Asphalt can last anywhere between 15-30 years. If you want to pull the longest life out of your new asphalt driveway, you’ve come to the right place. Here, we have gathered the tips and tricks you need to know to extend the life of your asphalt driveway.
Getting a Quality Asphalt Driveway Job Done
The longevity of your asphalt driveway directly depends on how well the professionals laid it on in the first place. If the job is done poorly at the start, it will start chipping and cracking within the first year. That’s why it’s essential to get high-quality contractors experienced in paving asphalt driveways.
Ensure you search the town for the best contractors, ask them for references, and appraise their previous work before you choose an asphalt paver. Remember that the more experienced the contractor, the better job they will do.
Lastly, be present during the installation of the driveway and the paving. You will know right away if they are doing a thorough job or not. Experienced and caring workers will do all the preparations promptly and properly. They will carefully level out materials and do the extra work needed to lay down the asphalt perfectly.
Consider the Weight of the Cars You Use
Regular residential driveways are about 3 inches thick. This is enough for most residential cars. However, if your driveway is going to see some heavy trucks, campers, or trailers, you will need to go thicker. That is why, to ensure your driveway doesn’t start breaking under heavy vehicles, plan it out from the start.
Discuss the types of vehicles you will be parking on the driveway with the contractors. Let them recommend the additional thickness that can accommodate heavy vehicles if your situation demands it. With a thicker layer or aggregate foundation, you can avoid any early breaking from heavy vehicles.
Take Good Care of Your Driveway
Once your driveway has been built, you want to take good care of it to prevent it from getting damaged by the elements. Asphalt driveways can misbehave in extremely cold or hot temperatures. That’s why you are advised to use rock salt to melt ice in the winter and cool water to cool your driveway on a hot day.
Avoid parking cars with leaking liquids on your driveway. These leaking fluids will mess up your asphalt in the long run and degrade it over time.
Getting Regular Seal Coating
Ask your contractor about all the asphalt paving services they provide. If they also offer additional services, including seal coating, you have found your ticket to a long-lasting asphalt driveway. You see, brand-new asphalt driveways tend to chip and crack after a couple of years.
This happens even when they are laid down well. However, by sealcoating the asphalt driveway, you can protect it from this kind of degradation. So, regular sealcoating every two to three years will protect your driveway from damage. It also freshens up your driveway’s black color that would have faded in the sun.
