Can You Pour Asphalt Over Concrete

Well the answer is yes.

Can you pour asphalt over concrete. Unstable concrete base concrete is not a compacted surface because of how hard it is when dry. The truth about asphalt over concrete. When concrete deteriorates it draws and holds moisture. Concrete is a great base material because it is stable and allows for excellent compaction of the asphalt above.

I just watch them and wait for them to dry so i can build. Likewise i don t do pours. You pour over asphalt and the concrete imo would compress the asphalt and cause serious cracks in the concrete s finish. Asphalt can be successfully installed over concrete but due to the characteristics of each material you may not be happy with the long term results as the asphalt will ultimately crack in the same manner that concrete does.

It will however require a little more maintenance than a typical asphalt overlay. It just doesn t make fiscal sense to do it as that driveway will need a lot more work in the near future. Holes or cracks with depth of 2 inches or more require filling before concrete overlay is applied. Therefore concrete is often used as a bridge over unstable ground.

In fact many miles of concrete roads are paved over with asphalt every year. An asphalt overlay is cheaper to install than replacing concrete and can provide a smooth ride over deteriorating concrete. Asphalt works as a driveway base under concrete only when it is strong stable and at least 2 to 3 inches thick. So what are the issues with just pouring over top of the asphalt.

Asphalt requires a well prepared stable subbase otherwise the resulting pavement will be subject to instability and cracking. Pouring asphalt over concrete is bad for the longevity of your driveway so yes pouring asphalt over concrete may look good at first but there are bound to be troubles over time. It might be safe to assume that any settling has had many years to sort itself out. Concrete itself is very stable and strong so no matter what it is poured over the slab is going to be solid when it hardens.

The answer to the extremely common question can i lay new asphalt over old concrete is yes you can but we discourage it. It is safe to pave asphalt over concrete. It is in bad need of a resurfacing. While it is safe to pave asphalt over concrete there are several reasons why we do not recommend this method.

I am just trying to figure out how i can remedy the situation without having to spend more than necessary. Before concrete installation begins the asphalt is inspected and repaired as needed. You can put asphalt over concrete but professionals don t advise it. Disadvantages of putting asphalt over concrete.

Putting asphalt over concrete is done for several reasons but does have its drawbacks.