Installing a new driveway in your home can be a stressful decision. Creating a new driveway for your home is a big expense which means you need to carefully consider what type of driveway best suits your home, budget, and tolerance for maintenance or repair. Concrete and asphalt are the two popular driveway choices in South Africa and we have created a comparison to help you confidently select the best driveway for you and your household needs. When it comes to creating a concrete driveway, a concrete mixer from B&S Commercial Power is an essential power tool for the job.
Concrete VS Asphalt Driveways:
Is your current driveway cracked and damaged beyond repair? Do you want to swap an asphalt driveway to a concrete driveway but are feeling uncertain? Before you make this expensive and curb appeal-altering decision, you need to make sure you are making the best driveway choice for your home, budget, and needs. We have highlighted the key differences between concrete and asphalt driveways so that you can confidently select the best type of driveway for your home.
1) Installation:
The installation process is fairly similar between a concrete and asphalt driveway. For a concrete driveway, you will need to remove the existing driveway and then create a compacted soil subbase that is graded to allow for water runoff. You will then compact a layer of aggregates as the base and top the base with metal reinforcement. You will then pour the concrete, smooth the surface, and allow it to cure.
Before you start your asphalt driveway, you will need to clear away your existing driveway. An asphalt driveway also needs a graded and compacted subbase with a compacted aggregate base. The aggregate base needs to be allowed to settle before asphalt is poured on top. Hot, liquid asphalt is combined with aggregates and then poured and compacted with a heavy roller to achieve a smooth finish.
There is a difference in the time frame you have to wait before you can drive on an asphalt or concrete driveway after installation. After an asphalt driveway has been installed, you will need to wait a day or two before you can drive on the asphalt surface. A concrete driveway will need a week or longer to cure fully. This is important to take into consideration if you are unable to park your car on the street or a grass patch on your property.
2) Durability:
There is a clear distinction in durability when comparing concrete and asphalt driveways. Concrete driveways are strong and durable. Asphalt driveways are less strong and durable due to the softer consistency of hardened asphalt compared to concrete. The difference in durability will also impact the longevity and long-term costs associated with your driveway choice.
3) Longevity:
Concrete and asphalt driveways differ in their longevity. Concrete is a highly durable material that increases the longevity of this driveway option. Concrete driveways are estimated to last between 30 to 40 years, whereas an asphalt driveway is estimated to last between 15 to 20 years. The longevity of a concrete or asphalt driveway depends on the use, climate, and maintenance of the driveway.
4) Climate:
You need to take the general climate of your location into consideration when choosing between a concrete or an asphalt driveway. Concrete driveways are suited to hot climates and will not demonstrate any signs of cracking or damage in high temperatures. If your area experiences extreme drops in temperature during winter, then concrete is not a great option. In extreme cold, concrete can crack or buckle. Specialised concrete seals can help prevent this from occurring.
Asphalt driveways do not suit extremely high temperatures. The asphalt surface can become tacky or gooey when exposed to baking sunshine. When the asphalt cools and hardens again it becomes susceptible to cracking. This is an important consideration for the warmer climates in South Africa.
5) Cost:
Asphalt and concrete driveways differ in cost. It is generally more expensive to choose a concrete driveway over an asphalt driveway due to the difference in expense between cement and asphalt. Although asphalt is initially cheaper, the higher frequency of maintenance needed will be an additional, long-term cost to this driveway option. Concrete driveways are generally associated with a premium driveway option, which can increase the resale value of your home.
6) Personalisation:
Asphalt driveways are difficult to personalise as you only have the smooth asphalt surface as your aesthetic option. An asphalt driveway is a great choice if you are looking to create a sleek and seamless look between your driveway and the main road. Concrete driveways are open to creative designs which can increase the curb appeal of your home and draw onlookers’ attention. From different patterns to creative textures to unique colours to interesting aggregates, you can allow your creativity to flow when creating a personalised concrete driveway.
7) Maintenance:
Maintenance is a major determining factor for homeowners who are deciding between an asphalt or concrete driveway. Once you have correctly installed your concrete driveway and sealed the concrete surface, you are not required to perform any maintenance on your concrete driveway. You can optionally reseal your concrete driveway every few years as a protective step against stains or cracking. Asphalt needs to be regularly resealed to maintain the look, durability, and longevity of the asphalt driveway. The asphalt maintenance process is simple and is not a major downside.
8) Repair:
Concrete driveways may need more repairs than asphalt driveways. Concrete driveways can crack, although these cracks can be easily repaired in a variety of ways. The unfortunate downside is that concrete repairs are often easily noticeable and will affect the aesthetic of your driveway.
Asphalt, due to being petroleum-based, is more flexible than concrete and, therefore, is less susceptible to significant cracking. Minor cracks may still occur, but these can be easily repaired by the homeowner. The repairs also blend seamlessly into the existing asphalt which does not affect the aesthetic of the asphalt driveway. Asphalt driveways can also be more easily damaged by plant growth than concrete driveways which will then require more frequent repairs.
9) Environmental Impact:
Both the materials used for concrete and asphalt driveways have a negative impact on the environment. Asphalt, or bitumen, is a tar-like petroleum-based material that can either occur naturally or be a man-made pitch. The production of asphalt requires extreme energy and incorporates toxic chemicals. Asphalt plants emit large quantities of air-borne pollution into the air and can impact the health of the surrounding environment and communities in the vicinity. There are environmentally-friendly asphalt alternatives that you can consider for your driveway.
Concrete is a mixture of cement, water, and aggregates. The mining, production, and transportation of cement highly impact the environment. With concrete, you can select to use green concrete and recycled materials for the aggregates as a way to reduce the environmental impact of your concrete driveway. If you are interested in finding out more about green concrete options, please refer to our article Concrete Mixers: What is Green Concrete?
Concrete Mixers at B&S Commercial Power:
If you are considering a concrete driveway, you are going to need a concrete mixer. By the time you are finished mixing the quantity of concrete you need for your driveway by hand, you will be exhausted and regretful of your decision to go with a concrete driveway. A concrete mixer will reduce the time, effort, energy, and wastage that results from mixing large quantities of concrete by hand.
B&S Commercial Power is an importer and manufacturer of high-performance power tools, with one of the many power tools available being concrete mixers. We provide South Africa and neighbouring countries with access to the acclaimed Baumax concrete mixers. Baumax is world-renowned for its production of high-quality and powerful concrete mixers, which is why we have selected Baumax concrete mixers for our concrete mixer range.
At B&S Commercial Power, you will find a Baumax concrete mixer with a drum size that is perfectly suited to your needs. We stock the Baumax BS360L concrete mixer, the Baumax 400L concrete mixer, and the Baumax BS500 L concrete mixer. The different drum sizes provide you with options so that you can find a concrete mixer that will produce the right quantity of concrete for your concrete driveway.
Baumax concrete mixers are known for producing homogenously mixed concrete in an exceptional time frame. This is a result of the high-performance engines that the concrete mixers are fitted with which can produce 5m3 every hour. Every Baumax concrete mixer that we supply is fitted with the Baumax RX200 2:1 engine. You can select both the drum size and the engine suited to achieving superior concrete for your concrete driveway with Baumax concrete mixers at B&S Commercial Power.
You will find Baumax concrete mixers available at B&S Commercial Power due to Baumax’s consideration of safety in the design of the concrete mixers. Each Baumax concrete mixer comes with a ring gear cover and an enclosed cabin to ensure the safety of the operator. Providing you with access to a concrete mixer that is both powerful and safe to use is our top priority at B&S Commercial Power.
When you consider purchasing a concrete mixer from an international brand, you immediately start becoming concerned with the cost. Luckily at B&S Commercial Power, you have access to the high-performance, speed, and safety of Baumax concrete mixers at an affordable rate. We offer budget-friendly solutions to your concrete mixer needs to bring down the cost of installing a concrete driveway yourself at your home.
About B&S Commercial Power:
B&S Commercial Power is a proudly South African supplier of a diverse range of power tools. You will find an extensive range of power tools suited to both residential and commercial use at B&S Commercial Power. From chainsaws to rammers to inverter generators, you can find a high-quality power tool for your specialised requirements.
B&S Commercial Power is located in Brackenfell, Cape Town. If you are not based in Cape Town, you do not need to worry about accessing the power tools supplied by B&S Commercial Power. We will deliver your purchased power tools to you no matter where you are in Southern Africa.
The B&S Commercial Power team is highly experienced in supplying power tools and offering expert advice on the use and maintenance of the power tools we supply. The pairing of our experience with our dedication to ensuring our clients are continuously satisfied with our power tools and services makes for a successful combination at B&S Commercial Power.
If a concrete driveway suits your budget and needs, B&S Commercial Power has a concrete mixer that will reduce the time, energy, and effort required for perfectly mixed concrete for your new concrete driveway.