One of the most frequently asked parking lot-related questions is what material is better, asphalt or concrete? And the answer is simply — there is no absolute right answer. If you’re preparing to update your parking lot, there are advantages of both materials to consider. Our team put together a list of the major factors.
CONCRETE ADVANTAGES
Concrete parking lots do well in areas where the weather is constantly hot. The light color of concrete helps the material to stay cooler than the black color of asphalt. Concrete lots hold a long lifespan and require a relatively low level of maintenance. You may need a joint sealing from time to time and an annual cleaning. Concrete parking lots also allow for more design options than asphalt — both color and texture are customizable.
ASPHALT ADVANTAGES
Asphalt parking lots are usually laid and ready to use in a matter of days, depending on the size of the project. The quick installation also makes asphalt a more affordable option. Some types of asphalt help with drainage, allowing water to pass through the pavement into the soil below. While asphalt does require upkeep, the proper maintenance will keep your pavement looking new for a long time. This makes asphalt parking lots very cost-effective in the long run.
We hope this information helps you in your quest for the perfect parking lot. Here at Seal Pros Hawaii we do it all — concrete pouring, asphalt paving, seal coating, striping, slurry sealing — the list goes on. Upload your project plans to our website and we’ll get back to you in no time at all!
Thanks for the comparison between concrete and asphalt parking lots. I like that asphalt can allow for drainage. That must be great for areas of the country with a lot of rain.
The natural aggregate in asphalt also provides more traction even during wintertime. You’ll see fewer collisions and even near misses when you choose asphalt over concrete, which is something every commercial lot owner needs to consider!
Thanks for pointing out that some types of asphalt help with drainage, allowing water to pass through the pavement into the soil below. My husband and I are thinking about repaving our driveway because our driveway right now doesn’t look very good and is cracking everywhere. I think it would be nice to have asphalt that can help with drainage because we live in a rainy environment so it would help ut last longer I think.
Thank you for the comment about asphalt parking lots generally being a quick installation as well as generally more affordable. My sister has been working on building her own business from the ground up, and a parking lot is a part of that process. I think that she would like to have a professional come and pave an asphalt parking lot for her, once the shop is built.
I thought it was interesting what you said about asphalt parking lots being better for areas where it is really hot. I don’t think I have really noticed that the parking lots are made of when I travel I bet when people need parking lots paved in a different climate that they take the material into consideration.
I like that you mentioned how asphalt is an affordable investment. My wife and I need a new driveway. We’ll be sure to consider getting asphalt.
It’s good to know that concrete has a long lifespan and doesn’t require a lot of maintenance. My uncle is interested in installing a concrete parking lot once he opens his business. It may be best for him to hire a professional that can help him install the concrete that he needs.
I appreciate that you mentioned that some asphalt can be used to help direct water to nearby soil. My uncle is planning on opening an Italian restaurant in an area that experiences frequent storms, and he needs to ensure that his parking lot will be able to resist water damage. Maybe he should consider getting an asphalt parking lot installed to ensure that it stays secure when it rains.
Very valuable information, it’s not at all blogs that we find this,
congratulations I was searching for something like this and found it here.
King regards,
Thompson Griffin
I didn’t know that the color of concrete allows it to stay cool in hot areas. My wife and I would like to install a driveway where our children can play basketball while we are taking care of our lawn, but we are worried that the sun might make the driveway too hot to step on. Maybe we should consider finding a concrete contractor to ensure that our driveway is kept cool.