It’s been several years since your old asphalt driveway was laid down and it is currently showing its age. Cracks everywhere, depressions, and missing chunks of it. You’re thinking that you might need to replace it already because of how damaged it is, but you don’t know where to get started. We’re here to help with a few things that you have to consider before you put down another driveway to ensure that it reaches its maximum lifespan.
Removing the Old Asphalt
Putting a new layer of asphalt on top of your old and battered driveway is a terrible idea. Think of it as building a house on top of sand in an area where it rains 24/7. It isn’t going to end well as the foundation of your new asphalt is weak and will eventually ruin your new asphalt as well. The best thing to do is to either remove the old asphalt or have your contractor remove it for you. This way, your new asphalt driveway will have a clean slate and a better foundation to keep it from breaking down.
Size And Terrain Of Your Driveway
The larger the area that needs to be paved, the larger the cost it’s going to have. Take this into account when budgeting for your new driveway. Another thing to consider is the slope of your driveway as some driveways will either be flat or have slopes. Take the measurements of all these parts of your driveway and you can create a rough estimate of how much time, money and effort it’s going to take to pave your driveway
Driveway Debris
Debris on your driveway isn’t just limited to leaves and branches. You can consider things like trees, and shrubs as “debris” when it comes to doing a paving project as they can block the placement of your asphalt pavement. Either have them removed from the project area or, incorporate them into your paving plans to keep that memento tree from your great great grandfather’s youth part of your driveway.
Anticipate and Predict The Load Your Driveway will Handle
If you’re a homeowner, the most weight your driveway should handle is the weight of the largest public vehicle which is usually either a van or SUV. A thin layer of asphalt should be enough to support these vehicles without much trouble. On the other hand, if you’re a business owner expecting a large number of cargo trucks and delivery vehicles, you’re going to need to invest in a much thicker layer of asphalt to make sure that the asphalt doesn’t crack under all that weight and pressure.
A Professional Contracting Company
Doing an asphalt project yourself can be a satisfying project to undertake. However, it is also a tremendous challenge as you need to not only buy the materials for the project yourself, but you also need to do all the planning yourself. With a professional team helping you out, paving your driveway becomes much cheaper and also much easier since your payments to them will have them pick the right materials for the job and they will also bring their professional expertise to help you get the long lasting driveway of your dreams.
