Which is better Paving or Sealing?
Having a concrete driveway is always better than pea gravel and weeds. It provides a nicer surface on which the kids can play, and it just adds value to your property all around. However, concrete has a tendency to break up over time, chipping here and there. You can prevent that by either paving or sealing.
Sealing Your Driveway
Once you have a concrete driveway, make sure it is sealed. This is a separate process from curing it, but customers often get the two confused. Curing concrete helps remove any remaining water after the concrete has been poured and formed. (Think of curing meats, and how waterless they tend to be; it is a similar idea with concrete.)
Sealing your driveway, on the other hand, is coating the entire driveway with a protectant layer that prevents damage. A sealant is applied long after the concrete is dried and cured. Usually, a concrete contractor applies the coat and makes sure it is smooth and even so the whole of your driveway is uniformly protected.
Asphalt Paving
Asphalt paving is a premium way to keep your concrete driveway and add to it the protective layer of asphalt. It is solid blacktop that looks even better than concrete, and you will not have any chipping or damage for a long time to come. The initial solid black color of the asphalt is also very striking. This may fade over time, but is easily restored with its own blacktop sealant.
It usually takes five or more years for asphalt to show any wear and tear, as opposed to bare concrete alone. Thankfully, any cracks your asphalt driveway would incur are easily taken care of with a crack filler and/or asphalt sealant. Your contractor can inform you of what to expect with your asphalt driveway once it has been poured and allowed to cool and set.
Call Us to Get Started
XSealer Asphalt Maintenance has years of experience in pouring and maintaining concrete and asphalt driveways. We can assess your current driveway siutation and offer you solutions for improving and maintaining your driveway. Give us a call today to set up an appointment for an estimate, and extend the life of your driveway.
