If you've lived in a house for many years, you'll inevitably have to repair and replace its different elements. While we'd all like to have a driveway that forever remains pristine, it's just about impossible to avoid damage. Even if you've chosen a place to live that has the perfect climate for preserving a driveway, you have to remember that the earth and roots underground are constantly shifting, causing cracks in your driveway. This doesn't even account for the wear and tear your vehicle causes to it. As you come home from work each day year after year, you'll find your driveway paving getting a little more uneven, making for a bumpy ride. Eventually, those bumps will become far too severe and you'll have to start thinking about having a new driveway put in.
When you consider all the benefits of a new driveway, it's hard to pass on such an investment. Not only will your new paving give you a smooth ride, but it also provides your home with great curb appeal. Depending on what material you choose, you'll also find advantages in certain climates and weather conditions. Here are a few reasons it's wise to update that worn-out driveway.
Create Solid Ground
By this point your driveway may be in such bad shape that it resembles gravel more than asphalt or concrete. This will surely be felt when parking your car. With a smoother, repaved surface, your car will likely fare a lot better.
It may not seem like much when pulling your car in and out of a short driveway, but running over that rough surface day after day is sure to make itself apparent over time. Even a stationary car can suffer damage, as sitting on uneven terrain can affect a car's steering and handling, which you'll certainly feel on the road while driving. Such an uneven surface can go a long way toward wearing down your tires. What you pay now in a freshly poured driveway could save you money down the road on your vehicle's tires and suspension.
Consider your needs when deciding on materials for this purpose. Even if you're sure you want asphalt, there are still different types of asphalt mixtures to choose from, which we'll get into later on. A quality asphalt paving service can provide you with all you need to know about the materials and set you up with the perfect driveway so you never have to worry about parking your vehicle again.
Increase Curb Appeal
Your home is just as much an investment as your vehicle and if you plan on selling it at some point, you'll want to keep its property value as high as possible. This means maximizing the curb appeal of your home, or how nice it looks from the street. A deteriorating driveway can lower the property value of your home which means you'll have to work hard to bring it back where you want it.
The fact is, a professionally-paved driveway can add hundreds if not thousands of dollars to your property value. After all, it's one of the first things people see when they approach your home. Nothing creates a first impression more than a pristine driveway, or conversely, a tattered and crumbling driveway.
A neglected driveway could even impact your neighbors in the same way. The property value of a particular home is partially determined by the state of the neighborhood and the homes around it. This means if your driveway is looking rough, it could bring down the value of the adjacent home. Investing in a driveway paving company won't just benefit you, but it will make your neighbors happy as well.
Protect Against Weather
Depending on the material you use and the climate you live in, repaving your driveway is going to make weather easier to deal with. Small pits in your driveway will collect water during rainy days and that water can slowly cause erosion. When it gets cold, those spots will fill with snow and ice, leading to even worse damage. Your driveway can also become more dangerous during those winter months as well because those ice-filled pits present a dangerous slipping hazard.
If you choose to pave your driveway with asphalt, these winter dangers won't be so bad. During cold months, water in the pavement freezes and expands. This would badly damage other materials, but since asphalt has more flexibility, it will flex along the expansions, easing the damage. This means it can also flex along with the natural movement of the ground. As the earth moves and roots shift underground, your asphalt will be able to shift more easily than other materials. This means that if you live in an area with soft soil, asphalt may be the right choice.
Asphalt is also darker than other materials, which makes it a great absorber of heat. Because dark asphalt can melt snow and ice more easily than other materials, you'll find you won't have to treat it with salt so often in the winter. This dark color also lends itself well to covering up oil stains. On lighter materials, these unsightly stains become much more obvious.
Save Time and Stress
One of the biggest advantages of a new driveway is that once it is done, you don't have to worry about it again any time soon. In our experience, a newly paved asphalt driveway can last anywhere between 20 and 30 years. This can vary depending on how much you use your driveway and the weather conditions it suffers from, but you'll have at least a couple of decades before having to go through the process again. Rather than letting the stress of a worn-down driveway weigh over your head, get it repaved and rest assured you won't have to think about it again for a long time.
Something to remember about asphalt is that there are many different types to consider. According to Civil Jungle, an online civil engineering resource, there are six types of asphalt to consider: pervious, quiet, perpetual, hot mix, warm mix, and cold mix. Consider the weaknesses and strengths of each type of asphalt to decide what is right for you. Pervious asphalt, for example, might be best to protect from inclement weather, as it is designed to combat potholes caused by water and is usually used for parking lot paving. A trusted asphalt paving company will be able to help you make the right decision.
No matter which type of asphalt you choose, make sure you opt to have a professional pour your driveway. They have years of experience and know all the ins and outs of the process. If you try to do it yourself or use another amateur, you're likely to regret it. If there are mistakes in the process, your driveway may not last as long as desired or you may even have to repave it completely. Luckily, A-One Asphalt Paving is here to help. If you're not sure if it's time to have your driveway re-done, or if you're unsure of which type of asphalt you prefer, give our experts a call. We'd be happy to answer any questions you have. We look forward to working with you!
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