Asphalt or Interlock – Which one is a better choice for your driveway?
Your driveway is a key part of your home. It is what adds to the overall curb appeal; what people first see when they pull up or walk up to your property. If you are looking at selling your property at any point, it can either give a great first impression or makes the potential buyer want to run for the hills. In short, getting your driveway right is essential.
When it comes to deciding on a surface for your driveway, two main options are asphalt or interlock. Here, we are going to look at asphalt and interlocking paving driveways and compare the two, so that you can make an informed decision as to which one is better for you. If after reading this article, you are still not sure as to which solution is the ideal one for you, get in touch with the team at BlackTar as we can help you make the right decision.
Asphalt
In terms of cost-effectiveness, asphalt is a great choice for a driveway. It is cheaper per square footage than interlocking paving, so if you are working on a tight budget, this may be a big factor in your decision. It is generally less labour-intensive to put down in place and the materials used are cheaper.
Asphalt is a long-lasting and sturdy material, making it an excellent choice for driveways. It needs to take a lot of strength. The driving of cars or potentially even bigger and heavier vehicles a day in, day out, possibly multiple times a day is hard going on any surface, and add in footfall and all sorts of harsh weather conditions and it has to be hardwearing. Asphalt certainly ticks this box! On average, if it is well installed (which, if you use BlackTar, you can guarantee excellent installation) and well-maintained, you can get between ten and thirty years out of an asphalt driveway. When it comes to maintaining an asphalt driveway, you will need to reseal it every three to five years, but aside from that, it is relatively low in maintenance.
An asphalt driveway also looks fantastic if it is kept maintained - the glossy black appearance adds a look of simple sophistication and allows you to change all other elements of your garden and the exterior of your home without worrying about them clashing.
Interlock driveway
Interlock driveways may be the more aesthetically pleasing choice for some. You can choose from a large selection of colours and shapes in terms of the paving stones, and the way the stones are laid allows for creativity and individuality as to the patterns and designs that are created. This allows you to reflect your personality and style in the driveway of your home.
One thing that people worry about when it comes to interlocking driveway paving is what happens if a paving stone was to break? After all, as we mentioned above, a driveway has to cope with a lot of weight and while it does not happen regularly, very occasionally a slab may break. Is it expensive or difficult to repair or replace? Well, actually, no it isn’t. In fact, it is relatively cheap and easy as only that particular slab needs removing and replacing.
Another benefit of having an interlocking driveway installed by BlackTar is how easy it is to maintain. Every so often it needs a quick sweep over and blasts over using a pressure washing to get rid of the inevitable dirt, debris and stains. Once it has dried out, polymeric sand needs to be spread across and in between the slabs, before they are misted. It does not take a lot of time nor expense and makes them look almost as good as new each time.
Both asphalt and interlocking paving are great choices for your driveway, especially when installed by a quality contractor. You will be guaranteed competitive prices, quality installation, superb aftercare, and great customer service, whichever surface you decide on.