Get matched with top asphalt driveway pros in Hoisington, KS

Concrete is often the default material for a driveway apron, and many local building codes may require this. If you’re not restricted to concrete, however, you can consider alternative driveway apron ideas, such as asphalt, pavers, or gravel. You can also stamp the concrete for an interesting texture, add color to the concrete for a little extra character, or add a swirled trowel finish to your concrete driveway apron.

While the specific timeline for building a driveway can vary based on driveway length and local weather conditions, the average concrete driveway can require several days to lay down all of the different parts of the driveway. The curing process may require you to avoid using your driveway for a week following construction. Heavier vehicles should be kept off of a new concrete driveway for several weeks. Building a gravel driveway may take just one to two days in total.

The main difference between asphalt and blacktop is that asphalt has a lower ratio of bitumen—a low-grade tar-like crude oil—than blacktop. While blacktop is heated to 300 degrees or more, hot-mix asphalt is heated to a lower temperature, typically between 275 and 300 degrees Fahrenheit. Consult an asphalt driveway professional about which type of material is the best fit for your future asphalt driveway.

Asphalt is not a type of concrete. While both are a common type of pavement, asphalt is composed of aggregates (like sand and gravel) and bitumen; concrete is a mixture of cement, aggregates, and water. Here are some of the key differences between asphalt and concrete driveways.