After you’ve invested thousands of dollars laying down a brand new asphalt driveway, you’ll want to do everything possible to keep it in great shape for years to come. So, how do you know how much to asphalt a driveway? The best way to extend the life of your asphalt driveway is to complete preventative maintenance tasks at regular intervals to repair cracks and damage and seal against water intrusion. In this post, we’ll discuss the three main levels of asphalt maintenance and how often you should do each task.
Patching
If you’re dealing with a small crack, dip, or pothole, then patching is probably your best bet. Patches should be done as soon as damage is noticed. Leaving even a tiny crack unpatched for too long can cause it to spread and become a much bigger and costlier problem. This is because the continued traffic on the driveway puts pressure and stress on the weakened, cracked area, causing it to become larger with each passing vehicle. Additionally, water can enter into the asphalt through small cracks and cause erosion of substrate, or even worse, freeze and expand. When frozen water expands in a crack, it will begin to grow uncontrollably. Use a patching solution designed for asphalt repair to take care of these small wear-and-tear issues.
Sealcoating
Sealcoating is a process where you cover the asphalt surface with a protective sealant to stop the oxidation of the binding agents in the asphalt. Sealcoating preserves the structure of the asphalt and keeps it looking its best. You should sealcoat your asphalt driveway 60-90 days after it is initially laid, then every 2-5 years as needed. For driveways that experience heavy traffic, more frequent sealcoating may be required.
Resurfacing
Asphalt resurfacing is like a facelift for your driveway, restoring the surface to its original condition and appearance. During resurfacing, all damage is repaired, the surface is leveled, and a new top layer of asphalt is poured over the entire surface. Resurfacing should be done every 10 years or so for optimal results.
Complete Replacement
Complete replacement of your asphalt driveway should occur every 20-30 years, depending on its condition and use. While some asphalt driveways can last for decades with proper care and maintenance, driveways with consistent or heavy traffic will need replacement closer to the 20 year mark. During a complete replacement, the entire existing driveway is removed and a new driveway is poured as if the old one was never there. This includes removing all old driveway materials, including the substrate, and starting again from the ground up. If you ever wanted to make changes to the design or layout of your driveway, such as expanding it to cover more area, replacement is the time to do it!
Asphalt Maintenance Services in the Vancouver Metro
Don’t let an asphalt driveway in disrepair bring down the curb appeal of your property! If you live in the Vancouver metro area, including Surrey, Abbotsford, Richmond, Burnaby, and Coquitlam, and have an asphalt surface that needs some attention, call the experts at Topwest Asphalt Ltd. at 1-800-ASPHALT or contact us online. We’ll help you decide which maintenance and repair solution is best for your driveway, restoring it to its former glory. Don’t wait until those small cracks turn into big problems….call Topwest Asphalt today!
