Do you have a gravel, pebble or concrete driveway that is starting to look a little tired and overused? Or maybe potholes and cracks are starting to form and the driveway is chipping away. If so then you’re probably looking for helpful driveway ideas or resurfacing options.
Driveway Ideas
Surfacing your unsealed gravel, limestone, roadbase or surfacing your old bitumen / asphalt driveway with asphalt is a cost-effective and durable solution. Compared to other materials, asphalt is fast to install, so you’ll keep your labour and machinery costs down and it also doesn’t require a long curing time like concrete, so you’ll be able to drive on your new driveway within a few hours.
If you’re making your decision based on style then, asphalt has a number of colours for you to choose from that can be matched to your landscaping or house design. You can also add kerbing to help keep out grass, weeds and protect the edges of your driveway if you need to drive off the side or to channel water run-off.
Asphalt driveway resurfacing with custom garden in the centre.
Risks of Not Surfacing/Resurfacing Your Driveway
A damaged bitumen unsealed driveway may seem to be something you can delay repairing, but there are a few major reasons you should think about driveway surfacing sooner, rather than later.
Cost
The longer you leave your driveway to erode, the worse the damage will get and the more difficult the repairs will be. If the cracks and potholes go so deep that they damage the road base, then the cost of repairing, replacing or resurfacing your driveway goes up. Minor pothole temporary repairs can extend the usable life of a driveway and then be resurfaced at a later date.
Car Damage
Putting off resurfacing your old driveway could lead to material coming loose. This material, if not swept away, can easily get flicked up by your car, damaging the paint or loose materials going onto your lawn, paths and flower beds.
Decreasing your Home’s Value
Initial impressions of your homes or business frontage are important.
If you’re thinking about selling your home or running a business, a rundown driveway up to your house or commercial building can lower your sale price. Buyers may see this as something they need to repair once they buy or it may just reduce the overall appeal.
Gravel, Roadbase or Unsealed Driveway Surfacing
Unsealed road surfaces can cause damage to vehicles.
A gravel or unsealed driveway may be a cheap and fast option when you’re first installing a driveway but it can be hard on tyres and can flick up to damage your car, as well as washing away during winter rains. If your gravel driveway is uneven, thinning or full of weeds you can’t get rid of, it could be the perfect time to upgrade in a driveway material that will be long-lasting and impressive looking.
Resurfacing a gravel driveway with new asphalt is a cost-effective option compared to concrete or paving and it will last anywhere from 20 to 35 years depending on installation, weather and use, with virtually no ongoing maintenance cost. At a similar age, concrete needs to be fully demolished and replaced, as do pavers, at considerable expense. By comparison, an asphalt surface can have minor repairs carried out and fully resurfaced at a competitive cost.
Depending on the size of your driveway, an experienced asphalt surfacing company can have the asphalt work completed in one day and you’ll be able to drive on it within a few hours. The initial base preparation will take longer as it is an essential part of the end product and ensures water runs off and levels are correct.
Concrete Driveway Resurfacing
Concrete driveways crack faster than asphalt.
Many Perth homeowners choose concrete driveways, but once they begin to crack and erode, concrete driveways can be expensive to replace or resurface. Unfortunately, concrete which is cracked and failing will normally need to be demolished and replaced in full, as asphalt will reflect the same cracking if it is laid over old cracked concrete. We can recommend not laying asphalt on concrete for that reason.
Unlike concrete or pavers, asphalt doesn’t require joints to allow for expansion in Perth’s hotter months and cooler winters. Asphalt’s composition using bitumen makes it adaptable to changes in the climate and is installed with minimal joints where paving runs meet.
Read our full comparison of concrete driveway resurfacing vs asphalt driveway resurfacing
Professional Perth Driveway Resurfacing
A new red asphalt driveway by NK Asphalt.
Whether you’re due for an upgrade or considering putting your property on the market, a driveway or car park resurface or replacement may be the right solution for you. NK Asphalt has been surfacing and resurfacing old bitumen, asphalt and unsealed driveways with asphalt for over 30 years and we work all through Perth, the Hills and surrounding semi-rural areas. We specialise in large residential driveways, strata units and commercial areas within an 80 kilometre radius of Perth.
If you would like to find out more about the benefits of asphalt and the services we offer, please contact our team today or request a free on-site quote.
Get a cost-effective asphalt driveway quote
If your job is 150m2 or more and in the Perth or surrounding areas.
