The Ultimate Guide to Paving Your Driveway

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.

Driveway Options for Your New Property

If you’re thinking about redesigning your home’s driveway, then chances are you’re wondering about materials. More specifically, you probably wonder which driveway material would suit your home’s design best. Fortunately, there are many options for materials. Here’s a look at four of the most popular ones.

Concrete Driveway

It’s probably safe to say that this is the most popular bet when it comes to driveways, particularly in designed neighborhoods. A concrete driveway allows builders to develop a unified look for any subdivision they create. The material itself also allows for flexibility of design. That is, wet concrete mix can be poured into a number of shapes and styles that are permanent once the concrete dries. If you live in a neighborhood with an HOA, then you may want to go with this option for your driveway.

Gravel

The beauty of gravel driveways is that they allow you to introduce different colors of rock and stone to your home’s outdoor design elements. This allows you to customize the look of your driveway to fit your home, your neighborhood aesthetic and more. If you’d like a gravel driveway, it’s best to contact your local stone gravel supplier to learn what kinds of rock is available, as well as to determine delivery and installation options.

Basalt Pavers or Red Brick

These options allow you to bring the beauty of basalt rock tiles or red bricks to your front yard. The look of these materials can be likened to square cobblestones; if you imagine the cobblestone streets in Europe, only with square stones, you’ll understand why this is such a beautiful choice. You can also use red brick in a similar fashion, depending on the color of your home. Basalt tends to work best with more modern styles of homes, while red brick speaks to more traditionally designed houses.

Asphalt

If you live in a colder climate, you may want to consider getting an asphalt driveway. This material offers you the durability of the open roads; it’s the same material, after all. However, it also offers you something that some other kinds of materials don’t. It retains the day’s heat, which means your drive will hold on to some of the heat from the day’s sun during the winter months - a definite bonus.

Final Thoughts

A beautiful driveway contributes to your home’s curb appeal. As such, you want to choose a material that best compliments the design of your home. The materials in this post represent some of the most versatile and popular choices for driveway materials on the market.

Building Materials To Consider for Your Driveway

Many people tend to overlook the condition of their driveway, yet it's often the first thing people see when they come to your home. A driveway looks best when it is well-maintained and the materials complement the exterior of your house. 

Therefore, whether you want a sleek and smooth entrance—or a rugged and rustic one—the material you choose will play a role in how unified your property appears. Additionally, it directly affects the condition and functionality of your driveway. Here are four building materials to consider for your driveway.

Asphalt

Asphalt is an excellent option for people living in colder climates and those on a tight budget. It's quite affordable to install, and it naturally attracts heat, which helps limit frost exposure. One of the best reasons to choose asphalt is its durability.

It can serve you for 15-20 years, but 3-5 years of maintenance is needed to seal the cracks. However, people in warmer climates should avoid asphalt as it tends to soften as the temperature rises, to the extent of sticking on tires and shoes.

Concrete

Thanks to its durability and cost-effectiveness, concrete is one of the most common materials for driveways. You can use concrete to design driveways in different locations, as it's known to withstand harsh weather conditions. 

However, if you're in an area that experiences freezing temperatures, you should avoid it as it tends to crack in such environments. You can go for a simple driveway with a traditional design or opt for a modern-looking driveway by choosing exciting colors and patterns.

Gravel

If you prioritize durability over anything else, then Gravel is your best option to consider. Gravel is pretty affordable, and you can purchase it in varying colors to create outstanding designs. Another benefit of this driveway building material is that it's all-natural, making it desirable for people who value environmental conservation. However, it's not a preferred option for snowy regions as it's quite challenging to shovel and keep clear. Extreme winds tend to displace poorly-installed gravel driveways. 

Turf

With a little bit of creativity, installing a turf driveway can be the perfect way to showcase style and boost curb appeal. It's one of the best building materials to consider for your driveway if you live in a place with a lot of snow or drought.

Combine turf and large, square stone to create a truly unique driveway. Remember that you'll need to water it regularly, just like a lawn for grass to thrive.  

These four building materials to consider for your driveway will ensure an excellent curb appeal and a functional way to get into your garage. Find the right style that fits your budget and environment. 

Got an Asphalt Driveway? How to Seal It up Properly

Many people make mistakes when sealing their driveways. Homeowners with asphalt driveways over-seal them, while those with concrete driveways do not seal their driveways at all. A sealed asphalt driveway appears fresh with a black finish, but you should seal the driveway at least once in two or three years. Frequent sealing of an asphalt driveway leads to peeling and an unsightly hairline. The following is a guide on the proper sealing of an asphalt driveway.

Small Cracks

An asphalt driveway with small potholes or cracks is easy to reseal, but it can be messy. To seal a small crack, begin by removing dirt or any plant matter from the crack using your garden tools. You can also use a wire brush to remove dirt from cracks. Purchase sealing products specially made for asphalt driveways for cracks of about an eighth of an inch.

Large Cracks

Repairing large potholes and cracks on asphalt driveways can be challenging. Before you seal a large hole, fix it first. A ½ inch crack can be covered with a liquid crack sealer. The sealer is available at a home improvement store near you; check the building materials section. Sealcoating of more enormous potholes and cracks is done using a cold patch, a type of asphalt sold in a bucket, can, or bag. If you have numerous potholes in your driveway such that you are consuming two or three buckets of cold patches, you should consider seeking the services of a professional.

How to Apply Cold Patch

Start by cleaning loose debris from the hole or crack. At an angle, chip away asphalt to make the crack bottom larger than at the surface level. This is the tricky part of sealcoating large cracks. The older asphalt rim at the crack surface will hold the patch together. Pour the cold patch into the crack until it is slightly higher than the adjacent driveway. Use a square tamping tool to tamp it down firmly. If you don’t have a tamping tool, place a plywood board above the patch and drive across it. Seal the edges with liquid crack filler.

It would be best if you resealed an asphalt driveway once every three years to protect them from oil damage and cracks. After sealing the driveway, give it time to cure, and remember to clean the surface before sealing. Place barriers at the driveway entrance and keep pets and children away for at least one day to allow the seal to cure.