Asphalt Over Concrete

How do brick and stone pavers compare to concrete.

Asphalt over concrete.

In addition you do have an alternative paving method that may surprise you. But there are issues as you might expect. Concrete paved surfaces are not compressed and compacted like asphalt is rather the concrete adheres and fills voids and irregularities with the soil and subgrade beneath it. However it is important that you understand there are potential side effects and things to watch out for when paving over concrete.

Brick and stone pavers come in wide variety of patterns colors and textures but since they re labor intensive installing a brick paver or cobblestone driveway costs between 10 and 70 per square foot. Concrete itself is very stable and strong so no matter what it is poured over the slab is going to be solid when it hardens. Applying an asphalt overlay to a concrete surface is a common practice. Laying asphalt over concrete creates two layers to worry about.

It will however require a little more maintenance than a typical asphalt overlay. When concrete deteriorates it draws and holds moisture. The unprepared sub base. Blacktop can be successfully installed over concrete.

Laying asphalt over concrete will likely lead to this new asphalt forming cracks in the same spots that the concrete expansion joints have cracked below. Asphalt requires a well prepared stable subbase otherwise the resulting pavement will be subject to instability and cracking. Does concrete provide a solid base. Concrete is a great base material because it is stable and allows for excellent compaction of the asphalt above.

Asphalt lasts 20 25 years while concrete lasts 30 40 years. An asphalt overlay is cheaper to install than replacing concrete and can provide a smooth ride over deteriorating concrete. Unfortunately when asphalt driveways are poured over concrete resting on an unstable base the resulting asphalt pour is prone to instability. Homeowners can benefit from this whitetopping technique to reduce labor costs and time when replacing worn asphalt driveways.

To save time and money many states and municipalities use a road repair technique known as whitetopping the process of pouring concrete over asphalt rather than removing the existing asphalt. Take a look below. In fact many miles of concrete roads are paved over with asphalt every year. This will most commonly occur during expansion and contraction due to heat and or freeze thaw cycles.

The truth about asphalt over concrete. One positive aspect of installing blacktop over concrete is the concrete provides a firm base for the flexible asphalt paving. Therefore concrete is often used as a bridge over unstable ground.