Budget
To choose the material, you need to consider your budget. Asphalt is more affordable than concrete; asphalt installation is much faster and can be used as soon as it finishes up. However, you cannot make the final decision before knowing other factors and maintenance costs for both.
Maintenance
It’s important to know that both asphalt and concrete need regular maintenance. You will need to do maintenance for asphalt parking after 3 to 5 years, considering other factors like overuse, heavy rains, chemical spills, etc. Repairing concrete parking is very expensive in contrast to asphalt parking. But asphalt needs to be maintained more often than concrete. You need to replace slabs entirely for concrete repair, while asphalt parking can be repaired with patchwork.
Long-Term Investment
Pavement surfaces can last 20-30 years if you properly maintain them, while concrete parking lots will last 30-40 years. Although concrete gives your parking lot a long life, it may incur a high cost if you do need to repair or replace them.
Climate
Climate is a potential factor that you need to consider before choosing the material of your parking lots. If you live in a cold temperature, asphalt is a better option. Concrete doesn’t perform well in snow and cooler temperatures as it starts to crack. On the other hand, asphalt absorbs heat as soon as the temperature rises and lets the snow melt much faster. If you live in a warmer area, concrete is better than asphalt. As asphalt retains more heat, it can become hot easily. Concrete is easier to walk on or use in hot weather because it doesn’t absorb radiation.
Slope and Drainage
Asphalt can help you in water drainage as well as benefit the environment. Otherwise, water pools can damage the surface. So you need to check the slope and drainage are integrated on the right spots.
Appearance
Some people like asphalt because of its aesthetic appeal, while others prefer concrete because it has many color options. However, concrete stains are much more difficult to clean than asphalt.
Conclusion
Both asphalt and concrete have certain qualities that you cannot ignore, but you need to choose the material of your parking lot based on your specific requirements. Find out the usage or type of vehicles that will use the parking lot; your budget, climate change, appearance, life-span of investment, slope, drainage, and maintenance are a few factors you need to consider before making the final decision.
