A new asphalt drive way is not a simple access to your garage, but rather a huge investment into the outlook Asphalt Driveway Installation, usefulness and price of your home. Although this might sound like a simple procedure of pouring black top, a long lasting, solid, and attractive drive way is a culmination of a careful planning, right preparation and skilled workmanship. Knowledge of some of the main steps of professional installation can guarantee your project to be able to withstand the test of time.
The Critical Foundation: Digging and Subgrade Trenching.
The most critical part of the installation is not the Asphalt Driveway Installation, but the part beneath the pavement. A drive way can only be strong when it has a strong base. The first stage is to remove the old surface material, be it old asphalt, old concrete, or grass. The area is then excavated to a depth of between 8 to 12 inches to fit the base layers in it.
Then the subgrade or the native soil beneath, is pressed to its utmost extent to produce a stable, non-yielding surface Asphalt Driveway Installation. Any loose ground should be filled in because any instability in this case will result in cracks and potholes on the surface. A thick layer of angular base (such as 3/4- inch crushed stone) is then smeared over this firm subgrade and trampled in lifts with a mechanical compactor Asphalt Driveway Installation. The base serves as the foundation of the driveway, which is important in drainage and load carrying capacity to carry vehicles and withstand frost heave.
Construction of Strength: The Binder Calculus and Final Surface.
To have a really tough drive way particularly on areas with extreme winters or high traffic, two lay asphalt system is advisable Asphalt Driveway Installation. The initial asphalt layer that is laid is the binder course. This cement is an amazingly strong and tough mixture that has a higher aggregate and increased asphalt cement. It is laid at the depth of 2-3 inches after which it is rolled and compacted to fix the aggregate. This is the layer that deals with the major structural load.
The topmost one is the surface course or wear course. It is that smooth, pretty finish that you observe Asphalt Driveway Installation. It is prepared using smaller and finer aggregate with better quality asphalt cement that makes it have its usual dark color and a smooth finish that can resist water. Laid at approximately 1.5 inches of thickness, this layer is carefully graded to ensure that there is water runoff and a steel roller used to smooth its surface.
Art of Finishing: Compaction and Patience.
The necessity to compactor each stage properly cannot be overestimated. It removes air spaces, enhances the density and binds the aggregate and asphalt into a single Asphalt Driveway Installation, solid, slab. Poor compaction is one of the main reasons of premature raveling (loose rocks) and corrosion.
The driveway has reached its most serious waiting time the cure once the last roll is completed. New asphalt requires time to oxidize and harden Asphalt Driveway Installation, and this process may take many months. Although it is hard enough to walk on in less than 24 hours, and drive on in 3-5 days, full strength is acquired with time. The homeowner must not make sharp turns when using heavy vehicles and also must not park at the same location over long periods of time in the initial months.
Investment: Long-Term Care Investment.
The last stage of the installation lifecycle is to apply a high-quality sealcoat after a recommended delay of 6 and 12 months Asphalt Driveway Installation. This makes the asphalt resistant to UV rays, penetration of gasoline, oil and water and gives a rich appearance of black. Sealing it on a regular basis (2-3 times a year) and even minor cracks should be fixed immediately, this will significantly increase the lifespan of your driveway that, when expertly laid and maintained, will be able to last up to 20-25 years or more.
Conclusively, an effective asphalt driveway construction is a ground up process which is engineered Asphalt Driveway Installation. The selection of a contractor with many years of experience and a preference towards deep, compacted aggregate bases, high-quality materials, and accuracy in paving and compaction is a must. With this respectful attitude toward the trade, you are opening the path, not only to cars, but to years of usefulness and increased beauties to your house.
