Asphalt Paving
New asphalt surfaces and full replacement paving for residential driveways and commercial parking lots, built on properly graded and compacted base.
Asphalt Paving details
Comparison
Asphalt vs concrete: which driveway is right?
A straight comparison of cost, winter performance, repairs, and long-term upkeep, written for property owners in Hannibal, Missouri and Quincy, Illinois.
The short version
Asphalt costs less to install. Concrete asks for less coating.
Most driveway decisions come down to two things: what you want to spend now, and how you want to spend on it later. Asphalt is normally the lower up-front number and it takes maintenance on a repeating cycle. Concrete is normally the higher up-front number and it takes less routine coating, but repairs are harder to hide when they are needed.
We pave asphalt, so treat this as an asphalt contractor being direct about where each surface makes sense rather than a claim that one wins everywhere.
Side by side
How the two surfaces compare.
| Factor | Asphalt | Concrete |
|---|---|---|
| Up-front cost | Generally the lower-cost option for the same area | Generally the higher-cost option for the same area |
| Install time | Can usually be driven on within a short curing window | Needs a longer cure before vehicle traffic |
| Cold weather | Flexes with freeze and thaw movement | Rigid, so movement tends to show as cracks and joint damage |
| Repairs | Patching, crack filling, and resurfacing blend in reasonably well | Patches and replacement slabs rarely match the original |
| Maintenance | Sealcoating and crack filling on a repeating cycle | Less routine coating, but joint sealing and cleaning still matter |
| Appearance | Uniform black finish that renews with sealcoating | Light gray finish that shows stains more readily |
| Snow and ice work | Dark surface sheds snow melt quickly, plow-friendly | Deicing salts can be hard on the surface over time |
Choose asphalt when
Asphalt is usually the better fit.
- You want the lower up-front cost for the area covered
- The driveway is long, rural, or follows uneven ground
- You want the surface usable again quickly
- You are willing to sealcoat and crack fill on a cycle
- You want repairs that blend into the surrounding surface
- The property sees plow work and heavy snow melt
Consider concrete when
Concrete may make more sense.
- You specifically want a light-colored, hard finish
- The area is small, flat, and easy to form
- You prefer less frequent surface coating
- Decorative finishes or stamped patterns matter to you
- The slab is tied into existing concrete work
- Heavy static loads sit in one spot for long periods
Hannibal, MO
What this means in Hannibal.
Hannibal has plenty of long rural and semi-rural drives, sloped approaches, and properties where the driveway follows the ground rather than a formed pad. Asphalt handles that geometry well and covers a large area for less than a poured slab.
Freeze and thaw movement is the other factor. Asphalt flexes with it, which is one reason it is the common surface on drives around town and out in the county.
Quincy, IL
What this means in Quincy.
Quincy has more established neighborhoods with older driveways that are being replaced rather than built new. Removal and base correction matter more there than the surface debate, because whatever goes on top only lasts if the base is right.
On commercial property, asphalt also keeps striping and future repairs simple, which is worth weighing alongside the install price.
Driveway work
Asphalt driveways we have paved.
Related services
What we can do for your driveway.
Sealcoating
A protective surface coating that shields asphalt from sun, water, and traffic wear while restoring a clean, uniform black finish.
Sealcoating details
Asphalt Repair & Crack Filling
Targeted repair of potholes, failing patches, edge breakup, and cracks so water stays out of the base and damage stops spreading.
Asphalt Repair & Crack Filling details
Parking Lot Striping
New layouts and restriping for stalls, arrows, accessible spaces, fire lanes, and loading zones, applied to an approved layout.
Parking Lot Striping details
Grading & Site Preparation
Dirt work, excavation, rough and final grading, subgrade correction, and base preparation so the pavement above it has something solid to sit on.
Grading & Site Preparation detailsAsphalt vs concrete
Driveway comparison FAQs.
If you need something specific, call or text us and we can talk it through.
Is asphalt or concrete cheaper for a driveway?
For the same driveway, asphalt is normally the lower up-front cost. Concrete usually costs more to install but asks for less routine coating, so the honest comparison is total cost over the years you plan to keep the driveway, not just the install price.
Which holds up better in Missouri and Illinois winters?
Asphalt flexes with freeze and thaw movement, which is why it is the common choice around Hannibal and Quincy. Concrete is rigid, so ground movement is more likely to show up as cracking or joint damage.
How long does an asphalt driveway last?
It depends on the base underneath, drainage, traffic, and whether it gets maintained. A driveway on a solid, well-drained base that is sealcoated and crack filled on a sensible cycle lasts considerably longer than one that is left alone.
Can you pave asphalt over an existing concrete driveway?
Sometimes, but only after we look at it. Concrete moves at its joints and that movement can telegraph through new asphalt, so whether an overlay makes sense depends on the condition and layout of what is already there.
Do you install concrete driveways?
We are an asphalt contractor, so we pave, repair, sealcoat, and stripe asphalt. If concrete is genuinely the better answer for your property we will say so. Call or text (573) 719-6650 and we will give you a straight read.