New Asphalt Driveways can last 30 years or more when properly built and maintenance performed as needed. Basically, the surface of the asphalt driveway relies upon a thick base of compacted gravel for drainage and support and a course of compacted asphalt of 2 to 4 inches thick on top of that provide a smooth surface to drive or walk upon. Knowing what to expect in the installation of a new driveway will guide you to a successful search for a top-quality Asphalt Contractor.
Grading New Driveway
Closeup of Gravel (Not Round)
Compacting Gravel
Asphalt Driveway and the Best Practices
The Following are industry suggested building standards (some are also state code requirements) for long life performance of a residential asphalt driveway:
The crushed gravel base should be minimum of 4 inches (more is better) under the blacktop layers and should extend beyond the edges of the driveway to stop water runoff from flowing into the base under the driveway. Water is what erodes the gravel base causing the cracking or failure of asphalt driveways.
The composition of the underlying base should be of crushed stone with jagged surfaces so when compacted by the heavy roller they compact and lock together in a strong tightly packed substructure providing strength and good water drainage. Aggregate subbase should be angular stone on stone contact: sand and rounded particles should be avoided as they will not interlock giving rise to weak pavement.
Grading of the driveway should set an incline to send any flow of water away from the garage, home and driveway to be spread out over the ground.
The importance of the asphalt mix is crucial. The mix of the day from the local asphalt plant may not be designed for driveways but for parking lots or roads. In general, driveway mixes should be designed with more asphalt binder and less air voids then highway mixes. Driveways, as soon as they are laid, suffer oxidation and weathering which causes the loss of binder.
The area to be paved should be treated with vegetation inhibitor to keep weeds or grasses from breaking through the blacktop and causing an entry point for moisture to infiltrate the subbase.
Cars and light-duty trucks are the designed traffic for a residential driveway. Thus, homeowners should keep in mind during home construction efforts or extensive landscaping projects that concrete ready-mix trucks, tree trimming trucks or construction delivery trucks are too heavy for their residential driveway.
Costs to Install a New Asphalt Driveway
The costs to install a new asphalt driveway depends on size of driveway, how easy the access is for large equipment, how much land preparation has to be done (tree removal and grading), Also, the soil base might need additives to become stronger, the depth of gravel subbase and the depth of the asphalt layers. Also, additional costs to remove an old asphalt driveway and any special drainage considerations will have to be specified. For information to Install an Asphalt Driveway in New Brunswick click here!
Consultations with experienced asphalt pavers are a key part to a successful installation a driveway. We are positive that Jersey Strong Paving will stand out as the most detailed economical proposal you will receive for your pavement project. You have nothing to lose by contacting us for an appraisal for a new driveway: our advice partnered with a firm project quote is free and gladly provided.
Laying Hot Asphalt Mix Next to Garage
Compacting Asphalt Layer
Gravel Along the Driveway Edge
Resurfacing your Asphalt Driveway
Asphalt driveway Resurfacing or overlay is a way of repairing an existing driveway by paving over-top of it. There are certain preparations for constructing an overlay which include milling or shaving the original pavement into a more even surface to match the existing landscaping around it including fitting it to the garage apron and sidewalks. Areas that show a subbase weakness should be repaired. After the driveway has been leveled by the previous methods, it is cleaned, adhesive (tack coat) is laid down, and then the new asphalt is applied in layers.
Overlaying is less expensive than fully reconstructing a paved surface and typically takes less time making it a great option for homeowners on a tight budget.and those families with little parking availability other than their driveways. However, the areas that now puddle will again puddle since in most cases, the grade cannot be alter by just paving an overlay. What lies beneath a pavement’s surface such as cracks, depressions and bumps will in time reflect up through the asphalt layers unless the subbase is repaired. Life expectancy for an overlay or resurfaced driveway is 10 to 15 years if the pavement is maintained with immediate crack repairs and periodic sealcoating.
Costs to Resurface an Asphalt Driveway
A lot of factors are involved in the cost to resurface an asphalt driveway, such as the volume of removal and patching of broken pavement, size of driveway and how many transitions from blacktop to the concrete of a garage apron and the sidewalk leading to the home. Additional costs for improved quality grade of Asphalt or upgrade options, such as decorative hand stamping or for a bevel put on the exposed edge of driveway- this improves its durability and gives it a more polished look.
Asphalt Driveway Replacement and Removal
Resurfacing an old broken asphalt driveway may seem like a cure all but you might just be sending yourself into an endless cycle of repairs to the same locations. Patching some areas down through the subbase may fix some of the smaller failed areas but is not practical for multiple problems. The older your driveway is, especially if it's over 15 years, the more likely it will need replacement. As always, call to have utility lines, pipes or gas lines checked before you dig. Contractors that don’t call to check utility lines are soon out of business. For information on asphalt paving Replacement in Trenton click here!
Reflective Cracking
Water Sent off the Driveway
Removing Asphalt Driveway
Removal of the Asphalt Driveway before Replacement
When the asphalt layer is deeper than three inches, heavy operating equipment will be needed in its removal. It is not a very practical solution to get some handy man or even yourself to do the removal. Can you imagine using a pick ax to break up the pavement into pieces small enough to put in a truck with a shovel though some homeowners do try they soon loose heart in the somewhat overwhelming task. A jackhammer will definitely break up the asphalt easier but you need to learn how to use it correctly an incorrect use could be very dangerous. Really, the amount of time and expense spent trying to do it yourself is comparable to the costs involved hiring an asphalt paver like Jersey Strong to do the removal as well as the replacement. However, the time difference is drastic. You may take several days to remove the old asphalt driveway, on the other hand, a paving contractor with their professional heavy equipment operators will do it in half a day or less.
Recycle the old Asphalt by sending it to an asphalt recycling center. The old broken asphalt is piled into trucks and removed to the recycling plant which keeps this heavy construction waste out of the landfill.
Asphalt Driveway Replacement or Redo
After removal of the asphalt layers, the compact gravel subbase should undergo remediation to form a strong stable base for the asphalt driveway. The ability for positive drainage during rain events should be review and amended if necessary.
The source of most trouble plaguing driveways is water erosion. The grading remediation for any driveway replacement must provide enough slope so that water runs away from the driveway not towards it or under it. Another important water control measure is to make sure the home’s downspouts are pointing the flow away from the driveway not across it. For information on asphalt paving in Hunterdon County click here!
Property owners can add to positive drainage by planting water loving plants or thirsty grasses at the driveway’s edge. Shrubs or trees should not be planted near the driveway because their roots could spread-out underground and invade the driveway.
Maintence is very important to a long-lived driveway. Cracks should be fixed quickly so water doesn’t destabilize the subbase. Sealcoating your driveway every few years will protect the pavement from UV-rays and weathering.
How Much does it Cost to Replace a Driveway?
Considerations before replacing a driveway:
Patching for moderately damaged driveways is always the most affordable option. But if its damage continues through to the subbase, it may not be the most cost effective in the long-run because the damage will shortly reappear as the subbase is still a weak link. This is called reflective cracking and is a major cause of short-lived repairs.
When the driveway has a couple of severe cracks and several more moderate ones, it really is more expensive and not practical to patch them all. In such cases, other methods, such as resurfacing or a replacement should be suggested.
If your selling your home, a resurfacing or replacement will give the driveway a new appearance: making the home more attractive and hopefully increase your selling price.
Costs for driveway replacement will depend on size and what methods need to be implemented to restore the gravel subbase to the strong support base that is necessary for a long functioning driveway.