How are you going to use your Winter Haven parking lot paving and your driveway? Deciding what materials will be used on your pavement depends on what its functions are and how it is going to fulfill such functions. One of the main considerations of choosing the material is the weight of the vehicles that will pass on the pavement. The materials you will use for the pavement must be able to withstand the weight of the vehicles that will pass on it.

Here are some of the most popular and durable pavement material choices:

Asphalt

Asphalt remains to be the most popular material that Americans use for their driveways and parking lots. Why? For the simple reason that it is cheaper than the other alternatives and it lasts as long, if not longer, than concrete and especially, bricks paver. Asphalt is mostly used in government properties such as roads, highways, and freeways because it is inexpensive and it fits the requirements—simple, functional, and durable. In fact, if maintained properly, asphalt can last as long as 20 years. In the long run, that saves a lot of money.

Cement

Cement or concrete is also quite a popular pavement material. Remember, concrete driveways and pavements are no longer boring. Though you can still choose the standard cement material, there are other types now that will allow your pavement to be more aesthetically pleasing to look at. If you like, you can add some oomph to your pavement by using stamped concrete, colored concrete, or acid-etched concrete. You can also add other materials to the concrete such as pebbles, colored stones, and the like. Over the years, concrete will naturally crack. All you need to make sure of is that it has a proper base and strategic placement of joints. These steps can minimize the possibility of concrete, but not eliminate it altogether.

Gravel

This is the cheapest option for anyone, but it’s basically just putting stones on top of a dirt drive. Gravel remains to be the top choice for rural properties because they are inexpensive but functional. There is no special equipment needed to apply gravel. All the contractor has to do is to pour the gravel on top of the soil and make sure that it is flat. However, gravel driveways will eventually have to be refilled because over time, the gravel layer will get thin. The long-term cost of using gravel may not be so cheap after all.