Asphalt and concrete driveways are relatively low-maintenance, but they deteriorate over time due to weather exposure and the heavy weight of vehicles. To keep your residential driveway in good condition, you should have it resealed every few years and repaved every 20. Follow these steps to pave your driveway and have it looking like new.
1. Conducting Pre-Paving Preparations
More often than not, the preparations determine the success of an asphalt paving project. If you’re repaving your old driveway, you must completely remove the existing asphalt or concrete to create a clean slate. If you’re paving a driveway from scratch, inspecting the property for underground electrical cables, water lines and gas pipes is extremely important.
In either case, you must grade the worksite to allow for proper water runoff. Driveways with insufficient drainage create puddles that become driving hazards, especially when they turn to ice. Too much water accumulation underneath the driveway can cause it to crack or collapse due to eroded soil.
The specific slope varies based on the driveway’s length and location, but less than 15% is the general rule. Driveways on flat surfaces should form a hill in the center so water flows to the sides. A heavy-duty twin drum roller should be used to compact the soil and create a consistent grade.
2. Laying the Foundation
After preparing the surface for paving, you must lay the foundation. Start by spraying the soil with a sterilizer to prevent grass and weeds from sprouting and forming cracks later on. Then, lay down the initial subbase of aggregate stone. This layer should be between 1/2 and 3/4 inches thick for residential purposes. Allow settling for at least a week.
After a week has passed, ask your paving contractor to perform a “proof roll” to test the stability of the subbase. If it passes the test, it’s time to apply the next layer of binding materials that glues the aggregate stone together.
3. Pouring the Top Layer
Now it’s time to pour the top layer of your driveway. Asphalt and concrete are your two best options. Concrete is more durable and malleable than asphalt, but it’s also more expensive to install and repair. Asphalt is the more cost-effective choice for most homeowners’ residential driveways.
Asphalt is a tar-like aggregate substance that forms a malleable dark liquid when combined with sand and stone and exposed to extreme heat. When the liquid hardens, it creates the material we traditionally know as asphalt.
This step is one of the quickest parts of the project. Your paving contractor will pour the hot asphalt over the subbase, level it out and pack it down to achieve your desired result. The top layer should be 2-3 inches thick after compacting. If all goes well, it will only take a few hours.
Your main responsibility during this step is to choose a sunny day. If asphalt gets rained on before it hardens, the mixture’s oil will rise to the surface and produce a poorer final product. Rain might also destabilize the soil underneath and cause bigger problems down the road. Book a day with clear skies and watch the weather forecast.
4. Adding Edge Treatment
Proper edge treatment is crucial for your driveway’s long-term stability. The asphalt should form a 45-degree slope toward the ground instead of abruptly ending. This detail is the most challenging part of applying the top layer.
You must also border your driveway to maintain its shape. Most residential driveways have borders of paving stones or crushed gravel that extend 6-10 inches away from the asphalt. This prevents the warm asphalt from spilling over and allows heavy vehicles to safely drive on the surface.
5. Enduring the Final Hardening Stage
The top layer installation process might only take one day, but you won’t be able to walk or drive on the asphalt for a few more. Your paving contractor will give you a recommended timeline. Once the asphalt has hardened, you still need to be careful about overusing the driveway and creating unwanted abrasions. Use it with caution.
It might take up to 30 days for your driveway to completely harden, and this number will vary based on weather conditions. More sunlight and warmer temperatures will help the asphalt set more quickly. Weather also comes into play in the following step.
6. Curing and Sealing the Driveway
This step takes place six to 12 months after the hardening stage. The asphalt needs a long time to cure and officially settle into its new home. Weather plays a huge role in the speed of this final stage. Strong sunlight and high temperatures cause more moisture in the asphalt to evaporate, accelerating the curing process.
However, you don’t want to expose your driveway to extreme heat 24/7. Overevaporation can cause the asphalt to shrivel up too quickly and form cracks. Periodically shading the driveway or using a heat lamp are two smart strategies to keep the curing temperature under control.
Once the driveway has completely cured, you’re ready to seal the asphalt and wrap up the project. A thorough seal coat prevents cracks and potholes from developing and keeps water on the surface. It also prevents foreign chemicals, such as oil from your vehicle, from damaging the asphalt.
Enjoy Your New Driveway
Although the initial preparations and pouring stages might only take a few weeks, the entire project could reach over a year. Paving a driveway is a huge commitment that demands patience and attention to detail. If the asphalt survives these steps without cracking, you’ve done a fantastic job and can enjoy your new driveway for decades to come.
