Do you live in an area that sees freezing temperatures along with snow and ice during the winter months? If so, you should know that asphalt paving may be a better option when compared to concrete. Continue reading to learn more about three of the reasons why you might want to choose asphalt over concrete for your driveway if you live in a cold-weather climate. 

Reason #1: Asphalt Is Not Damaged By Road Salt

The surface of driveways paved with concrete will begin to deteriorate when exposed to road salt. Since this salt plays a very important part in deicing your driveway during the winter months, this negative reaction to salt is a serious disadvantage when choosing concrete. Thankfully, asphalt does not have this same negative reaction. In fact, road salt has absolutely no impact on the strength and integrity of a driveway paved with asphalt. 

Reason #2: Asphalt Can Help Snow And Ice To Melt Faster

Most homeowners will happily avoid shoveling snow off their driveway whenever possible. Unfortunately, if the snow does not melt fast enough, these homeowners may have no choice but to break out their shovels in order to ensure continued access to their driveway. The good news is that if you have chosen asphalt paving over concrete, you will have a much better chance of the snow and ice melting on their own. This is because asphalt attracts the sun thanks to its dark color. This paving material also holds heat from the sun that it attracts. As a result, snow and ice will melt much faster on an asphalt driveway than on a driveway made of concrete. 

Reason #3: Asphalt Will Not Crack As A Result Of Freezing Temperatures

Concrete expands and contracts in extreme temperatures. As a result of this physical reaction to freezing temperatures, concrete will often crack when temperatures drop too low. Not only will this leave you dealing with the need for driveway repairs when spring comes around, but it can also make snow removal more difficult throughout the remainder of the winter season. Asphalt on the other hand will not crack because of freezing temperatures. This helps to keep your repair costs down and makes the use of snow removal equipment much easier and safer. 

A Final Thought

While asphalt paving is often the better option for people who live in cold weather climates, there is no such thing as a single solution that is right for every single homeowner. Consequently, if you are still unsure about your choice of paving materials, contacting a paving contractor in your local area will allow you to further explore both the pros and cons of all the different options that are available to you. 

Talk to a contractor to learn more about asphalt paving.