A new asphalt driveway brings value and immediate improvement to your property's appearance and use. Whether you are installing a new driveway for your own use or to improve the value of your home for resale, be sure you protect your investment in the short term and over the long term life of the asphalt. Here are some recommendations about proper care of your asphalt driveway so you can keep it protected and working well for you.
Practice Special Care For New Asphalt
When you first get a new asphalt driveway, your instinct may be to use and enjoy it immediately by parking all your vehicles and any other driveway tools on its surface to begin using it right off. However, give the asphalt a few days for it to harden fully before you park or drive over its surface.
Then, vary your parking spots for the first few months, especially during the summer, so you don't constantly park in the same spot and cause tire dents to make sunken spots in the asphalt's surface. If you plan to use your asphalt driveway for parking an RV or boat, for example, place a section of plywood under the tires of your RV or boat so the tires don't create dents in the surface.
It is also helpful to cool the surface of your asphalt down in the summer, especially during an excessive period of heat. Use your garden hose to spray down the surface, which will cool the asphalt emulsion and help harden it up and protect its surface. Your asphalt contractor can provide you recommendations for your asphalt's care and a maintenance schedule for repairing cracks and applying a surface sealcoat in the next few years.
Protect The Edges
The condition and protection of your driveway's edges are essential for the long-lasting durability of your driveway. If your edges are not protected, they will begin to crack apart, causing the cracking damage to spread further into your pavement. Be sure you use edge protection for your asphalt from its installation to keep it intact.
One method of edge protection for your asphalt is to apply a layer of gravel beneath and extending past the edges of your driveway. This will provide support to the edges, which should be angled at a 45-degree angle and not cut off at a 90-degree angle. You can, however, install the edges of your driveway at a 90-degree angle, but only as long as the edges are supported with a concrete curbing or other solid edging material, such as concrete blocks, bricks, or decorative stones that hold the edges of the driveway in place.
For more information, reach out to an asphalt paving contractor in your area.