Appearance is everything. When a neighborhood has driveway after driveway in disrepair, that neglect sends a message that this is a community that is not concerned with maintenance. Neighborhoods that do not keep up with needed maintenance can eventually become neighborhoods that start to see a decrease in property values. Drops in property values can send another message that the neighborhood is not the best investment. When something as simple as promoting whole neighborhood asphalt repair might present a stronger image, doesn’t it make sense that homeowners might band together to improve the image of their community?
Some homeowners associations take the time and energy to promote neighborhood improvements that boost the image of the entire community. Asphalt driveway projects are one way that a neighborhood can immediately improve their image. Sunken driveways, cracked driveways, and driveways that have weeds and grass growing through the asphalt send a strong message about the property owners. A message of neglect. Asphalt driveways that have been freshly laid and properly maintained, however, send a completely different message. A message of pride.
Driveway and Sidewalk Upkeep Is Important to the Value of a Property
Few things impact the curb appeal of a home more than a properly maintained driveway and sidewalk. These things are, in fact, the definition of curb appeal. And while scheduling a contractor individually might be expensive, a group of homeowners scheduling a contracting service together may be able to negotiate a better deal. In addition, a neighborhood driveway project can limit the number of days that big trucks and messy asphalt projects fill the streets of the neighborhood.
At the same time that homeowners are scheduling driveway repairs and replacements they may also decide to evaluate the status of sidewalks as well. If concrete is installed and maintained correctly, a sidewalk, driveway, or other concrete surface can have a long useful lifespan. In many climates around the country this lifespan can last from 25 to 50 years. One of the secrets to properly maintaining concrete, however, is to fixing problems as they occur, instead of waiting for them to multiply. Neighborhood sidewalk repair projects can safe homeowners both time and money.
Asphalt Surfaces Remain One of the Most Versatile Road Options

Did you know that nearly 90% of U.S. parking areas are surfaced with asphalt pavement? Asphalt driveways and roads are popular surfaces because of their durability and their ability to be reused. For instance, in the year 2013 67.8 million tons of asphalt pavement material was reclaimed. Of that, nearly 100% was reused. This reusable surface is literally pulled up, reground, and reapplied in some instances. The assembly line of various kinds of asphalt trucks that travelers see lining a highway under construction is a visual representation of this fact. As one truck breaks up and pulls the old asphalt from the ground, another truck breaks the asphalt down and prepares it to be relaid as a new surface. Slowly but surely the assembly line of trucks make their way across miles of road throughout the country.
“There are only two seasons in this part of the country” winter and road construction.” Many parts of the country like to claim this saying about the constant state of road construction as their own comment. The truth is, however, road construction is a constant in many parts of the country. The fact that 94% of the 2.6 million miles of paved roads in the U.S. are surfaced with asphalt is an indicator of how constant the task of upkeep needs to be. When a single record setting hot day in the midwest, for example, can force a major road to buckle in four different locations it should not be a surprise that the roads we drive on need to be constantly monitored and repaired.
No neighborhood or community should let the deteriorating state of their roads, sidewalks, and driveways send the wrong message. Disrepair sends a message of not being willing to invest in the future of a property or a community. Repaired surfaces, on the other hand, send the message that owners care about the current state and value of their property. What is your asphalt driveway telling your neighbors about your priorities?