Asphalt over concrete driveway, would you do it?

[Buppies]

I’m going to be odd man out here, concrete and asphalt are dissimilar materials they expand and contract at different rates and as such it is not recommended for asphalt overlay. I know well the DOT of whatever state does it but how do they do it? How thick?

There is one way I have seen used that has some merit by using petromat paving fabric first then four inches of base asphalt followed by a topping mix. This works but expensive, this being my two cents worth and over 16 years paving experience paving driveways to parking lots to interstates

 

[Tractor Seabee]

I’m going to be odd man out here, concrete and asphalt are dissimilar materials they expand and contract at different rates and as such it is not recommended for asphalt overlay. I know well the DOT of whatever state does it but how do they do it? How thick?

There is one way I have seen used that has some merit by using petromat paving fabric first then four inches of base asphalt followed by a topping mix. This works but expensive, this being my two cents worth and over 16 years paving experience paving driveways to parking lots to interstates

AMEN, go with the expert.

Ron

 

[4570Man]

Concrete is much more durable for sure, it's the economics for most people.:thumbsup:

Salt isn’t kind to concrete. I’ve seen as many concrete driveways that look like crap as asphalt driveways. Either product has more to do with installation than the product. A busy roadway sees more traffic in a week than a driveway sees in 2 lifetimes. But it’s a lot thicker than residential driveways. And unless you stay on top of pressure washing which most people don’t both products are black.

 

[polo1665]

Concrete is much more durable for sure, it's the economics for most people.:thumbsup:

You got that right :thumbsup:

I figured I would have about $90,000 to $100,000 in my drive if I went the concrete route. I guess I figure that asphalt would have been about half that (maybe a bit less). Chip and seal was $13,500.

Then you have the added property taxes if using concrete (at least in my area).

 

[fried1765]

So I was thinking of getting a bid to do asphalt over my concrete driveway. Not much there really but the concrete is getting bad. It's basically a double car garage width and approximately 25' long then it turns to gravel. Concrete tear out and replacement is around $5k. I think this might be a much cheaper option but not sure of the issues that may come with it. Thoughts?

Asphalt over concrete?
Would you use oil based paint over latex paint?

 

[2LaneCruzer]

I’m going to be odd man out here, concrete and asphalt are dissimilar materials they expand and contract at different rates and as such it is not recommended for asphalt overlay. I know well the DOT of whatever state does it but how do they do it? How thick?

There is one way I have seen used that has some merit by using petromat paving fabric first then four inches of base asphalt followed by a topping mix. This works but expensive, this being my two cents worth and over 16 years paving experience paving driveways to parking lots to interstates

My Dad (RIP) was in the construction/aggregate business all his life. He told me the same thing about an asphalt/concrete overlay.

Time for another story. He was involved in constructing a concrete highway in Southern Oklahoma back in the 40's sometime; they had just finished the pour and installed the barricades by the time it got dark. He said that during the night, some drunk in a Model A, had knocked down the barricades and drove out into the partially set concrete. The guy kept driving until the concrete balled up on the wheels to the point where the car wouldn't go any longer. So what did he do? He got out and left the car.

Dad said that the next morning, there was this Model A, set up in the concrete, and a long set of tracks behind it. They had to take jackhammers to get the car out. He said the "repairs" could be seen to that day.

 

[zzvyb6]

Well, if you like burning your bare feet, watching your dog(s) burn theirs, too, tar sealing the drive every year (or paying someone to paint it), patch the cracks and splits every few years, slip and slide after a rain or ice storm, and replacing it a few times in your life, I'd go with the asphalt.

For me, I'm just completing my 600' x 11' driveway in 4" 6 bag with steel mesh and brushed driveway. I'm done buying gravel every few years, snowplowing then raking all the stones off the side lawn, and raking the crown every year or so. The dust and stone chips will be a thing of the past. I even had the barn apron expanded to meet the driveway.

The only problem I foresee is the need for speed limit signs. Even the skate board crowd is on notice. $30,000 once in my life, or $14,000 2 or 3 times plus all the aggravation, tar, smell and tire tracks.

 

[Rock Crawler]

I have asphalt (we call it blacktop here) and love it for it's winter performance. I plow it and get some black streaks showing, and while I am at work on a 5°F day those black streaks collect thermal energy from the sun and melt off and dry the entire thing.

Cost was a big factor, my driveway is just about 270' long and 85' wide. I am actually pushing it wider next year, I want to add another 15'-20' to it. The cost to do concrete would be nuts. Crazy nuts. We have been here since 1990, the first layer was done back when it was 2 cars wide, maybe 30 feet. We did an addition and added 2 more garages to the width, then a retaining wall for the separation between the upper driveway and a new lower driveway since we dug down and added another 3 bays under those 2 new bays up top. The lower driveway is still 2A, but the upper was re-done and widened greatly. That was about 14 years back. It is still in good condition, we have it sealed every other year.

I hope to add my width to the upper and lower driveways by the end of next year, then I will 2A it and wait a couple years for settling, then cut out the blacktop along the street entrance and again along the 4 garage bays in the upper driveway... Then I will have it ALL done in blacktop, even around back.

Concrete is great and all. But the cost makes it a no-go for me. I can't imagine what kind of cost to do 270x100 plus the lower driveway all in concrete. It would likely rival the cost of most homes around here!

 

[kcflhrc]

The State of Kansas puts asphalt over concrete on highways here all the time, why, I'm not sure. My best guess is to preserve the concrete base. Pouring miles of concrete for a highway is very costly. In my case, the top of my driveway is horrible. Some spots reed bar is showing. I know it needs torn out and redone. However the asphalt thing might just solve my issues for a few years. Most likely, I will just tear it out and do the concrete though. I see the heat being an issue for people and dogs.

 

[Rock Crawler]

The State of Kansas puts asphalt over concrete on highways here all the time, why, I'm not sure. My best guess is to preserve the concrete base. Pouring miles of concrete for a highway is very costly. In my case, the top of my driveway is horrible. Some spots reed bar is showing. I know it needs torn out and redone. However the asphalt thing might just solve my issues for a few years. Most likely, I will just tear it out and do the concrete though. I see the heat being an issue for people and dogs.

The heat thing depends A good deal on where you live. Around here it only gets up to around 90-95ﾟduring the summer, And my dog's feet toughen up real quick in the summer and she doesn't seem to mind the blacktop at all on a hot summer day. She Dislikes the number to gravel driveway around the back a lot more than she dislikes the The blacktop driveway. Sometimes the nut job will go out there and way upside down on her back with her legs bread open like she's dead or something.