Pavers
Concrete pavers come in a broad variety of shapes, hues, installation patterns, providing endless combinations from which to create a driveway that showcases your home—and your personality.
Rethink Your Driveway
Pavers vs. Asphalt
Comparing Pavers to Asphalt
Pavire Driveways
Asphalt driveways, often known as blacktop driveways, are a popular choice among homeowners in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. Despite their prevalence, many homeowners find themselves reconsidering their options when faced with the need to replace a failing poured concrete driveway.
The worry often lies in the potential for a new poured concrete driveway to succumb to the same issues as its predecessor. At Pavire Driveways, we recognize this concern and believe in the value of informed decisions. That's why we've prepared a detailed comparison between concrete paver driveways and asphalt driveways, aiming to highlight the advantages and considerations of each option.
If you're contemplating a change and wish to ensure longevity and aesthetic appeal for your driveway, we invite you to explore the benefits of choosing concrete pavers. Contact Pavire Driveways today for a comprehensive consultation and discover a durable, visually appealing solution for your driveway needs.
Aesthetics
Asphalt
Asphalt driveways initially start out black, but typically fade to a greyish brown over time. Some homeowners prefer this look.
Durability
Pavers
A properly maintained paver driveway will maintain its appearance and functionality for many years. Each paver is highly durable and, in the rare event of damage, can be readily replaced without affecting the overall surface of the driveway.
Asphalt
Rolled asphalt can last a long time—primarily in areas where there is limited temperature variation and few freeze/thaw cycles. However, that is not the case in the Minnesota area. Freeze/thaw cycles can result in cracks appearing within a few years. In addition, asphalt driveways can also be vulnerable to heat for a number of years—on a particularly hot day, a parked car or even a bike kick-stand can leave permanent marks.
Cracking
Pavers
The compact dimensions and installation method of concrete pavers enable them to flex and adapt, effectively accommodating the weight of vehicles and the fluctuating freeze/thaw cycles. As temperatures rise above freezing, they revert to their original position seamlessly.
Asphalt
During freeze/thaw cycles, the ground beneath the paved area may not expand/contract at the same rate, resulting in stress from below. At sub-zero temperatures asphalt becomes inflexible. This can result in performance issues over time—including cracking. Once formed, cracks permit future penetration of water and widen during future freeze/thaw cycles.
Maintenance
Pavers
Routine sweeping and occasional pressure washing help maintain the surface free from debris and prevent the accumulation of dirt and moss.
Asphalt
Regular sweeping and periodic pressure washing keeps asphalt surfaces free of debris and build-up of dirt/moss. However, to keep the surface looking nice and to reduce surface degradation, messy sealants need to be applied every couple of years. The cost and effort related to this adds up over time.
Repairability
Pavers
Whether it’s settling due to unforeseen soil conditions or the stain you just can’t get out a paver driveway offers an unrivaled ease of repair. In the event that a paver needs to be replaced it’s as simple as removing the affected paver(s) and replacing them with same pavers or new ones (if necessary). Furthermore, a repair to a paver driveway leaves no evidence of the repair itself.
Asphalt
An asphalt driveway repair involves either:
A.) cutting out the affected and laying down new asphalt or, more commonly,
B.) filling a crack with a bituminous caulk. In either case, the end result is an unsightly patch of a glaringly replaced section.
Cost
Pavers
When considering the extended lifespan of driveways, reduced maintenance costs and effort over time, and the enhanced aesthetic appeal they bring to homes, many homeowners believe that the investment in paver driveways more than pays off over time.
Asphalt
The initial cost of a rolled asphalt driveway from a reputable company costs will usually be significantly less than a concrete paver driveway. For homeowners on a tight budget, asphalt driveways are a suitable option.
Reviews
Related Paver Brick Information
Pavire Driveways
Serving the Hennepin County and Twin Cities Metro areas, Pavire Driveways specializes in paver installations and permeable pavers. 5-Year workmanship warranty. Lifetime warranty on materials. Free next-day consultations. Call today.
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