Decisions decisions.....

You are thinking of a new driveway, but unsure if you should install concrete or asphalt?  Here are a few facts that may help you decide.

1. Asphalt is less expensive than concrete to install.
2. Concrete may last longer, however, in the northeast asphalt is more flexible and able to handle our extreme temperatures.
3. Concrete can be damaged during the winter months with some types of de-icing products.
4. Both concrete and asphalt require a good foundation prior to installation.
    

After you have installed your new asphalt driveway, there are a couple tips on seal coating.

1. Sealing the driveway after one year is necessary. Opinions vary on how often you should seal your driveway after the initial seal coat, but every three to four years is a good estimate. You may find as a result of extreme exposure to the elements, the asphalt appears gray due to oxidation, UV rays and weathering such as freezing, sun, and rain.
2. During the summer months, we recommend staying off a newly seal coated driveway for at least 48 hours. In the fall months it may require 72 hours or more. We will advise you on restrictions depending on the time of year and the weather.

The snow has melted, the days are longer, and summer is around the corner. We are into our 2017 work season.  While it would be our preference to work every day, sometimes Mother Nature does not cooperate.  Weather in this area can vary between light sprinkles to heavy down pours.  This raises the question of when can work in the rain? 

Occasional light sprinkles should not be cause for us to shut down operations. However, a steady downpour, either light or heavy, will likely require us to reschedule.  Here are some reasons why. 
 
Heavy rain cools the asphalt, making proper compaction difficult and excess moisture can cause separation of the asphalt binder from the aggregate.  A quality driveway or parking lot requires a firm, stable, well-draining crushed aggregate base.  Heavy rain and moisture present while paving can sabotage that base down the road causing failure.

The Asphalt Institute sums it up best,  asphalt pavements are designed to last for many years, so don’t let a sense of urgency to get the job done quickly allow you to make decisions which could strip years away from the pavement life.

Source: http://www.asphaltinstitute.org/asphalt-maintenance-and-rehabilitation-faqs/