New Asphalt Paving Restores Or Replaces Your Old Driveway
If your asphalt driveway is in bad shape, talk to an asphalt contractor about your options. The choice you have could depend on the condition of the base under your driveway. Asphalt is a somewhat flexible material, so it needs a strong, stable base under it, or cracks will form.
If the base is in bad shape, the asphalt has to be removed before new asphalt paving is done. If the base is good, new asphalt might be put on top of the old driveway. Here's how these options work.
New Asphalt Paving When The Base Is Good
When the base under the asphalt is still good, the contractor can focus on repairing the asphalt portion of your driveway. When new asphalt is put on an old driveway, it's called an overlay.
Since adding more asphalt changes the height of your driveway, the contractor has to remove a few inches of old asphalt with a milling machine. Milling also removes surface cracks and makes the driveway surface rough so the new asphalt can bond better.
When that's done, new asphalt is paved over the old driveway using hot asphalt and a paving machine. When the job is complete, your driveway looks new since there are a few inches of new asphalt paving on top.
New Asphalt Paving And Base Repair
Getting to the base in order to repair it requires busting up the old asphalt so it can be taken away. Your asphalt contractor may recycle it. Some companies even have machines that can recycle old asphalt on the job site so it can be used for new paving.
Once the asphalt is gone, the base can be rebuilt. The contractor may add more gravel to the base and compact it until it's solid and strong enough to hold the driveway and vehicles without shifting.
When the base is done, the process of paving can begin. This involves adding hot asphalt and compacting it with a roller so your new driveway has the structural strength needed to last for years. The new asphalt needs time to harden before you can walk, drive, or park on it.
If you use your driveway too soon, the tires could leave scuff marks or tracks might develop. This happens occasionally and the scuff marks should gradually disappear, but it's best to wait until the asphalt paving contractor says it's okay to use your driveway again.
New asphalt paving, whether it's an overlay or a full driveway, can last for a long time if you make repairs to cracks right away and keep the asphalt covered with a sealcoat to protect it from the sun.