When was the last time you had your driveway or parking lot inspected? If several years have gone by without any maintenance or repair services from our Southeast MI asphalt paving contractors, you may notice . Yet, do you know whether you should be replacing or resurfacing asphalt?
Knowing the differences between asphalt resurfacing and replacement can save you money and prolong the life of your paved surface. Given proper asphalt maintenance and repairs, there’s no reason why your parking lot or driveway can’t last many years.
Here’s how asphalt pavement resurfacing and replacement compare so you can make an informed decision.
Asphalt Resurfacing
Resurfacing is when the top layer of asphalt is removed and replaced with a fresh layer. If the foundation of asphalt pavement isn’t damaged, you will be able to put off replacing your parking lot or driveway for another 8 to 15 years through resurfacing. It’s important you hire a reputable asphalt resurfacing contractor like ours for the job. Otherwise, the effects of asphalt resurfacing won’t last.
Learn More → What to Look For in an Asphalt Contractor
You will need to repair asphalt potholes, cracks, and divots before resurfacing. This is because the new surface will only be as strong as the asphalt beneath it. In other words, if there is damage in asphalt layers underneath the surface, it won’t take long for this damage to reach the surface.
Resurfacing is possible, as long as the following is true:
- Less than 25% to 30% of asphalt pavement needs repairs
- Foundation is structurally sound
- Asphalt pavement is less than 20 years old
- Cracks are smaller than a quarter inch wide
- Cracks are shallow (not several inches deep)
If your asphalt pavement needs replacement, resurfacing will not be enough. It won’t take long for structural damage to show up on the new surface through cracks and potholes. While it may seem less expensive in the short-term to pay for resurfacing asphalt, the constant repairs will cost you more in the long-run. Our asphalt replacement contractors will be able to recognize the signs asphalt needs replacement.
Asphalt Replacement
Our asphalt contractors will highly recommend replacement if your asphalt driveway or parking lot is beyond repair. While resurfacing may be less expensive in the short-term, eventually there will reach a point where the cost of repairs exceeds the cost of . Since asphalt typically lasts 20 years, you’ll want to consider replacement once it reaches the end of its life expectancy.
Replacement may be necessary if you notice the following warning signs:
- More than 25% to 30% of asphalt pavement needs repairs
- Foundation is unstable
- Asphalt pavement is more than 20 years old
- Cracks are over a quarter inch wide
- Cracks are a few inches deep
Call to Receive a Quote Today
Whether you need a driveway or parking lot resurface, you can trust our asphalt paving contractors serving Southeast Michigan for excellent results. At Allied Construction, we are proud to provide asphalt paving services to our customers both new and long term. Call one of our locations today or contact us online for your free estimate.
This blog post has been updated.