Rigby5
Diamond Member
Asphalt costs much more than cement because it is mostly a petroleum product.
Concrete is just made from gravel and heated up limestone.
You can buy an 80 lb bag of concrete for $6, while the same size asphalt is about $30.
Asphalt does not last nearly as long as cement.
Since it is oil based, asphalt constantly loses oil to evaporation, and you have to replace it often, like every 6 years or so.
Concrete can last indefinitely, as it gets harder and harder over time.
Asphalt is very difficult to replace or repair.
You have to used significant amounts of heat to soften it for reshaping, and then use steamrollers to flatten it out again.
With concrete, you just break it up with jackhammers, and turn it back to gravel.
The only reason to use asphalt at all is that it can be done without expansion joints, to it is a slightly smoother finish with a road. But as a sidewalk, it would be extremely dangerous. The heat would harm animals in the summer.
Concrete is just made from gravel and heated up limestone.
You can buy an 80 lb bag of concrete for $6, while the same size asphalt is about $30.
Asphalt does not last nearly as long as cement.
Since it is oil based, asphalt constantly loses oil to evaporation, and you have to replace it often, like every 6 years or so.
Concrete can last indefinitely, as it gets harder and harder over time.
Asphalt is very difficult to replace or repair.
You have to used significant amounts of heat to soften it for reshaping, and then use steamrollers to flatten it out again.
With concrete, you just break it up with jackhammers, and turn it back to gravel.
The only reason to use asphalt at all is that it can be done without expansion joints, to it is a slightly smoother finish with a road. But as a sidewalk, it would be extremely dangerous. The heat would harm animals in the summer.