Asphalt driveways that are paved over an appropriately compacted subbase will always be superior to asphalt that is laid over an unstable base or concrete that is prone to shifting and expansion.
Can asphalt be laid over concrete driveway.
In fact many miles of concrete roads are paved over with asphalt every year.
Concrete is a great base material because it is stable and allows for excellent compaction of the asphalt above.
Before concrete installation begins the asphalt is inspected and repaired as needed.
Putting asphalt over concrete is done for several reasons but does have its drawbacks.
From time to time you ll find concrete streets and driveways that have an asphalt overlay on them.
Asphalt can be installed on top of concrete.
Asphalt driveways last longer and look better when they are built from the ground up.
Nevertheless it is possible that your drive may last for a long time without this happening.
It s a cheaper alternative to asphalt but less common than concrete or pavers when it comes to picking materials.
In addition you do have an alternative paving method that may surprise you.
The truth about asphalt over concrete.
Concrete is poured with expansion joints that allow room for the pavement to expand in hot weather.
By removing the asphalt you could.
Asphalt is easier to maintain.
You can complete asphalt driveways in a short amount of time often under three days.
Holes or cracks with depth of 2 inches or more require filling before concrete overlay is applied.
An asphalt overlay is cheaper to install than replacing concrete and can provide a smooth ride over deteriorating concrete.
Does concrete provide a solid base.
One positive aspect of installing blacktop over concrete is the concrete provides a firm base for the flexible asphalt paving.
So yes pouring asphalt over concrete may look good at first but there are bound to be troubles over time.
Blacktop can be successfully installed over concrete.
The process for this is a lot easier where the asphalt gets laid out and then stones are mixed in to finish off the surface.
However you will be taking a risk that the concrete underneath will after a period of years heave and move under the asphalt cracking or breaking the surface.
The texture is a bit rougher because it is made up of a combination of asphalt and stone.
It is safe to pave asphalt over concrete.
It will however require a little more maintenance than a typical asphalt overlay.
But there are issues as you might expect.
Well the answer is yes.
Asphalt works as a driveway base under concrete only when it is strong stable and at least 2 to 3 inches thick.
The problem won t so much be that of the concrete not adhering to the asphalt but rather the weight of the concrete on the asphalt causing the driveway to sink.