Concrete, Asphalt Maintenance, Gravel and Retaining Walls
Concrete Driveways
Whether you're looking to replace your current driveway or install one that was never there, Livingston Asphalt and Concrete can give you that beautiful new CONCRETE DRIVEWAY you're looking for. We install concrete driveways in Brighton, MI, Howell, MI, Pinckney, MI, Whitmore Lake, MI, South Lyon, MI and other surrounding areas! There are a lot of misconceptions between the two most common driveway materials: asphalt and concrete. At first glance they may not seem that different, or that it makes sense to go with whichever option has the lower up-front cost at the time, but lets take a look at the differences between the two.
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The first misconception is that having an asphalt driveway installed is half the price of a CONCRETE DRIVEWAY. While this was a common statement made 25 years ago, the modern day prices have changed dramatically. Unfortunately, concrete didn't get cheaper, asphalt became much more expensive due to many factors. One reason is asphalt is made with crude oil. The price of oil is much higher than it was 25 years ago, increasing the cost to make asphalt. The second reason is the cost of equipment and machinery has increased dramatically. Asphalt is installed using heavy machinery such as a paver, roller, skidsteer and multiple dump trucks running back and forth to the plant. Concrete is installed using hand tools, and the concrete plants provide the transportation of the materials directly to the worksite. Another reason is the labor costs. Asphalt crews tend to have double the labor force while installing due to all the equipment that needs to be operated during installation, which in turn is double the labor expense. Asphalt also requires sealcoating, a preventative maintenance recommended yearly in Michigan to protect your investment. Another yearly charge to add on the total cost of your asphalt driveway. Concrete is essentially maintenance free in comparison. Below is a chart organizing this information and presenting an example scenario.
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Example Scenario
COMPARISON COST | ASPHALT | CONCRETE | |
|---|---|---|---|
Labor | $4500 | $4500 | |
Materials | $2000 | $4000 | |
Maintain
Yearly | $300 | $0 | |
Lifespan | ~20 years | ~30 years | |
Total | $575/year | $283/year |
Now let's compare the two materials themselves. Michigan has a wide range of weather types and temperatures. Asphalt remains pliable (to a degree) to accommodate these weather patterns and shifts, but many people are unaware the concrete has its own defense here in Michigan against such climates. All exterior concrete mixes we install here at Livingston Asphalt and Concrete contains what is called "air entrainment". This process is intentionally adding microscopic air bubbles in the concrete mixture that are created using chemicals called AEA's. These microscopic bubbles in the mixture provide stress relief for the concrete by using those voids as areas for to accommodate increased pressure, such as the freeze thaw cycle. As water freezes in the concrete pores, it expands into these voids, helping to prevent cracking or spalling. In the hot summer months, concrete remains on average 10'F cooler than asphalt, making it ideal for outdoor activities such as sports or relaxing in the sun. Concrete is also a much stronger material with an average comprehensive strength of 4000PSI compared to asphalt at 2800psi.
Completed Projects
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Timpelapse Of Us Installing A New Driveway!