A well-designed asphalt driveway is not essentially just a gateway to your garage; it can also be an integral element of your home’s curb appeal, function, and value. So, rather than a little weekend DIY project asphalt driveway installation, professional work is a complexly-layered process: done right, it yields a hardwearing surface which is smooth and good-looking to boot. Knowing what goes into it will not only help you appreciate why hiring professionals is so valuable but also gives you a good idea of what to expect for this sizeable home investment.
The path to a new driveway starts with careful planning and preparation asphalt driveway installation. Reliable contractors begin by marking off the exact region and determining which slope is needed for water to drain. They uproot the soil to a level usually 8 to 12 inches deep. The removal of such organic material that can decompose and settle is an important step in the repair process. What’s left is the base for everything else: the subgrade.
A base of crushed stone or gravel is laid down on the compacted subgrade asphalt driveway installation. The true workhorse is all that gravel in the middle — 4 to 8 inches of angular stone, the third layer. It offers essential support, better weight distribution and eases excess water. You have to be obsessive about compacting this base; if you let it float, the settling under the weight of traffic is going to cause your surface material to crack a bit over time asphalt driveway installation. In low or heavy traffic areas particularly where there is poor or soft surfacing an optional binding layer of larger aggregate may be applied for additional strength.
The asphalt is laid only after the base is adequately prepped. Hot mix asphalt is a combination of approximately 95% stone, sand or gravel (aggregate) bound together by liquid asphalt cement, a product of crude oil asphalt driveway installation. The hot mix is laid and compacted by our crews at temperatures ranging from 275–325 degrees. Stone used to produce the HMA mix can be many types such as granite, wright rock, and mine rock to name just a few. Typical surface course thickness for residential driveways is 2 to 3 inches. The crew then gets to work raking and smoothing edges and connections before the mix sets up asphalt driveway installation.
The installation process completes with compaction the last, constructive phase. Warm asphalt is compacted by heavy rollers; this roller compacts the warm mix and crushes the aggregate, squeezing them together and allowing the asphalt binder to cover each of these stones asphalt driveway installation. This eliminates air pockets, increases the density, making a smooth, cohesive surface as we are familiar. It’s the compaction that gives asphalt its amazing strength and water-resistance.
The finished product might seem like it’s ready for some action, but at the end of the day, a fresh driveway needs time to cure asphalt driveway installation. While initial curing occurs as it cools, it is a lengthy process and can require 6 to 12 months for the curification to fully complete. It’s crucial to steer clear of turning the steering wheel while you are stationary on your fresh, new asphalt for at least a couple weeks, as it can scuff and scratch the surface. The most important post-installation action is to sealcoat asphalt driveway installation. Within 6–12 months a high quality protective sealant is required to be applied to protect the surface from sunlight, water, gasoline and oil. This is the number one way to prolong your driveway’s life as well and we should all follow a periodic maintenance schedule of every 2–3 years also.
Professionally installation is expensive, but a worthwhile investment in the long run. A good, high-quality asphalt driveway installed by a professional can last between 20 and 30 years. It provides a smoother ride asphalt driveway installation, does not crack as much as concrete in freeze-thaw periods and is easier to fix. Other than initial cost there are also other factors: Make sure you hire licensed, insured and experienced contractor with good reference. They will grade asphalt driveway installation, prepare and compact the base for drainage — those invisible but fundamental considerations that make a solid investment distinct from chronic maintenance.
In short, a successful asphalt driveway installation involves the science of divining fines and oils as well as maintaining sufficient heat for long periods to get the job done perfectly. Homeowners know that, by taking an investment from the ground floor to the top, they have not only a functional property accent but also an aesthetically pleasing and valuable feature that will stand the test of time for many years.
