Why Should a Concrete Driveway Be Removed Before Asphalt Paving?

One of the most frequently asked questions about driveway replacement is, “Should I pour new asphalt over an old concrete driveway?” This is a good question. Many property owners want to know whether it is possible because their concrete driveway is cracking or crumbling, and asphalt paving is generally a less expensive option than repouring concrete. Aside from cost-effectiveness, asphalt driveways are preferred over concrete for two reasons: faster installation and superior weather resistance.

If there is an existing concrete driveway, however, it comes with its own set of challenges.

If you are wondering if you can lay asphalt over concrete, the answer is technical yes. This is doable, provided the elevations allow it. However, there are some serious drawbacks to doing so. It is generally recommended that you remove the existing concrete before laying asphalt. Here are two reasons why:

With Asphalt Paving You Are Dealing With Different Sub Bases

The main issue with laying asphalt driveways over concrete is the initial site preparation. Before installing a concrete or asphalt driveway, the site must be prepared in different ways.

Contractors rarely prepare the ground beneath a concrete driveway before pouring it. Though they do ensure that the surface is level, no underlying support is laid. If stability is an issue, a contractor may simply lay a thicker concrete slab.

On the other hand, asphalt paving necessitates installing a sub-base, which is usually a layer of manufactured aggregate and/or crushed rock to offer additional stability. If you pour asphalt over a concrete driveway, you will be skipping this critical step. This means that if there are any problems with the concrete underneath—think heaving or shifting of the concrete slab due to ground changes—the asphalt layer on top could be damaged.

The Question of Driveway Longevity

While laying asphalt over concrete may seem to be a smart decision at first, there will inevitably be problems down the road. It may look like you are saving a couple of hundred dollars upfront on your asphalt paving job, but it may turn out to be a lot more expensive in the long run since the driveway will require a lot more maintenance and repair work.

Asphalt driveways built from the ground up last longer and look nicer than those laid on top of concrete. Your new asphalt driveway will have a solid, stable foundation, demanding fewer maintenance and repair jobs over time and saving you money along the way.

Concrete and asphalt do work well together in some instances, such as when paving edges or curbs. However, they often work better side by side rather than one on top of the other.

The Asphalt Paving Takeaway

While laying asphalt over your concrete driveway is technically possible, it is not recommended. Doing so may result in some serious (read: expensive) problems that you will have to fix down the line. So, instead of laying new asphalt over old concrete, you should remove the concrete driveway and prep the area before laying the new asphalt. This will ensure that the foundation of your driveway is stable and strong and that it will last for a long time.

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Commonwealth Paving, 136 Outerloop, Louisville, Kentucky 40214
Phone: 502-459-7283, Fax: 502-456-2678

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