Benefits of Asphalt Paving
Benefits of Asphalt Paving
Asphalt remains the gold standard for paving in the United States, and for good reason. Asphalt paving provides benefits that you just can’t get with other paving materials, including:
-
Durability
The durability of asphalt paving material is almost unmatched. Asphalt is laid down in layers, adding to its overall strength. If the top layer is damaged, it can simply be recycled and re-laid, leaving the bottom layers intact. Overlays can also be used on top of the surface of the asphalt to improve its durability.
-
Flexibility
Many people don’t realize how flexible asphalt is, but this is the characteristic that makes asphalt paving material great here in Washington’s cold climate! Since we experience frequent freezing and thawing, paving materials must be able to expand and contract easily. Asphalt is the best material you can use to avoid cracks and holes due to expanding ice under the surface.
-
Heat retention
Asphalt’s traditional black color allows it to absorb heat much better than other paving materials. Asphalt is so good at retaining heat that it sometimes doesn’t ice over, even in freezing temperatures! People who live in northern locations may even be able to avoid salting their driveways, sidewalks, and parking lots if they use properly installed and well-maintained asphalt.
-
Quieter
Road noise isn’t just annoying, it actually contributes to noise pollution and driver fatigue as well. If you’re a business owner, keeping the noise to a minimum in your parking lot is an often overlooked way to improve customer satisfaction. Asphalt has been proven to produce the lowest amount of noise pollution of all the popular paving materials. The invention of silent and porous asphalt materials reduces road noise even more.
-
Long lifespan
The bottom layers of an asphalt surface can last indefinitely with proper maintenance, while the top layer can last up to 30 years before needing to be replaced.
-
Less maintenance
Asphalt is one of the lowest maintenance paving materials on the market. Cracks and holes can, and should be repaired immediately. Sealcoating must be done every 4-5 years for optimal performance. Since there are no joints in asphalt surfaces, there is less damage due to freezing and thawing, which is a huge benefit here in Seattle. However, if your surface has an overlay, it will need to be refreshed occasionally.
-
Affordable & Recyclable
The cost of asphalt depends on current oil prices, since it is produced from the distillation of crude oil. The by-product of the distillation process is mixed with aggregate, which is a mixture of sand and rock. This means installing asphalt is cheaper up-front, cheaper to maintain, and has more residual value since it can be recycled when it needs to be replaced.
Whether you need a driveway, parking lot, or even a private road, asphalt paving is the best choice. The asphalt experts here at Jireh Asphalt & Concrete have the tools and experience necessary to create the perfect asphalt structure for your home, business, or other property in or around King County. Once your asphalt is installed, we also offer all the services you need to keep it looking its best for decades, including:
- Sealcoating
- Crack and hole patching
- Line striping
Call us at (425) 363-9782 or contact us online to get a free quote for your Seattle-area asphalt paving project today. If you’re still not sure which asphalt company to go with, just check out our customer reviews to see how we value our customers and take pride in our work!