Stamped asphalt became popular in the mid-1990s. Today it is rapidly replacing paver surfaces as the chosen method of enhancing the surfaces of driveways, walkways, and even parking lots at a reasonable cost.
Many homeowners and business owners now use stamped asphalt all over the world in all kinds of climates as a decorative, long-lasting, and less expensive option to brick, cement, and stone.
Although interlocking stone or brick pavers are still the most common decorative hardscape surface for driveways, many people cannot afford them.
While standard asphalt pavement is practical and cost-effective, many people find it unappealing compared to the looks that can be accomplished with other decorative hardscapes like stamped or imprinted asphalt.
Stamped asphalt gives your driveway or parking lot surface the look of laid cobblestone or brick, and it can be a significant improvement to your home or commercial business.
But what is a stamped asphalt driveway?
Asphalt stamping driveway is a decorative material created by converting ordinary asphalt into a style similar to the appearance of brick, slate, or stone. The procedure involves making an imprint into an asphalt pavement surface using a combination of heat, a plate compactor, and a stamping template. It gives your landscape a very stylish aesthetic appeal.
With stamped asphalt, you can add a pattern into your asphalt driveway paving and color it to fit your desired appearance and landscape. Therefore, if you want something that offers flexibility during the winter season, lasts the test of time, and has a fantastic look that is a total eye-catcher, this is really a game-changer for you.
Stamped or imprinted asphalt driveway, what really it is?
Stamped asphalt is a form of texturing mechanism implemented to driveway, parking lot, or other pavement surfaces to create a look that is identical to stone, brick, slate, and other designs impacts on an asphalt foundation.
A grid created out of many different materials (most of which are wire) is used to imprint a number of different textures into the asphalt. The surface is then painted with a colored epoxy coating to guarantee a safe and stable driving surface after the desired pattern has been imprinted onto the asphalt.
Since asphalt becomes extremely soft when heated, imprinting many different patterns is relatively easy and beneficial to the material’s overall longevity. Also, it adds a more incredible amount of toughness to the respected surface.
In addition, you can achieve the impression produced on stamped asphalt driveway on a new asphalt application and the surface of the existing newer asphalt.
Although conventional asphalt driveway, parking lot, walkway, etc., is predominantly dark, it can be painted in a variety of colors ranging from soft to bold. In addition, it will last for many years if maintained properly.
Stamped asphalt has several advantages, including low-maintenance requirement, a long lifespan, much less expensive than using hand-laid materials. In addition, it is ideal for those who live in colder climates.
Since stamped asphalt combines asphalt’s strength and flexibility with cutting-edge coating technologies and involves a fast process, you can get a cost-effective, long-lasting driveway surface that looks like brick or stone in a short amount of time, requiring minimal maintenance.
Stamped asphalt is the most preferred surfacing alternative for homeowners and business owners since the process involves unique heating equipment and advanced coatings engineered to work together. In addition, it allows you to be as creative as you like with your decorative driveway, parking lot, or other pavement design.
In addition, the cost advantage it has over alternatives such as stone or brick can be considerable, so you can get more done for lower prices.
Why should you want stamped asphalt?
- It is cost-effective
- It is durable
- It is customizable
- It is easy to install
- Lower maintenance cost
There are many reasons why you should want stamped asphalt driveway parking lots, etc., for your residential or commercial property, as it has some advantages over traditional interlocking systems, which involve brick, stone, or slate.
Cost-effective
Asphalt is much less expensive and faster to install and stamp, unlike brick and stone that are expensive and require lots of time to install. In addition, since asphalt is less porous and more flexible compared to most hardscape pavers, it requires less maintenance and fewer repairs, making you save on unplanned costs.
Durability
Asphalt driveways, parking lots, and other paving surfaces are highly sturdy, resilient, and long-lasting. Also, stamped asphalt paving surface is flexible and resistant to cracking caused by substrate moving, and since it does not change over time, the resulting surfaces are more resilient than stone and brick.
Unlike conventional materials such as brick and stone, stamped asphalt is composed of a single continuous surface, rendering it more resistant to erosion, shifting, and weed growth. In addition, the Epoxy film, which is applied to the imprinted asphalt, traps harmful sun rays, extending the life of the asphalt.
Customizable
Asphalt stamping can act as a decoration to small or large areas of your driveways, walkways, parking lots, etc. You can even customize stamped asphalt to showcase your company logos and many other eye-catchy designs that add beauty to your residential or commercial properties.
With stamped asphalt, you can choose from the varieties of colors, interlocking patterns, and textures to create a look that complements your property.
The wide variety of patterns and colors of a stamped asphalt driveway can be combined to create amazing and eye-catching designs that improve the look of your house, adding value to it.
Easy to install
Stamped asphalt is an excellent alternative to more expensive products such as pavers and stamped concrete. It is quicker, less labor-intensive, and easier to install compared to other decorative pattern paving surfaces without compromising durability, aesthetics, and quality. In less than 48 hours, you can install an asphalt driveway or other pavement that will be safe to use almost instantly.
Lower maintenance cost
Asphalt stamping can last for a good number of years, and you can easily re-coat it, resulting in a lower overall cost of maintenance. The surface also holds up to temperature fluctuations better than pavers, which usually shift during freeze-thaw cycles. There’s also no need to worry about vegetation that commonly grows through cracks in the conventional brick.
What is the cost of installing a stamped asphalt driveway?
When determining which product or service to use in any project, particularly home improvement projects, price and cost play a significant role.
The cost of installing an asphalt stamping driveway differs based on the labor, materials, and prep work required. For instance, if the driveway requires resurfacing or other preparation work.
In addition, the quantity of the decorative asphalt used in the driveway, the size of the driveway, and the precise pattern and trim selected are all factors to consider. Because of these variables, estimating the cost of building a stamped asphalt driveway can be challenging. So, it would be best if you speak with a reputable paving contractor about your requirements, and they will provide you with a quote for the job.
However, it can cost up to $3-$9 a square foot to imprint and paint a pattern on an existing or new asphalt driveway based on the precise pattern and trim selected, the extent of pavement stamped, and the level of prep work and resurfacing needed. This estimate is for imprinting the asphalt topcoat.
Also, it can take up to $5-$12 a square foot to build a stamped driveway from afresh depending on the site prep required, local rates, and any challenges, such as slopes, curves, etc.
How long does it take to install a stamped asphalt driveway?
The length of time it takes to build a new stamped driveway is primarily determined by the amount of prep work needed. For instance, ripping out an existing driveway and using gravel to make the correct pitch and grade add more time to the work.
Many driveways can be completed in two days or less and ready for use nearly instantly after the site has been prepared.
Stamped asphalt takes less time, effort, and money to install than other decorative pattern paving surfaces. Furthermore, it can be built on existing asphalt that is in excellent condition, saving money on pavement removal.
In comparison to conventional surfaces such as brick pavers, the asphalt foundation offers superior stability and longevity. Besides, a stamped asphalt driveway is simpler, quicker, and less laborious to install when compared to other decorative paving surfaces.
How long does a stamped asphalt driveway last?
When it comes to asphalt longevity, many factors play a role in determining how long it will last. These factors include the quality of installation, the usage they get, the climate, and how well you take care of it.
The better treatment you give your asphalt driveway, like most things, the longer it will last.
If adequately built by a seasoned contractor, an asphalt driveway can last up to 20 years, and it is easily repaired. There’s no reason why your asphalt driveway shouldn’t last 30 years if a competent contractor does their jobs effectively and you, the property owner, do your part in maintaining it.
How you can care for your asphalt stamping driveway
It is not just enough to install your imprinted asphalt driveway. Proper care should be given to it so the driveway can last for the expected number of years. If you fail to take care of your stamped driveway, it will begin to wear out within a short time, which can call for costly repair work. Below are a few tips on how you can adequately care for your stamped driveway:
- Routine cleaning: Occasionally clean your stamped asphalt by sweeping and washing the surface to prevent buildup of dirt using a garden hose, push broom, and a mild detergent.
- Applying protective sealer: You can also apply a protective sealer to block chemicals, grease, dirt, oil, and other substances from penetrating your stamped asphalt driveway. The sealer also makes it easier to have the stamped asphalt cleaned, and it prevents color fading caused by UV exposure. For the best result, you can reseal your stamped asphalt every 2-3 years, based on your weather conditions.
- Do not use deicing salts on outdoor surfaces, especially during the winter months after installing the driveway. This is because sealers for decorative asphalt usually fail in portions where deicing salts are applied or collect drip-off from parked vehicles.
- Do not allow automobile traffic on your stamped driveway for at least three days after installation.
- Always ensure to limit heavy-duty truck from accessing your driveway
- Avoid heavy parking trucks for a long time
- Avoid the use of antifreeze, gasoline, oil, or transmission fluids on asphalt
What is the process of asphalt stamping?
Stamping asphalt can be performed on both fresh and old asphalt. In both cases, the procedure is essentially the same. The newly built pavement is first heated to the point that it can be molded. Then, a template with the desired pattern is forced against the asphalt surface and removed quickly. This final step is replicated multiple times until the pattern is imprinted successfully.
Sealcoating is added after the asphalt has retained its desired shape to achieve the desired texture and color as well as to protect the fresh asphalt from the damage that may be caused by sun and weather. Stamped asphalt driveway, when properly built, can be a modernizing addition to a variety of properties and landscapes.
Can I still imprint and texture my existing asphalt driveway?
The answer is yes, as long as your current asphalt driveway is in good shape. Even if your driveway needs fixes first, imprinting old asphalt and partial patches produce a nearly seamless cover for deteriorating asphalt. Then, after priming and prepping the current asphalt, a polymer-infused cement mix can be applied to give your existing and aged driveway a fresh new look.
Conclusion
Acquiring a stamped asphalt for your residential or commercial driveway can be pretty beneficial due to its beauty and strength. Stamped asphalt has the same aesthetic appeal as hand-laid materials like bricks, slate, and stone, but at a lower cost. Considering how important it is to save money when it comes to improving your home, It can be advantageous if you opt for stamped asphalt.
.