Whether you’re selecting a driveway for a new home construction or updating your existing driveway, the decision is important for both functionality and curb appeal. Options exist like concrete or interlocking pavers, but homeowners in the Midwest should consider asphalt for its durability and cost effectiveness. Read on to learn more about why asphalt should be a top contender for your driveway.
Benefits of Asphalt Driveways for Northwest Indiana Homeowners
Asphalt driveways are visually appealing due to their sleek, black color, and adding a new asphalt driveway immediately adds to your home’s curb appeal. Beyond aesthetics, asphalt has a lot going for it, but its three main selling points are its price, its weather adaptability and its quick installation time.
Affordability 
Asphalt is one of the most cost-effective choices for driveways, and it performs like its much more costly concrete counterpart. The average cost for an asphalt driveway is $2-5 per square foot, which is about half the cost of a concrete driveway. Gravel is much less expensive but much harder to maintain (have you tried to shovel snow from a gravel driveway? It’s not easy!), so asphalt seems like the easy winner for your wallet.
Some regular maintenance is needed to keep your asphalt driveway in good condition, like sealcoating it every 3-5 years and crack filling as needed, but this seems like a small price to pay for the huge installation savings.
Great Choice For Our Climate
Northwest Indiana and its surrounding areas definitely go through temperature shifts and seasonal changes each year. During freeze and thaw cycles, asphalt is more forgiving than other driveway materials (like concrete and pavers). This ability to expand and contract without damage makes asphalt a great choice for both flat and inclined driveways.
Also, asphalt’s dark black color absorbs the sun’s heat and helps to melt snow faster.
Quick Installation Time
New asphalt driveways can typically be installed in a day or two once any preparation has been done. What’s better is asphalt driveways can be driven on the following day after installation, so you won’t have to park in the road or your grass for a week like you would with concrete, waiting for curing to take place.
You can expect an asphalt driveway to last between 12 to 20 years, depending on upkeep and maintenance. Trust an expert asphalt team like Pro Drive Asphalt for the proper installation and ongoing maintenance, and you can enjoy a sleek driveway for decades to come.
The team at Pro Drive Asphalt has been providing comprehensive asphalt services to homeowners in Northwest Indiana for more than 30 years. To learn more about asphalt driveways, or to request an estimate on your asphalt project, contact us at (219) 324-4755 or info@prodriveasphalt.com.