Choose asphalt for a smooth surface that is easy to clear of snow, and interlocking pavers for their colours and patterns.
The rest depends on your vehicles and on the upkeep you are willing to do.
National Asphalte installs both.
Choosing for everyday use
Both surfaces carry a car well when their crushed stone base is well built. A truck or a trailer calls for a stronger base, whatever the surface. Asphalt offers a continuous surface, pleasant for bikes and the kids’ ball games. Interlocking pavers have joints and a slightly uneven surface that small wheels feel more. In summer, black asphalt gets hotter in the sun than a light-coloured paver.
Choosing for winter and snow removal
Asphalt is easy to clear, with a shovel or a snowblower. Its dark colour soaks up the sun and helps the snow melt. Interlocking pavers clear well too, with a blade or a shovel that doesn’t catch on the paver edges. For either surface, markers along the driveway guide the snow plow and protect the curbs.
Choosing for maintenance
Asphalt mostly requires keeping an eye on cracks. A crack sealed early keeps water from getting underneath and freezing. An asphalt repair shows at first, because the new surface is darker. Interlocking pavers mostly require keeping the joints full of sand. Without that sand, weeds grow and the pavers shift. You can replace a stained or broken paver on its own, without touching the rest of the driveway.
Choosing for looks
Asphalt gives a black, uniform surface that fades slowly in the sun. You choose interlocking pavers by colour and by laying pattern. They can match the colour of the brick or stone on the house. Can’t decide? An asphalt driveway can get a border of interlocking pavers. Natural stone steps and a walkway can also complete the look.
Building right under either one
Under asphalt or interlocking pavers, the base is what makes the driveway last. A nice surface laid on a weak base warps over the winters. The slope matters just as much, so water flows away from the house.