soon as they appear to keep your driveway in good condition.
So asphalt has several pros and cons. If you think asphalt is the right driveway material for you, fill in our online form and we’ll put you in touch with up to 4 contractors who’ll give you a no-obligation quote.
If you want to find out more about other driveway surfacing materials, have a look at our information on gravel, concrete and paving.