The Benefits of Removing a Concrete Driveway Before Laying Asphalt

July 2, 2021

Many home and business owners who are considering laying new asphalt find themselves asking the question: Is it better to remove old concrete first before laying asphalt? As experienced paving contractors, we can assure you doing so will be to your advantage. It’s recommended to remove the concrete driveway first to better facilitate fast installation, maintain weather resistance and reduce costs. But there are challenges for a paving contractor with removing concrete driveways.

Let’s look at the leading reasons to remove concrete before laying asphalt.

Can you lay asphalt over concrete?

The simple answer is that you can, but it’s not a good idea. Some homeowners at first believe that leaving the concrete driveway is the better option. It is possible to do this, and it’s less expensive than having the concrete removed. The result will likely look great—at first. The downsides come later on, and that’s why it’s not recommended to lay asphalt over existing concrete.

Concrete driveways vs asphalt driveways

The major issue with this has to do with the preparation before the asphalt is laid down. This has to do with the base that’s laid for concrete vs asphalt driveways.

For concrete, if there are issues with strength and stability, the contractor will simply lay a thicker slab; they’re not concerned about laying a base. The site needs to be level, but there’s no underlying support like there is with asphalt. This means that the ground beneath may be liable to shift or sink. There’s no way to know whether this is the case unless the concrete is dug up, so an asphalt driveway that’s laid out over the concrete without the proper base could become unstable, resulting in cracks and other damage.

Asphalt and concrete require different support systems underneath, which is bound to lead to major headaches in the future. The bottom line is that while laying asphalt over concrete will look good the day of, you likely won’t feel the same a couple of years later.

Extending the lifetime of your driveway

No one wants to have their driveway repaved. It’s a hassle and a big expense. You want your driveway to last for years to come and to look great. So while you will pay more to have the concrete removed at first, rest assured that it’s the better decision in the long run. You’ll save both time and money while maintaining a driveway that increases your home’s curb appeal.

If you want premier asphalt services, turn to Paveco Inc. With more than five decades of experience in the design and construction of commercial and residential asphalt paving, our team has the experience and manpower to make your project the best it can be. We’re a family-owned and -operated company that’s been serving our loyal customers since 1958.

We only use the highest-quality materials available and provide an outstanding level of customer service. Our staff pays attention to quality and detail at an affordable cost to our customers. Give us a call right now, and get started on an estimate!

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