Can You Pave Asphalt Over Concrete

Asphalt is far easier to maintain than concrete.

Can you pave asphalt over concrete.

The answer to the extremely common question can i lay new asphalt over old concrete is yes you can but we discourage it. Glue down the last border patio blocks. It is safe to pave asphalt over concrete. Holes and cracks can simply be filled with new asphalt or be tarred over for greater durability.

One positive aspect of installing blacktop over concrete is the concrete provides a firm base for the flexible asphalt paving. If you ve been thinking about updating your driveway or parking lot you might be wondering if asphalt can be paved right over the top of the concrete. However if you already have a concrete driveway that you want to replace with asphalt there are some important points to consider. In addition you do have an alternative paving method that may surprise you.

Well the answer is yes. Asphalt on top of existing problems won t make them go away. Lay the field pavers over concrete as you would on any paver patio. If the question is can i lay asphalt over concrete then the answer is yes this is absolutely possible if elevations allow for it and we re happy to lay asphalt driveways over concrete if that s what you want.

While it is safe to pave asphalt over concrete there are several reasons why we do not recommend this method. Concrete is a great base material because it is stable and allows for excellent compaction of the asphalt above. But there are issues as you might expect. However you will be taking a risk that the concrete underneath will after a period of years heave and move under the asphalt cracking.

The determining factor here is what lies underneath. Switching from concrete to asphalt the first thing to consider is whether you need to remove the concrete driveway or if you can simply pave over it. In fact many. Blacktop can be successfully installed over concrete.

It s also the cheaper option since heavy equipment is required to dig up an existing concrete slab. Concrete however typically needs to be replaced to restore its luster which is expensive and time consuming to do. Scrape away the excess sand and cut off the excess landscape fabric with a utility knife. Let the glue dry for a few hours before you tamp the field pavers and sweep sand across the patio to fill the joints.

Once the asphalt surface has reached the end of its lifespan many wonder if it s time for a new surface entirely or if the old surface can be paved over. The layer of asphalt over the original is called an overlay and can offer an additional 10 15 years to the life of the surface. The time to correct them is before you install the new asphalt. Homeowners can benefit from this whitetopping technique to reduce labor costs and time when replacing worn asphalt driveways.