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Asphalt Driveway Pros and Cons: What Homeowners Should Know

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When it comes to residences, kerb appeal is one of the ways homeowners can increase the overall value. One quick and simple way to accomplish this is through getting an asphalt driveway. Whether your driveway is made of gravel and you'd like to upgrade, or you just want to replace the existing driveway, asphalt is a perfect option. This post will go over the advantages and disadvantages of asphalt, including what it is.

What's an asphalt driveway?

Asphalt driveways are made of a mixture of sand, rock, and asphalt cement. The experts first place a layer of crushed rock and filler to stabilise the entire area. All this offers asphalt a strong base. Next, a layer of hot asphalt is laid on the filler foundation. Immediately, a steamroller is then driven over to compact the mixture. In the end, you'll get a smooth, uniform surface; you can even drive on the surface immediately.

Asphalt driveway pros and cons

There are various considerations linked with installing an asphalt driveway. Therefore, it's vital to know both the pros and cons to help you make a wise decision of whether asphalt is an ideal option or not.

Pros

  1. Easy to maintain and clean—once an asphalt driveway is installed, you get a flat surface. This makes it simpler to get rid of leaves, debris and snow as they fall.
  2. Aesthetically pleasing—asphalt has a deep black colour that does not fade even when exposed to sunlight. The rich black colour goes with any form or décor, meaning it's an ideal way to enhance the kerb appeal.
  3. Reduces noise—asphalt offers a smooth surface where you can drive the vehicles. This minimises the magnitude of noise a car makes, lowering the overall noise levels in your residence.
  4. Environmentally friendly—asphalt is a material that can be recycled. Moreover, machines used to produce asphalt release low emissions; no gasses or chemicals are released into the air even after you lay it in your compound.
  5. Flexibility—asphalt is a flexible surface capable of taking lots of movement or wear and tear before there suffering missing chunks or cracks.

Cons

  1. Durability—your surrounding environment can easily place a dent in the longevity of asphalt and its durability. The material is prone to cracking or crumbling on the edges; you may spend more on repairs.
  2. Curing duration—asphalt takes up some months to cure completely, so before then, it will be soft. This means you can easily damage it especially if you need to clear debris and snow regularly.

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