Concrete Versus Asphalt
Posted by Jesse Willoughby on Wed, Dec 17, 2008 @ 12:10 PM
Ninety four percent of all pavement in the United States is asphalt. Why?
Based on use, it could be assumed that asphalt is the better product when compared to concrete. However, that is only true in limited instances.
Concrete is more expensive mostly because it is labor intensive to prep, form and pour. It has to be placed to minimum depth of 4" (Asphalt 2" minimum). However, a very general rule of thumb states concrete lasts about twice as long as asphalt.
Asphalt's popularity comes from its lower cost (again, a very general rule of thumb states asphalt is about 35-40% less than concrete when applied to minimum depth). The biggest cost components of asphalt are the material and equipment used to place the asphalt.
Concrete is placed where areas might be smaller, such as a sidewalk rather than a street, or where heavy weight is likely to damage pavement. Asphalt is a lower cost alternative where large areas need to be paved.