Asphalt driveway maintenance has become the answer to pavement cracks and asphalt problems. It helps to evaluate pavement surface conditions to preserve, extend and maintain pavement service life through timely, efficient preservation practices. The durability of your asphalt pavement depends on the maintenance protocol you choose to observe and your commitment to it.
Asphalt driveway maintenance will improve the quality of your pavement surface and extend the pavement’s life. Still, the true benefits of pavement maintenance are realized when there is a consistent schedule for preventive maintenance. An effective pavement preservation plan integrates many preventive maintenance strategies and repair protocols.
Your goal is to extend pavement life and enhance system-wide performance cost-effectively and efficiently. Studies show preventive maintenance is six to ten times more cost-effective than a “do nothing” maintenance strategy.
There are several causes of asphalt cracks – water seeping from the environment, poor materials used for the road base, bad compaction, an increase in the load on the pavement, and poor asphalt mixing, which makes choosing the right maintenance treatment complicated. In this article, we explain all you need to know about asphalt driveway maintenance and how much it costs.
Why Does Asphalt Driveway Need Maintenance?
Your asphalt driveway won’t clean itself, and leaving cracks and potholes behind will destroy what’s left of your pavement. Moisture destroys pavement faster than any other factor. Cracks will allow water to penetrate your driveway pavement and destroy the base. These cracks and potholes can widen and make driving in or parking harder and uncomfortable; also, cracks and potholes can damage your vehicle tires, wheels, or exhaust system.
To enhance the visual appearance of your driveway, preserve its integrity, and protect your vehicle, you must be willing to put in the effort needed to sustain your driveway. This is where asphalt driveway maintenance comes in.
How To Maintain Your Asphalt Driveway
Many citizens have fallen in love with the beauty of asphalt driveways, making it a common theme in many neighborhoods. However, you must observe cracks, potholes, surface depression, and every other driveway issue before they become a major challenge: optimize quality routine maintenance and repair to get the best out of your asphalt driveway. Cleaning the driveway, using a stiff broom to clear out dirt, and spraying water with a hose won’t be enough to keep your driveway in perfect shape.
Our maintenance guidelines will help you keep your asphalt driveway looking good. Here are a few steps to get you started.
Avoid Parking for Too Long
The first few weeks after getting your driveway paved is crucial; this period will decide how long your driveway will last. This is why; it’s advisable to ensure you do the needful. You can always drive into the driveway on the second day after your asphalt payment has been installed. Still, you must avoid parking for too long to protect your driveway from sinking in or the excessive pressure that will destroy the pavement.
Protect Your Driveway Payment from Spills or Gas.
Gas or spills are chemically compatible with asphalt driveway pavement. They cause your pavement to soften easily and deteriorate quickly. The only way out of this is to avoid gas leakage and spills or use fuel-resistant asphalt, which provides more protection for asphalt pavement.
Fill up Cracks and Holes
It’s common for cracks or holes to develop on driveways, especially if the maintenance has been delayed. However, when you start paying more attention to your driveway, you will need to fill up cracks and potholes to prevent it from widening. Also, cracks and potholes on your asphalt allow moisture to get through and cause further damage to the pavement.
Avoid Parking When It’s Too Hot
For your Asphalt paving to remain in good condition, you must avoid parking when the temperature is extremely hot. Since asphalt contracts and expands with temperature change, more cracks and potholes will form when the temperature increases.
Use High-quality Sealcoat
Sealing your pavement is highly recommended because asphalt seal coats maintain the integrity of your pavement for years. The process is unique and efficient; it protects our pavement from heavy rain, freezing, snowing, or severe weather conditions.
Prepare a Proper Drainage System
If you don’t already have a drainage system on your driveway, it’s time to plan for one. Water, in general, remains a great enemy of any asphalt pavement. Standing water, snow, or freeze will accumulate and penetrate your asphalt later. Construct a working drainage system to prevent your asphalt from damaging and any potential financial crisis.
Protect Your Edges
Your asphalt edges matter. They are not as strong and protected as the main pavement. Protect them from cracks and damage by not driving or parking on them all the time.
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New Asphalt Driveway Care
Asphalt is one of the most affordable methods of paving your driveway. It’s beautiful, easy to maintain, and, of course, it’s less vulnerable to cracking and damage when compared to concrete. With asphalt pavement, you don’t have to wait for too long to start using your driveway. However, to enjoy the best of your new asphalt driveway, you must keep up with regular upkeep and sealing. We have listed a few steps to help you get the best out of your new asphalt driveway.
Don’t drive on your new asphalt.
Give your new driveway some time to dry and harden. It’s okay to walk into your driveway after a few days; after five days, you can drive in but avoid parking on it for too long. f
Keep excessive weight
To maintain and care for your driveway, you must reduce excess weight. Your new driveway just got installed and needs time to set in. Parking heavy trucks or boats will weaken the surface, creating cracks and, eventually, a big messy pothole.
Avoid driving on the edges.
The edges of your driveway are the weakest and will easily crack due to a lack of support when applying pressure. Avoid driving on them, and you have long-lasting pavement.
Keep up with Sealcoat
Many asphalt driveway owners ask how long they must wait before sealing their payment. Six months is good enough to get your pavement sealed and protected from water, dust, and snow. If you decide to stay up to a year, you must remember that unprotected driveways are prone to damage.
Harden the surface
Asphalt pavements will contract during winter and expand when it’s too hot. Watering your driveway when the temperature is hot is okay to help harden the surface.
Recycled Asphalt Driveway Maintenance
It’s easy to think that recycled asphalt wouldn’t be as durable as new asphalt. However, when properly maintained, recycled asphalt can retain its integrity for a long period. So, instead of ripping off your old, cracked, or damaged asphalt to install a new one, you can decide to preserve the old one with our pavement finders steps.
Clean the Surface
Always clean the surface thoroughly with a bowler and allow the surface to dry.
Fill up cracks and potholes
Cracks and potholes destroy our pavement and allow water to penetrate when allowed to stay for too long. When you find any cracks on your pavement surface, you will need to fill them up with hot or cold-pour crack fillers.
Seal coat your recycled asphalt
Many homeowners prefer shoveling recycled asphalt on the surface and evenly smoothening it with a rake. A seal coat will preserve your asphalt pavement and make it stronger. Before applying a seal, make sure you know what you are up to, or hire a professional asphalt repairer to help you out.
Asphalt Driveway Maintenance Cost
After completing all the activities to ensure adequate maintenance, sealing your asphalt pavement will protect it from sun, rain, damage, or gas and oil spill. Driveway seal coating can help you preserve and prolong the life of your driveway. Sealing can be costly depending on how many square feet you want to cover and the amount of sealing gallons needed. Including material and labor, asphalt pavement sealing costs about $1.21 to $1.53 per square foot.
The condition of your driveway has to be assessed before sealing; this is why it’s advisable to observe adequate maintenance and care. Compared to a damaged driveway that hasn’t been sealed in a long time, it will cost less money and effort to seal a driveway in good condition.
How Long Can an Asphalt Driveway Last?
Depending on the quality of the installation, Asphalt driveways can last a long time. Asphalt parking lots or driveways can last up to 20 years but will require regular sealing for proper maintenance. When asphalt pavement is done well, it will feel like a concrete driveway.
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Conclusion
Maintaining an asphalt driveway is affordable and takes little time and effort. Also, your asphalt driveway or parking lots can maintain its integrity and stay for years if proper care is taken. The lifespan of your asphalt driveway depends on the weather it has to endure; if you can’t control the weather, you can at least protect your pavement by caring for it.
