Five Care Tips For Your New Asphalt Driveway

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Five Care Tips For Your New Asphalt Driveway

If you are having a new asphalt driveway installed, then you will want to make sure that it lasts. The first days and weeks following installation are an important time for ensuring paving longevity. The following new installation tips can help you avoid damage to your new driveway.

Tip 1: Don't Drive On the Asphalt Right Away

It can take up to a week for asphalt to cure sufficiently to support the weight of a car. The actual length of time depends on several factors, including weather. At a bare minimum, you should wait at least one or two days before driving your car onto the driveway. Your asphalt paving contractor can provide you with the most accurate timeline for beginning to use your driveway, so always defer to their advice.

Tip 2: Avoid Making Divots

Although a driveway can be used within a few days, it can take weeks for it to fully cure. During this time, the driveway will be more susceptible to divots and ruts. Don't place jack stands on the new driveway. If you must use a jack stand, place a board beneath it to distribute the weight and prevent divots. It's also a good idea to vary your driving pattern each time you park so you don't wear ruts into the new asphalt.

Tip 3: Don't Turn Your Wheel

Turning the tires of your car when the car is not in motion can put pressure and stress on a new asphalt surface. The result is ripples and waves, which can later develop into crumbling and cracks. When parking your car, make sure the tires are straight as you pull in. Don't begin to turn the wheel until the car is in motion when you are backing out.

Tip 4: Protect the Beveled Edges

The edges of your asphalt driveway are beveled toward the surrounding ground. Soil is then placed over the top of the bevel, and sod or seed may then planted along the asphalt margin. Allowing some of the soil and grass to cover these edges protects the asphalt and prevents it from crumbling along the edge. Avoid edging or cutting back this layer when you are tending to your lawn.

Tip 5: Wait to Sealcoat

Sealcoating is an excellent way to prolong the life of an asphalt driveway. The coating prevents sun damage, weathering, and crack formation on a driveway. While sealcoating is beneficial, you need to wait six months to a year before applying the first sealcoat. Sealcoating too soon can prevent the asphalt from curing properly, which can lead to the driveway failing before it should.

Contact an asphalt paving contractor at a company like Mariotti Site Development Co Inc for more assistance.



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Improving Your Home Have you recently purchased a new home? Perhaps, you’re living in a house you bought 20 years ago. Regardless of how long you’ve resided in your current place, you might want to make some improvements to your property. If you can relate to this scenario, consider hiring a paving contractor to pave your driveway. After paving your driveway, you won’t have to worry about ever hitting jarring potholes or puddles of water when leaving or arriving at your home again. Paving your driveway will also instantly improve your home’s curb appeal. On this blog, I hope you will discover different options for paving a driveway. Enjoy!

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