These days, homeowners all across the country are inundated with choices for each decision they are faced with. From the name of your firstborn child to what’s for dinner tonight, everyone seems to be overloaded with options. When it comes to driveway paving for your New Hampshire home, you will be tasked with choosing one surface from multiple materials. R. Cooper & Sons Paving, LLC has proudly served as your local asphalt paving company since 1960, and we’re ready to get to work on your project!
Our team can speak with potential clients about the costs and benefits of paving materials such as gravel, concrete, and asphalt.
Annual Climate
The freeze/thaw cycle in use across our country does much to dictate how builders complete their work. Areas prone to freezing, for example, will require deeper foundations to sit below the frost line. As such, you will typically see buildings across the northern United States outfitted with a basement.
New Hampshire is known for its temperature extremes. Just last January, Mount Washington Observatory observed a temperature of -36 degrees Fahrenheit, tying with the second coldest place on earth! This fact is important because it highlights the importance of driveway paving with a material that is up to the task.
- Concrete driveways are not a common sight around here, and the weather can be to blame. This aggregate is known to crack during extreme freeze/thaw patterns.
- Asphalt driveways are pliable, allowing for much more flexibility during seasonal changes. This blacktop can also absorb heat, helping to melt snow in the process.
- Gravel driveways are the most flexible, not forming a cohesive surface for your vehicles. While generally immune to expansion and contraction, heavy snows can quickly impact the integrity of your gravel!
Aesthetics
Beauty can be subjective, making this category hard to quantify for a clear winner. Some homeowners may enjoy the natural look and low-cost feel of their gravel driveway, while others seek out the ivory hue of concrete paving. In many cases, asphalt driveways provide a smooth, complete look that lasts for years with proper care.
Completion Time
One aspect of driveway paving many homeowners do not consider until construction has begun is the downtime. Our driveway paving services will be accomplished quickly and efficiently, but the inconveniences of construction work are inevitable. Families with many kids, handicapable individuals, elderly residents, or rough terrain surrounding the property can create logistical challenges while the most open and easy entrance to the home is being renovated. Gravel, which is nearly identical to the base used for concrete and asphalt driveways, can be completed very quickly. Asphalt paving jobs tend to take a couple of days, whereas concrete can take up to a week.
Our local paving contractors can work with you to find the best plan for your asphalt driveway installation. R. Cooper & Sons Paving, LLC was founded to provide personalized outcomes to best match each customer’s needs, and our commitment to quality permeates every aspect of our business.
Next time, we’ll continue to discuss the comparisons between gravel, concrete, and asphalt driveway paving for your New Hampshire home. Be sure to contact us today if you are interested in learning more about our services, and be sure to ask for your free estimate!