How to Care For Your Asphalt

Nov 22, 2020

Maintain Asphalt Blacktop Driveways in Great Condition in Plymouth, Minnesota

In Minneapolis-St. Paul and outlying communities, homeowners frequently wonder how to care for asphalt driveway surfaces? Asphalt driveway paving in Plymouth proves highly cost-effective. However, any qualified asphalt contractor in the Twin Cities Metro Area will assure customers that furnishing regular maintenance contributes to the lifespan of this type of driveway.

Asphalt vs. Concrete

As a preliminary matter, property owners sometimes ask which is cheaper concrete or asphalt driveway surfaces? Nationwide, building and installing an asphalt driveway costs approximately $4,559 (according to HomeAdvisor), with prices ranging from the high $2,000 range to the low $6,000 range. This price falls into the $2 to $5 per square foot range for a fully installed asphalt driveway. Concrete driveways prove a bit pricier: they average approximately $7,325.

So how much does it cost for an asphalt driveway in Plymouth, Minnesota? This figure varies, based upon the availability of asphalt driveway companies in the area, the degree of site preparation and grading required, the length of the driveway, and other factors. Yet in general, new driveway cost considerations tend to favor asphalt as an inexpensive yet versatile construction material. Small wonder homeowners in the Twin Cities Area readily discover “asphalt contractors near me” when they search online for this service!

About Asphalt

Today, property owners sometimes wonder about the composition of asphalt? Most contractors form asphalt by combining sand with rock and a tar-like petroleum byproduct called “asphalt cement”. Construction crews heat this material to create a gooey substance which, when cool, hardens into a paved blacktop surface.

Asphalt driveways offer some important benefits. Unlike dirt driveways, they don’t readily develop ruts or deep muddy puddles. Gravel or pebble-filled drives eventually require the re-application of fresh aggregates (a potentially time consuming proposition). The grit from these drives sometimes dings auto fenders and causes cracks and bulls-eye defects in automotive windshields. The lower cost of asphalt as a construction material permits contractors to supply asphalt driveways more inexpensively than concrete drives of comparable dimensions. Builders install this material very quickly compared with most masonry or paver driveways.

Durable Asphalt And New Asphalt Driveway Sealing

Of course, asphalt (like concrete) does require periodic maintenance. Driveway sealcoating helps keep the surface in a better condition. Sealcoating helps prevent UV light, water, and oil from degrading the exterior. Driveway paving remains in better shape when property owners obtain fresh sealcoating and paving maintenance services every two to three years. Nationwide, this service costs between $250 and $660 in most places.

Considering that every driveway eventually benefits from maintenance. Masonry drives require the application of new driveway pavers at intervals. Gravel or pebble drives need supplemental aggregates applied to maintain a level surface. Concrete drives frequently benefit from concrete resurfacing services. The sealcoating cost appears minimal compared with complete asphalt driveway replacement!

Asphalt Driveway Repair Near Me

In some cases, property owners acquire homes in the Plymouth and Twin Cities Area with poorly maintained, aging asphalt drives. A new owner may inquire how to fix crumbling asphalt driveway surfaces. Some owners wonder:”How do I repair dips in asphalt driveway surfaces?” Consider requesting assistance from experienced asphalt driveway companies in these situations. Contractors should furnish you with accurate and complete driveway repair cost estimates. Some asphalt drives display considerably more damage than others, so prices vary from one asphalt driveway crack repair project to another.

Repair driveway surfaces as quickly as possible to prevent further deterioration. Most contractors recommend ways to repair driveway cracks based upon the extent of the damage. In some cases, asphalt resurfacing offers a very cost-effective option. In other cases, an experienced contractor may recommend complete driveway replacement. Homeowners discover advantages in requesting recommendations from several experienced asphalt contractors before initiating an asphalt driveway repair project. It makes sense to compare and evaluate asphalt driveway repair cost projections with care. Don’t automatically assume the least expensive option always represents the best choice.

Anticipated Asphalt Driveway Lifespans

In most cases, an asphalt driveway should endure for anywhere from a dozen years to two decades. Frequent, regular maintenance helps preserve this lifespan. Unfortunately, at some point, crack filling and sealing may become so extensive that replacement makes better economic sense than repair. When to replace an asphalt driveway usually hinges upon many factors. The site conditions, the degree of use, and the available budget may all enter into this decision.

When the time comes to replace an existing asphalt driveway, it generally proves helpful to compare available driveway replacement options. In the Twin Cities Area, some homeowners prefer to remove an aged asphalt drive and replace it with a new one. This option may prove highly cost-effective. Yet in other cases, property owners might decide to replace an existing asphalt drive with a different type of paved surface, such as a driveway composed of cement or one formed from intricately arranged masonry pavers. The variety of attractive available options allow customers to tailor their landscaping to meet their unique preferences and budget requirements.