Asphalt or concrete driveway?

[anthonyk]

BBB, you're exactly right. That's what's going to happen here. They're going to tear out a huge section of road, dig up the base, recompact it, seal it with some sort of fly ash stuff, and then repave. What a pain.

anthony

 

[tallyho8]

You probably need 6" 3000# concrete for those 10 ton trucks and be sure to ask the concrete company to send along some of those cardboard tube test cylinders as concrete companies are notorious about providing cheaper mixes of concrete than are paid for.

 

[Darla]

Yikes! Are all you guys in cahoots with my dad?! The part up close to our house and barn are concrete already. Let's see, I'm told it is 4000 psi concrete, 6" thick, 6 gauge wire matting with 24" spaced #5 rebar. It doesn't say anything about fiber. Whatever that means, it's done rather well I suppose. It definitely has cracks in it at several places, but they are only noticable when the concrete just starts getting wet. I guess you'd call them hairline cracks or something like that, no bumps.

If we were to go with concrete, does that sound like it's done right? I'd like to go ahead and get a loan and just get it done this spring or summer, but I want to do it right which ever way we go. Thanks for the comments, I'm printing them out...even if my dad will just say "told you so".

 

[Egon]

The most important factor in either the concrete or asphalt is subase preparation and proper drainage.

Seeing as there are many asphalt roads out there do a lot of looking before making a decision.

There has to an economic deciding point between asphalt and concrete.

 

[BBB]

Darla what you have sounds good, don't settle for anything less. Make sure you hire a reputable contractor. Don't worry about the small "surface cracks" we all have them. Sounds like Dad knows what he's talking about.

 

[Doc_Bob]

We have an existing 1/4 mile driveway that is gravel and has been there for 20 years of so. What's the best way to go?

Sounds like you have an excellent base already with 20 years of traffic on the driveway. Why bother with conrete? Stick with gravel.
Bob

 

[thcri]

We did our driveway in concrete. And yes we did a lot thinking and researching before we decided. I like the concrete and still am glad I have it over the black top. I laugh at my neighbors every year sealing it and when one of them had a diesel spill it literallly softened the spot with black top. But I do have one draw back from my neighbors, in the snow and ice the black top will clear itself off faster as it absorbs heat better. Their driveways are clean and mine will still have the ice and snow on it..

murph

 

[Big_Charlie]

It definitely has cracks in it at several places, but they are only noticable when the concrete just starts getting wet. I guess you'd call them hairline cracks or something like that, no bumps.

I had a home builder tell me once that if there is one constant in life it's that concrete cracks. Surface cracks are how concrete deals with thermal stress and are usually not deep enough to cause problems, but is also why you have expansion lines in concrete drives and sidewalks.

 

[Pilot]

How do the roads hold up in your area, concrete vs. asphalt?

Talk to the folks at your local road dep't to see what issues they have with the roads they maintain.

You need local info--issues in Texas may not apply in your area. The limestone base is an example--limestone disolves in acids and wet climates often have low pH in soils and water. Your situation may be more favorable for asphalt, or maybe the local experts will say concrete is better.

As for me, with my 1/4 mile long driveway, 4-6 trips per day with light vehicles, I'm staying with gravel. I can maintain the gravel for a lot less than periodically sealing the asphalt and there is no way I'll pay for concrete.

 

[BillyP]

I want our driveway either paved or finished in concrete. I know it's cheaper to go paved, but my dad says that since we are going to live here forever, we better go with concrete. We have an existing 1/4 mile driveway that is gravel and has been there for 20 years of so. What's the best way to go?

Sorry if I put this in the wrong place.

Whichever way you decide to go, be sure and start with a good solid base and drainage. If there's any soft spots in the road, they'll need to be corrected from the get go. Without those two things, you'll be in for lots of costly repairs. If asphalt is laid right, with a good solid base and good drainage, I wouldn't worry about a 20K LB truck. But it also comes with more maintenance.