Care & Maintenance Tips For Your Newly Paved Surface
When designed and built correctly, an asphalt driveway will keep it's smooth surface for years to come.
Depending on your climate and wear patterns, a high-grade asphalt emulsion sealer should be applied to your asphalt surface every two to five years. Driveways should be sealed regularly to keep their fresh look and also to last longer. Emulsion sealers consist of asphalt cement treated to mix with water. Once applied, the water evaporates, the material hardens, and the surface is waterproof.
For sloped driveways, some sealers contain sharp sand to provide added traction.
The liquid asphalt in blacktop takes about 6-12 months time to harden and cure, your driveway will remain soft and pliable until then.
It's ok to walk on your new driveway immediately, but important to keep automobile traffic off it for at least 3 full days after installation or resurfacing, and longer in hotter temperatures. Even after the blacktop has cured, do not expect it to be as hard as concrete. New blacktop will soften and harden as temperatures rise and fall. Watering down your driveway with a hose on a hot day can cool and temporarily harden the blacktop, this is not mandatory, but can be helpful in maintaining the smooth surface.
Don't be alarmed if soap suds appear. The reaction between the diesel fuel found in blacktop and a high chlorine content found in some city water is what causes this reaction. Although every effort is made to avoid puddles in your driveway, some small ones are inevitable depending on the grounds natural slope and drainage.
- You might consider placing a sign at the beginning of your driveway asking drivers to be courteous by driving with ease on your new surface. Automobiles starting out or driving too fast and pulling in too quickly will scar your blacktop.
- While your driveway is curing, we recommend that you do not park in the same spot every time for at least 6 to 12 months.
- Avoid turning your steering wheel back and forth when your car is not moving as it can leave lasting marks.
- Items such as lawn chairs, motorcyles and bicycle kick stands, and the like will leave depressions and create holes in your new driveway if left in one place for too long. Consider leaning the kickstand on an alternative surface in the meantime if possible.
What to avoid with your new driveway
Avoid gasoline, oil, anti-freeze, power steering and transmission fluid spills and leaks. These will dilute the liquid asphalt in your blacktop.
Any hairline cracks that may have developed over the winter due to contraction and expansion of the ground should be filled with crack filler.
Special Care and Appearance
The edges of your driveway are the weakest due to the lack of side support. It's best to void driving on the edges to prevent will crack and crumbling over time. Consider building up the sides of your driveway with topsoil to help support the edges of your driveway, this can also enhance the appearance if grass or flowers are grown over the topsoil creating a nice look to add curb appeal.
Blacktop is made up of many components including stone, sand, and other ingredients. This may cause your driveway look like it has varied texture and some areas may look smoother than others. C.A.P. Paving has the proper equipment to help alleviate some of these effects, which is a better alternative than installing your blakctopp manually with hand tools and rakes. YOu'll have a far more professional look when you hire a professional like C.A.P. Paving to do the job for you the right way, the first time.
We hope that these tips will help you keep your paved surfaced looking as new as possible for many years to come. All of our work is warranteed. Feel free to contact us at 603-286-3352 if you have any questions. We'll be happy to help and hope that you enjoy the look and functionality of your new asphalt surface!
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