It is the question that every homeowner must eventually answer: should I use asphalt or concrete for my driveway? Driveways are usually between 10 and 20 feet wide and can be over 100 feet long, depending upon the placement of the home in relation to the road. So when considering concrete or asphalt driveway repair or replacement, the homeowner has to consider the cost of replacing as much as 2,000 square feet of driveway paving.

Some homeowners automatically choose concrete, although it has a longer curing time before they are able to drive on it (up to a week). Concrete does come in hundreds of custom colors and can be made to match a house’s color scheme or garden theme. A well-done concrete driveway that is regularly repaired and maintained can last more than 40 years and is an appealing option to homeowners.

Concrete is slightly more expensive to install, but tends to need less overall maintenance than the asphalt option. In extreme winter conditions, concrete can crack. Still, it is very attractive and does have a slightly longer “life expectancy” than other paving materials such as asphalt.

On the other hand, asphalt is the go-to paving material for most of America’s roads: there are over 2.5 million miles of highways and local roads in this country, and they are overwhelmingly paved with asphalt. Asphalt is reclaimable and recyclable, and offers a lower price point per square foot to begin with.

Asphalt driveway repair is said to be easier than similar concrete repairs, and although it does not offer color options besides black, asphalt is less affected by temperature changes and is said to be generally easier to maintain. Also, homeowners can drive on asphalt very quickly after it is installed: no extended curing times are necessary.

Luckily, asphalt and concrete are both attractive options for a home: depending upon the climate, personal taste, and cost requirements, either material can be used to great effect in driveway repair or installation.