What affects the cost of a driveway in Scarborough?
Driveway cost in Scarborough comes down to five things: the size in square feet, whether old concrete, asphalt or interlock has to be removed and hauled away, how much granular base is needed, the surface and finish you choose, and site access for equipment. Sloped lots, drainage corrections and permits add to the scope. Asphalt usually costs less per square foot than concrete; stamped or exposed-aggregate concrete costs more than a broom finish. A written, itemized quote after an on-site measure is the only reliable number — be wary of prices given without anyone seeing the property.
Asphalt vs concrete vs interlock pavers — which lasts longest?
Concrete typically lasts longest with the least upkeep when it is reinforced, jointed and built on a proper base. Asphalt is cheaper and quicker, flexes with frost and is easy to patch, but needs sealcoating every few years. Interlock pavers look great and individual stones can be replaced, yet they shift and weed over time if the base and edge restraints are poor. In Scarborough, the base matters more than the surface: any of the three fails early on a thin base.
Can asphalt be paved in the rain?
Asphalt should not be laid in steady rain. Water on the base or in the mat cools the hot mix too fast, stops it bonding and leaves a weak, porous surface that fails early. Light drizzle on a well-drained base may be workable, but most crews in Scarborough reschedule. Hot-mix also needs warm enough air and ground temperatures to compact properly, which is why paving around Toronto is usually done from spring to late fall.
Is blacktop the same as asphalt?
Mostly, yes. "Blacktop" is the everyday word for asphalt pavement. Technically both are a mix of stone aggregate and bitumen; blacktop is sometimes used for the hotter, finer surface mix used on driveways and lots, while heavier asphalt mixes go on roads. For a home driveway in Scarborough, the terms describe the same thing.
