Why is asphalt so common in Maryland?

As we’ve touched on already, asphalt paving checks a lot of boxes in the “pros” column for residential driveways and parking areas. Asphalt won’t wash away like gravel, won’t crack apart if water freezes on and around it like concrete, and keeps weeds and dirt away. After all, there’s a reason why most commercial businesses that experience a lot of daily traffic have asphalt parking lots and access drives—it’s because this material is durable and resistant to damage in ways most others are not.

Additionally, if you properly care for your professionally installed asphalt surfaces, they will look as good as new for years to come.

Concrete

The internet is full of articles comparing concrete to asphalt for residential driveway surface options. Concrete can be easily colored and offers a more delicate look that some homeowners prefer. It’s also more expensive than asphalt to install, which leads many to believe that it’s a more “premium” choice.

Unfortunately, in our climate here in the DMV area, in which winters can sometimes be harsh and cold, concrete is not ideal as a large surface covering. Even with excellent professional installation, the material itself simply isn’t very cold hardy—it cracks and buckles due to temperature changes and quickly becomes hazardous as it breaks apart and crumbles. While asphalt can be susceptible to extremely hot temperatures, we typically don’t have more than a heat wave or two per summer that could even come close to damaging your driveway as severely as the freeze/thaw cycle damages concrete.

Another option for your driveway that’s considered “premium” because it costs more are bricks or concrete pavers. While these individual blocks are strong and typically quite resistant to damage individually, problems arise because they do not form a solid surface. For this reason, they are prone to freeze/thaw cycle damages like concrete and do not keep weeds at bay over time.

While you may have a brick or paver patio that has performed well and not experienced issues with sinking or low spots creating loose blocks, remember that your driveway is designed to be driven and parked on. Your family’s cars, trucks, and SUVs each weigh multiple tons and can easily cause a brick or paver surface to become uneven, which will necessitate expensive repairs.