If you ve been thinking about updating your driveway or parking lot you might be wondering if asphalt can be paved right over the top of the concrete.
Can you put asphalt over concrete driveway.
Asphalt can be successfully installed over concrete but due to the characteristics of each material you may not be happy with the long term results as the asphalt will ultimately crack in the same manner that concrete does.
Pouring asphalt over concrete is bad for the longevity of your driveway so yes pouring asphalt over concrete may look good at first but there are bound to be troubles over time.
However you will be taking a risk that the concrete underneath will after a period of years heave and move under the asphalt cracking or breaking the surface.
Nevertheless it is possible that your drive may last for a long time without this happening.
It is safe to pave asphalt over concrete.
One positive aspect of installing blacktop over concrete is the concrete provides a firm base for the flexible asphalt paving.
Before concrete installation begins the asphalt is inspected and repaired as needed.
Putting asphalt over concrete is done for several reasons but does have its drawbacks.
Asphalt is the best choice for driveways because it can be installed quickly and is more resistant to weather damage than concrete is.
In fact many miles of concrete roads are paved over with asphalt every year.
The truth about asphalt over concrete.
An asphalt overlay is cheaper to install than replacing concrete and can provide a smooth ride over deteriorating concrete.
Experts who work each day in the blacktop industry refer to blacktop as flexible pavement.
Asphalt can be installed on top of concrete.
You can complete asphalt driveways in a short amount of time often under three days.
It will however require a little more maintenance than a typical asphalt overlay.
If you need to upgrade your driveway in a hurry then asphalt is your wisest option.
You can put asphalt over concrete but professionals don t advise it.
Well the answer is yes.
Asphalt is easier to maintain.
However if you already have a concrete driveway that you want to replace with asphalt there are some important points to consider.
Concrete is a great base material because it is stable and allows for excellent compaction of the asphalt above.
We strongly recommend asphalt for any driveway as the benefits far outweigh any drawbacks.
From time to time you ll find concrete streets and driveways that have an asphalt overlay on them.
Holes or cracks with depth of 2 inches or more require filling before concrete overlay is applied.
Concrete driveways take nearly twice as long to install and the concrete has to set or cure for up to a week before you can park on the drive.
It doesn t have near the strength of concrete when you measure them inch for inch.