Raymond Wolk is the owner and operator of County Asphalt and Trucking LLC in Davisburg, Michigan. As a 3rd generation paver, Raymond Wolk discusses in the article below, the benefits of asphalt paving for homeowners.
Asphalt paving is most often seen in public works, but it can be a great choice for homeowners as well. This material is great for driveways, patios, and other paving needs. The question is how well does asphalt work for homeowners?
Raymond Wolk of County Asphalt and Trucking LLC says that there are a number of benefits that come with asphalt paving in residential areas. Asphalt can be quickly installed, is fairly cheap yet durable. During its lifespan, it is great for sound reduction and aesthetics. When it does need to be replaced it can be recycled.
The full scope of these benefits cannot be fully understood without some context. In the sections to follow, Raymond Wolk of County Asphalt and Trucking LLC explains more about how these aspects of asphalt measure up to other home improvement materials.
Installation
Installing an asphalt driveway or other paving job does not take long. What takes the majority of the time is removing any previous paving as well as preparing the space explains Raymond Wolk of County Asphalt and Trucking LLC. It can take some time to lay down the preparation levels and ensure the paving has an appropriate slope.
Once the installers get to the point of installing the asphalt it will not take much more than a day, sometimes two, at most. After the asphalt has been poured it only needs to dry for up to three days.
After this, the asphalt is ready to drive on though it is best to wait longer before parking on it.
Price
Raymond Wolk of County Asphalt and Trucking LLC says that even when the project calls for a lot of asphalt it will still be cheaper than other materials. Asphalt is priced by the square foot. On average, asphalt costs between $2 and $5 per square foot, sometimes even less.
Other materials such as concrete will start around $3 per square foot and only go up from there. That said, there are always other costs to consider. The more complicated the project, the more it will cost.
Durability
Raymond Wolk of County Asphalt and Trucking LLC explains that as long as the asphalt was poured to an appropriate thickness it will last many years. The average lifespan for asphalt paving is between 15 and 20 years. This can be extended with proper care which can increase the longevity to up to 30 years.
Of course, concrete can last much longer as shown by ancient concrete structures like The Colosseum. That said, modern concrete projects often don’t last nearly as long.
Sound
Raymond Wolk of County Asphalt and Trucking LLC says that while sound absorption may not be the reason to choose asphalt, it is an additional benefit. Asphalt’s porous nature allows it to absorb sound better than other materials. This makes asphalt great at reducing noise.
The level of reduction is not high–roughly 3 to 5 decibels worth. Small uses of asphalt will not result in a noticeable difference. The more asphalt used, the more absorption there will be.
Asphalt and Aesthetics
While it is easy to overlook the aesthetic value of a material it is worth considering according to Raymond Wolk of County Asphalt and Trucking LLC. Asphalt can look great when professionally installed, which is especially true when the asphalt paving matches the area.
An asphalt driveway can be a great way to tie a home’s aesthetic into the surrounding neighborhood. If the street is also made of asphalt any use of asphalt around the house will coordinate.
Recycling
Lastly, but no less importantly, asphalt can be 100% recycled at the end of its lifespan explains Raymond Wolk of County Asphalt and Trucking LLC. This can help keep asphalt costs down as well as reduce the amount of construction waste. Asphalt can be recycled in several ways.
One method is called milling. This method involves ripping up the top layer of the asphalt without damaging the layers beneath it. The top layer can then be mixed into new asphalt.
Another method is called asphalt pulverizing. This process involves destroying the asphalt and mixing it into the sub-layers to make a new sub-layer. Alternatively, this pulverized layer can become part of a new asphalt surface.
Final thoughts
Raymond Wolk of County Asphalt and Trucking LLC says that there are many possible materials to choose from when improving one’s home. Each material has its pros and cons. It is important to evaluate each material in the framework of the project. Asphalt is a great choice for many home improvement projects.
When working with asphalt be sure to work with professionals that will ensure your asphalt lasts.
