Advantages Of Asphalt And Concrete Parking Lots
If your business property needs a new parking lot, you may be trying to decide whether to use asphalt or concrete for the project. Each of the these products is unique and has its own strengths. Here are a few advantages of both to help you decide the best option for your needs:
Asphalt Parking Lots
Asphalt is quite durable and its cost is less than that of concrete. In addition, due to its dark surface, oil spills and tire marks are not easily seen. Also, if a crack develops in the parking lot, it can be quickly filled. In fact, an entire asphalt parking lot can be quickly transformed with a new overlay of the material; the middle and bottom layers of the asphalt lot can remain in place.
Asphalt parking lots can also be quickly installed, when compared to concrete, minimizing labor costs. The quick installation can have a new lot ready to receive traffic in only a couple of days. A concrete lot, on the other hand, may require about a week before it is ready to receive cars.
Asphalt is recyclable. Thus, if you and your business are interested in conserving the environment, asphalt may be a better choice.
Also, asphalt may be more suitable for areas in which it rains often. Some asphalt options are permeable, which means that water can drain through the parking lot material to the underlying soil. Concrete lots only allow the water to run off the lot surface.
Concrete Parking Lots
A concrete parking lot should also provide years of service with little maintenance needs outside of blowing and cleaning.
It may also be a good choice in geographical regions where temperatures regularly soar, because asphalt, although hard, can start to soften when exposed to extremely high heat. The deep, rich color of the asphalt also absorbs heat. However, unstained concrete is usually a light gray color when dry. This light hue allows it to reflect heat instead of absorbing it.
This material may also be a good option for you if you want to match the color of your parking lot to other components on your property, such as the siding of your building. Concrete can be colored as desired. Additionally, it can be textured to look like other materials, such as stone or brick.
To learn more about asphalt and concrete parking lot options, schedule a consultation with a commercial paving contractor, such as AA Asphalting, in your area.