The base
- 300 mm compacted Granular A under a driveway
- Placed in 75–100 mm lifts
- Compacted between every lift
- Geotextile between base and subgrade
Identical requirement for all three surfaces.
Pavers, concrete or asphalt?
Three surfaces, three different bargains. We install two of them and will tell you honestly when the third is the right answer. Here is the comparison.
Based in
Whitchurch-Stouffville
Estimates
Free & on-site
Before we start
Written scope
On site
Same crew throughout
Side by side
Where each one wins.
| Interlocking pavers | Concrete | Asphalt | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Install cost | Highest | Middle | Lowest |
| Lifespan | Longest, because repairable | Long, then cracks | Shortest cycle |
| Repair | Lift and reset the area | Patch shows, or replace | Patch and reseal |
| Utility access | Lift and relay | Cut and re-pour | Cut and patch |
| Ground movement | Flexes with it | Cracks | Tolerates, then deforms |
| Maintenance | Re-sand joints | Reseal | Reseal every few years |
| Salt | Quality units tolerate it | Surface scaling risk | Softens in heat, brittle in cold |
| Look | Modular, widest choice | Seamless, stamped options | Plain black |
| Best for | Front driveways, patios, anywhere seen | Large plain areas, budget-conscious | Long rural driveways |
The part that does not change
All three fail for the same reason.
Whatever goes on top, the ground underneath decides how long it lasts. Concrete on a shallow base cracks, pavers sink, and asphalt deforms. The surface is a preference; the base is the build.
Drainage
- 2% minimum slope away from the house
- Water taken somewhere it can go
- Downspouts extended past the surface
The question
- How deep is the base?
- In how many lifts is it compacted?
- Is there geotextile?
- What is the slope?
Ask every quote, whichever surface it is for.
Choosing
Which one for you.
Choose pavers if
- It is the front of your house
- Utilities run underneath
- You want it repairable in place
- You are staying long enough for that to matter
Choose concrete if
- You want a seamless surface
- Install budget is binding
- You like the stamped look
- The area is decorative rather than heavy-use
Choose asphalt if
- The driveway is very long and rural
- Budget is the deciding factor
- Appearance is not the priority
- You accept resealing every few years
We will say so rather than sell you pavers you do not need.
Questions
Questions, answered.
Which lasts longest in Ontario?
Interlock, because it can be repaired in place rather than replaced. Concrete lasts a long time and then cracks somewhere you cannot fix invisibly. Asphalt has the shortest cycle and needs resealing every few years.
Which is cheapest?
Asphalt to install, then concrete, then interlock. Over twenty years the order shifts, because asphalt is resealed repeatedly, a cracked slab is lived with or replaced whole, and interlock is repaired section by section.
Does asphalt make sense at all?
On a long rural driveway where the alternative is thousands of square metres of pavers, absolutely. On a suburban front driveway it is usually the false economy.
What if utilities run under my driveway?
Then interlock is worth serious thought. Lifting and relaying a trench of pavers is a day's work; cutting and re-pouring a concrete slab leaves a visible scar forever.
Related
Other things we build.
Free estimate
Get a quote for either.
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Or call directly(647) 473-3454