The material you use for your home’s driveway is an important decision. You need to make sure it is durable and can stand the test of time. Furthermore, it should add to your curb appeal. Concrete and asphalt are two popular material choices for a driveway. Between the two, asphalt is more recommended because it is more cost-effective and installs quickly.
However, what happens if there’s already an existing concrete driveway?
The best thing to do here is to remove the existing concrete first because its sub base is different.
First Things First: Remove Existing Concrete
Concrete is usually all about strength and stability. In turn, laying a thicker slab is the best solution. However, contractors who lay concrete rarely worry about base preparation. This isn’t a good idea because the ground underneath a concrete driveway may shift or sink, but there’s no way of knowing this until you dig it up.
Laying asphalt over concrete creates two layers you need to worry about: the unprepared sub base and the existing concrete. If there’s something wrong with any of these layers, it will show through the asphalt.
The thing is, when the asphalt is poured over concrete on an unstable base, the resulting asphalt pour will be prone to instability. Eventually, expansion joints in the concrete will turn into cracks in the asphalt, which could leave you with costly repairs.
Concrete Expansion Joints Can Create a Lot of Issues
As mentioned, concrete has expansion joints that will shift the surface. When there’s a crack, asphalt will eventually crack there as well. The concrete’s expansion joint is a designated area to allow for a crack. Despite the special reinforcing fabric strips that can be applied before the overlay, the cracks will crack in the same spot on the asphalt over time. You can prevent this through maintenance to prevent water intrusion.
Pouring Asphalt Over Concrete Is Not a Good Idea
Although pouring asphalt over concrete seems like a good and quick solution, it will bring a lot of issues over time. You don’t want to be stuck with more work in the near future, right?
So, if you want your asphalt driveway to last longer, you need to build it from the ground up, which is why the existing concrete must be removed. Your driveway will have a proper, stable base that will need less maintenance in the future when you do.
Asphalt Over Concrete in Driveways
So, if you’re thinking of replacing your concrete driveway with asphalt, you know why it’s important to remove existing concrete. With this, you can prevent issues that could turn disastrous down the road. So, before you have your driveway replaced with asphalt, it’s important you consider removing the existing concrete first.
Indeed, asphalt is a more recommended choice for driveways today. Therefore, you need to hire an excellent asphalt contractor to guarantee you a job well done and peace of mind. With that, research properly to ensure you have the right people to work on your driveway.
Look no further than W&W Construction for quality asphalt driveway installation in Edmonton, AB. We are a full-service paving contractor that serves residential and commercial clients. Contact us today.
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