Asphalt or Concrete: What Holds Up Better in Southern Maryland
How asphalt and concrete driveways compare on cold, heat, lifespan, maintenance and repair, according to published sources.
Angi says asphalt resists cold better and is less likely to crack through freeze-thaw because it is less porous and more flexible, while concrete handles extreme heat better. It puts asphalt's life at 15 to 30 years and concrete's at 30 to 50, with asphalt needing resealing every two to three years.
Cold and freeze-thaw
Angi's comparison says the biggest difference between the two is climate. It says asphalt resists cold better, is less porous so water is less likely to soak in and freeze, and is more flexible than concrete. It says concrete driveways are susceptible to cracking where temperatures swing, because freeze-thaw cycles can crack the slab.
Heat
Angi says concrete handles extreme heat better, and that asphalt gets tacky in high heat and is often hotter than the air because of its black color.
Lifespan
Angi puts an asphalt driveway's life at 15 to 30 years and a concrete driveway's at 30 to 50. The Colorado Asphalt Pavement Association says a well-designed asphalt driveway will give trouble-free service for up to 20 years. The sources differ, and both tie the number to how well the driveway was designed, built and maintained.
Maintenance
Angi says asphalt needs resealing every two to three years. The Colorado Asphalt Pavement Association says a high-grade sealer applied every two to five years can extend service life, and SealMaster, a sealer manufacturer, says sealcoating is typically recommended every 3 years.
Repair
The Colorado Asphalt Pavement Association says weak spots, holes and large cracks in an asphalt driveway can be cut out and patched with hot-mix asphalt, and that an existing driveway can be overlaid to improve and strengthen it.
Who does which
South State Paving works in asphalt: driveway replacement, new driveways, resurfacing, sealcoating, tar and chip and repairs. It does not pour concrete.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Angi says asphalt resists cold better and is less likely to crack through freeze-thaw cycles, while concrete handles extreme heat better and lasts longer. Which matters more depends on the property and the budget.
Angi says asphalt lasts 15 to 30 years and concrete 30 to 50. The Colorado Asphalt Pavement Association says a well-designed asphalt driveway gives trouble-free service for up to 20 years.
Angi says every two to three years. The Colorado Asphalt Pavement Association says every two to five years, and SealMaster says typically every 3 years.
The Colorado Asphalt Pavement Association says weak spots, holes and large cracks can be cut out and patched with hot-mix asphalt, and that a driveway can be overlaid to improve and strengthen it.
Sources
The figures on this page come from these sources, read on 2026-09-25. None of them is South State Paving's own claim.
- Angi, Asphalt vs. Concrete Driveway: Pros and Cons
- Colorado Asphalt Pavement Association (published by the Asphalt Institute), Best Practices for the Use of Asphalt Driveways, technical brief
- SealMaster, How often should you sealcoat a parking lot or driveway?