There's simply no comparison: Concrete lasts nearly twice as long as asphalt, making it a wise, long-term investment. The additional up-front costs of the concrete material itself and preparing the ground underneath the concrete can make a significant difference in the longevity of the material and the full life cycle cost comparison between concrete and asphalt.

There's a reason that concrete is the world's most widely used and most recycled construction material. A concrete surface can last twice as long as asphalt. That durability advantage means less maintenance, fewer repairs, and an end to the expensive reconstruction cycle. For a better, long-term investment, concrete is the easy choice.

Learn more about the differences between asphalt and concrete on this page.

Most people understand that two different materials will have different costs, but what about the time it takes to get the work done using each of those materials? For a business or resident who is impacted by the length of time it takes to rebuild a pavement, the duration of the project has an indirect cost to them. And that cost should be taken into account when deciding what type of material to use.

Concrete is an excellent choice for an attractive, durable, and low-maintenance choice for your parking area. Two factors account for a quality product that will last: what's under the concrete and the weather conditions when it is poured.

As our members work to keep Michigan’s essential road and bridge infrastructure projects moving forward, ensuring employee health and safety is vital. The following best practices are provided as a resource. Consult your company’s legal, safety, insurance, labor and HR teams to determine the appropriate practice for your operations.

EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 2020-21 - What does it mean for the Concrete Industry?

Blessed be the ties that bind. Therein is the key difference between concrete and asphalt: The binder.

Concrete and asphalt are both made with a mixture of aggregate. Concrete is bonded with a mixture of water and portland cement that creates a chemical reaction and hardens. Asphalt is bound with a black, sticky petroleum-based substance. This substance is behind terms like “blacktop” or “tarmac.”

Because of the key differences between the two products, concrete and asphalt contractors will offer different services to match the installation requirements.

One of the most durable and most flexible building materials, concrete has many applications. From countertops to flooring to burial vaults, bridge piers, highways and entire buildings, concrete is everywhere in our daily lives.

If you are interested in volunteering as either an instructor (assist students on lab practice days)
or supplemental examiner (assist with grading students on exam day), please take a moment to
review the information summarized below. As a thank you for helping us this year, the MCA
will be offering a Under Armour Travel Bag to all examiners and instructors. So that we can
order the correct number of backpacks, please click the button below, fill out the form & email it to lclegg@miconcrete.net by Friday, November 15th.

Scaling, as defined by the American Concrete Institute (ACI) Committee 116, is the “local flaking or peeling away of the near-surface portion of hardened concrete or mortar.” Sometimes called mortar flaking when it occurs just over the aggregates near the surface, it is primarily a physical action created by hydraulic pressures from repeated freeze-thaw cycles within the concrete. The expansive forces caused by the formation of ice are exacerbated with deicing chemicals, which increase both the saturation of the concrete and the number of freeze-thaw cycles. The distress mechanisms of scaling are complex on both a microscopic and macroscopic level.