4 Things To Discuss With Your Paving Contractor Before You Get A New Asphalt Driveway
Posted on: 28 May 2021
If it's time for a new asphalt driveway, you probably have a lot of questions for the paving contractor. If you've never had to install a driveway, you may wonder about what's involved and how much your life will be disrupted. Here are a few things about paving you may want to discuss with the contractor when you get your estimate.
1. The Best Season For Installing Asphalt
An asphalt driveway goes on better in warmer weather. In cold weather, the material gets stiff quickly, so it's more difficult to spread it out and level the paving material. Asphalt paving must also be done during dry weather.
The best seasons for getting your new driveway are late spring through early fall, but if the winter is mild enough, your contractor might be able to install your driveway then too.
Even if the weather is too cold in the winter to install your driveway, the paving contractor may make temporary repairs to fill a pothole or close a big crack so you can use your driveway safely until the weather turns warm.
2. When You Can Walk And Park On The Asphalt
Your contractor explains when it's safe to use your new asphalt driveway. The weather plays a role since it takes longer for the asphalt to get hard and become less susceptible to damage when the weather is hot. You might be able to walk on the driveway the next day and park on it within a day or two.
Your contractor will give you instructions on how to park so you don't leave tire marks in the fresh asphalt. It could take several weeks before the asphalt has cured completely. You don't need to wait that long to use the asphalt, but you might need to make other parking arrangements the day the asphalt is installed and a day or two afterward.
3. If An Overlay Is Suitable
Your driveway may look completely worn out if it's faded and full of cracks. That doesn't mean the asphalt has to be torn out so you can get a completely new driveway. Instead, the paving contractor might pour a new layer of hot asphalt over the old driveway to repair and cover it.
The most important thing is that the base underneath the asphalt is in good shape. If the base has shifted, sunken, or eroded away, it has to be repaired too. That usually involves removing at least part of the asphalt.
4. If You Should Have The Asphalt Sealed
Your paving contractor may recommend sealing the asphalt to protect it from stains and sun exposure. This is done by applying a top coat once the asphalt has cured. Depending on the season of the year, the contractor may need to wait several months before your driveway is ready for the topcoat.
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