Yes, you can use roofing tar on your driveway. However, this is not advisable as the roofing tar is not durable, and it will come off easily or even sling onto your car. The roofing tar also takes a long time to dry up. Use alternatives such as gravel, concrete, and pavers for a better experience.
Here we give you the disadvantages of using roofing tars on driveways and the best alternatives for a better experience.
Read on!
What Are The Disadvantages Of Using Roofing Tar On Your Driveway?
Some of the disadvantages of using roofing tar on your driveway include:
1. It is very messy
2. Not long-lasting
3. Takes a long time to dry up
6. It gets soft and sticky during the hot seasons
Alternatives For Making A Driveway
Some of the most common materials you can use to make your driveway instead of tar include:
1. Gravel
This is a common and cost-effective material for making driveways. The maintenance cost is also very cheap, but its drawback comes in during the wet and snowy seasons.
The gravel is very diverse as it comes in different colors, allowing you to customize your driveway to your liking.
2. Concrete
This is also one of the most versatile, durable, low maintenance, and cost-friendly way of fixing or making a driveway. Concrete is easily available since all its ingredients are easy and quick to get. You can also find the material almost in all local hardware. Unlike gravel, it will not be affected by wet or snowy weather.
3. Pavers
These are usually brick-like concrete, stone, tile, or brick used on driveways. Concrete pavers are made by mixing concrete and coloring agents and then molding them in a certain shape.
Pavers usually enhance the appeal of the driveway or pavement as they come in many different styles and designs. However, using the material is an expensive way of making a driveway. Besides being expensive, the installation itself will leave cost you a lot.
However, most people will use them due to their aesthetically pleasing look on their driveway and long-lasting.
4. Asphalt
Asphalt is the most popular material used to make a driveway. It is weather-resistant, and unlike the tar used on roofs, asphalt is specifically made for driveways and roads.
In areas where snow is a problem, the asphalt retains heat gathered during the day, and it can melt the snow relatively quickly compared to other driveway materials. However, this needs regular maintenance. The asphalt can get potholes that should be fixed to last a little longer. Maintenance should be done once every three to five years to keep the asphalt driveway in good condition.
5. Basalt Paver Tiles
Basalt is an aphanitic extrusive igneous rock formed from the rapid cooling of low-viscosity lava rich in magnesium and iron exposed or near the earth’s surface. It is very hard, dense, and durable and is found in the earth’s oceanic crust.
The rock is cut into paver stones used to make a driveway, walk-ins, and patios. This is very expensive since the rock cannot be found everywhere.
However, it is a very beautiful material to use on a driveway as it has a good grey to a black color palette, making it visually pleasing.
6. Bricks
Bricks are a very common material for buildings and can also be laid down on a driveway. If you use the bricks, your driveway will look elegant and expensive as the material comes in many colors and patterns.
The maintenance of brick driveways is moderate, and it can last a lifetime when maintained properly.
7. Previous Concrete
As the name suggests, this is concrete that was in use before. It has almost no sand and can allow water to run through as it is porous. It can look beautiful on your driveway. But some people don’t like it on driveways as it might look old, which is not pleasing to look at. However, if you are more concerned about functionality over aesthetics, you may consider previous concrete.
8. Shells
A crushed shell is the most cost-effective material to use in making your driveway. The crushed shells are from clams, scallops, and oysters. They have varying colors and always end up looking beautiful.
The shells need to be properly secured as they are light; therefore, they can be carried away by rain. However, they do well with proper drainage as they let the water pass, leaving behind a clean-looking and water-free driveway.
9. Tar And Chip
This is a cheaper option for anyone who wants an asphalt driveway but cannot afford one. It has a very rough surface which can also be bumpy. Also, the appearance is not as pleasing as the driveways made from the other materials. This can be improved by adding colorful stones or plants along the driveway’s edges.
The chipping does not require sealing as it is held together by the tar, so it will not be carried away when it rains.
10. Cobblestone
Cobblestones are small stones with rounded edges mostly found in riverbeds. These are not to be confused with gravel as they are not similar except in size.
It is often used in parking lots but is also good for driveways. They are visually pleasing and can lift a house’s overall appearance and improve the design.
Main Factors To Consider When Choosing The Material For Your Driveway
Costs Of Making A Driveway
As visible from the above materials, there is a wide array of choices you can pick from. The amount you are willing to use for your driveway will determine what material you will use. The many options are good as you will not be tied to one specific material. You can change it up until you find what best suits your house.
You can have a decent-looking driveway that complements your house with a limited budget. And, when you move to the high spending side, you have many options to pick from to your liking.
Durability
For your own home, you need material that will last a long time. Having repairmen and construction workers every two weeks is no one’s dream. With the many alternatives for building a driveway, you can pick one that will outlive you and be of service to you and generations to come.
You can also pick a pocket-friendly material that will reasonably last longer.
Driveway Maintenance
Depending on the material you choose for your driveway, there are important things you can do to ensure that the driveway is in its best condition. These include:
Fill The Cracks
When cracks or holes appear on your driveway, it’s advisable to fix them as soon as possible. How you fix it will majorly depend on the material you used on your driveway.
When cracks and holes go unfixed, the driveway looks bad, and its durability is compromised. Plus, a crack or hole can lead to more damages and even serious accidents.
Remove Water Puddles And Try To Maintain A Dry Driveway.
Water causes erosion and can damage your driveway significantly if left stagnant. It would help to make the driveway slanted to ensure that water can flow out instead of sitting there. You can also make your driveway slightly slanted to the sides and then make small trenches to guide the water away from it.
Prevent Cracks
This can be done by doing regular maintenance of the driveway. Having a schedule or being aware of any developing cracks can help prevent any cracks from getting too big.
Keep It Clean
The driveway can have many different stains on it. Most people do car repairs on their driveway, or cars can leak some fluids on there. Cleaning up the oil spills can help maintain your driveway as some of the oils can damage the material and reduce its durability. Use detergents and scrubbers to remove old and new oil stains completely.
A clean driveway gives an impressive view, while a dirty driveway might seem ugly and reduce a home’s value or design.
Plough Snow Carefully
In the cold season, snow piles up, and you have to plough it out of your driveway. Use a shovel, raise the blade and avoid scrapping the material used to make the driveway. Plastic shovels are a better solution since they plough the snow without damaging the driveway.
Maintain Driveway Edges
Your driveway should be well-rounded. Whichever material you use, you have to ensure that you occasionally check on the edges.
For the loose material on driveways, having a boundary is essential. This prevents loose edges from rolling away or scattering due to various agents. Note that materials like asphalt chip away on the edges when heavy vehicles are driven on them.
Make sure that the edges are restored to improve the life of your driveway and keep it neat.
Final Thoughts
Roofing tar is too light for use on your driveway. It also takes a long time to dry, and during the hot season, it is bound to get soft and sticky. Your vehicle’s tires can easily get ruined when driven on roofing tar driveways. Therefore, go for better alternatives that are more suitable for a driveway than roofing tar.
With the multiple materials to pick from, what to use is in your hands. You can choose a material that best suits your home, finances, or even home design and enjoys a better experience.
