If you are sick of driving on a dirt or gravel driveway, there is a really good possibility that you are looking to pave your driveway. There are really two different materials that you can use to pave your driveway, and they both have a lot of benefits and a few drawbacks. You can either pave your driveway with asphalt or with concrete. These two materials are what are generally used for paving. There are a few other materials used, but because they are rare, this article will not address those obscure materials. When it comes to concrete or asphalt you really do have to pick between two fantastic materials, but you want to make an informed decision. So, here are just a few of the pro's of both concrete and asphalt. 

Asphalt

The material known as asphalt is made from small rocks called aggregates that are bonded together with bitumen. Bitumen is a substance that is derived from crude oil. When you put down asphalt paving, you lay larger aggregate down and then pour the mixture of smaller aggregate and bitumen on top of the larger aggregate. Once the substance is poured it is then steamrolled.  One of the main reasons that this is so important is that it is flexible. When it comes being able to flex with any imperfections in the road, asphalt is great . So, even if it is poured in an area with potholes and other imperfections the asphalt can still stay strong. If small cracks start to show up in your asphalt, they can easily be fixed by resurfacing the asphalt.

Concrete 

Concrete is made from limestone aggregate and cement. When it is poured there is a chemical reaction that occurs and the cement becomes super hard. With concrete, you are sure to get one of the most durable and most used materials on the planet. The rigidity of concrete makes it one of the most durable materials available for paving. It does need to be mentioned that it must be laid on a surface that is flat. It is so rigid that if there are holes underneath it can crack. However, because the concrete is so hard and durable it requires very little maintenance. Simply not needing to reapply or resurface the concrete makes it a fairly inexpensive option to have your paving done. Paving your driveway is a great choice, now you just need to choose your material.

For more information, contact a company such as Mariotti Site Development Co Inc.