Paving the driveway of a home will be one of the most impactful changes that can be made to the landscaping. In addition to being an aesthetic improvement over gravel driveways, this can also be a more functional option.

Will You Have to Do Anything to Preserve the Deep Black Color?

Asphalt is a popular material for paving parking lots, roads, and driveways. The rich black color of the asphalt is one of the appealing aesthetic options for any paved surface. However, you might assume that the pavement will need a lot of work to preserve the color of the pavement. Typically, basic maintenance for the asphalt pavement will be enough to protect the color from fading. This maintenance will involve both cleaning the pavement regularly and applying a coating that will block sunlight from breaking down the pigments in the asphalt.

Will Paving With Asphalt Be a Long Process? 

Asphalt is one of the paving materials that will be able to be poured extremely quickly. Concrete will have to dry and cure, which can take several weeks. In contrast, asphalt will be able to harden as soon as it cools, and this is a process that should only take a day or two for most sized driveways. For a homeowner that is wanting to have a pavement option that they will be able to use as quickly as possible after it has been poured, asphalt is likely the best choice. While asphalt can be ready more quickly, you will still need to give it enough time to fully cool before using it. Otherwise, it may be soft enough to warp under the weight of your vehicles.

Will the Paving Process Damage Your Nearby Landscaping?

Homeowners may have a lot of pride in their landscaping, and this pride can actually be a reason that they may not choose to have their property paved as they may think that the paving process will cause widespread damage to their landscaping. In reality, asphalt pavement can be poured while causing minimal disruptions to the surrounding landscaping. In some cases, excavation work may be required to level the soil enough for the pavement to be poured on it, but this will vary from property to property. If you need help with this type of excavation, residential asphalt paving contractors can help. They should have tools that may allow them to perform this work without damaging the landscaping surrounding the driveway.