When choosing to pave a new driveway,
replace your driveway, or patch an existing asphalt driveway,
consider the following benefits of using asphalt:
-
Asphalt is strong and very durable so it lasts for many years
with minimal maintenance.
-
Asphalt is made to withstand freezing and thawing.
-
Asphalt is unaffected by salt so no worries in the winter!
-
Asphalt is the most cost effective material available for
driveways.
-
A black asphalt driveway will melt ice and snow from the sun.
Asphalt is also the material of choice for parking lots
for the same reasons as listed above, and also because it withstands
much heavier loads than concrete.
During the first six months to a year, your driveway is still curing. Take the following precautions during that time to keep your driveway looking great:
1. Try not to park exactly in the same place every day.
2. Don't turn your steering wheel back and forth if your car isn't moving.
3. If you must use a
car ramp or jack stand to work on your car, place some plywood under
the ramp or jack to help distribute the weight.
First, it is best to avoid those things that cause cracks and holes in your new driveway. Gasoline, oil, anti-freeze, power steering and transmission fluid spills and leaks will dilute the liquid asphalt component leaving a hole. If you cannot avoid these things and a hole develops, fill it with cold patch.
Small, hairline cracks may develop in your driveway during the winter. This is due to the expansion and contraction of the ground during that time. Fill these cracks with crack filler or sealer available at your local building supply store or call us to have it done professionally.
To preserve and protect your new driveway, always seal it after it has been paved. Leaving asphalt unprotected it becomes rough, dries out, and essentially loses its life very rapidly. The result is overall deteriorization, ridges, and upheaval causes by frost and freezing.
Sealing also protects your asphalt driveway from the effects of gasoline, lube oil, grease, road salts, and anti-freeze leaking from vehicles, rendering it impervious to these harmful elements. Plus it fills hairline cracks that may result during the winter.
But sealing your new driveway too soon may cause damage! Having your driveway sealed professionally along with regularly scheduled maintenance will preserve and protect your new driveway for many years to come.
