There are some key considerations in having good asphalt driveways. These critical points include:
● Adequate foundation
It is important to prepare an adequate foundation that includes a solid subgrade and constructing a strong aggregate base. Bad preparation of asphalt driveways results in ruining the driveways with regular traffic.
● Proper drainage
Another key importance in having good driveways is to provide proper drainage. The problems start developing when there is no drainage, and the water starts accumulating on the driveways.
It is suggested to remove the water away from the pavement and remove the water from the edge of the pavements. A lot of professionals suggest having a french drain to get rid of the moisture from below the pavement level.
Make sure the pavements have a proper slope so that water can be drained out. If the pavements have proper drainages, then your pavements will last long.
● Appropriate materials
It is very crucial to use the proper and the right asphalt mix. Unless the driveways contractors have their own hot mix plant, it is advisable that driveway contractors must use the “the-mix-of-the-day” from the local hot mix plant. The driveways are susceptible to brittleness that often occurs due to weathering and oxidation.
The driveway mixes should be made using more asphalt binder and fewer air voids in comparison to the highway mixes. When it comes to aggregate mixes, a lot of opinions differ from contractor to contractor. The asphalt mix might not be considered the prettiest looking mixture, but it is the most durable mixture. It is advisable to remove any kind of sand and dust particles from the mix.
The choice of the graduation completely depends upon the desired loading and appearance of the driveways. The finer the grading will be, the more water it will shed and will look more uniform.
● Good construction practices
In all cases, it is very important to have good workmanship so that the driveways last longer than usual. The compaction is said to be very critical, including the joints and the edges in the pavement.
It is crucial to tamp the pavement edges and make the joints look tight and good. Also, make sure that there is no segregation of the mix because the segregated mix leads to the formation of potholes and pavement failures.
● Maintenance
Most asphalt driveways experts understand that the pavement’s quality is crucial in determining the driveways performance. Such professionals know the appropriate mixture for the job and the importance of having great compaction. But maintaining such floors is equally important.
It is very important to take care of the drainage while constructing the driveways and look after crack-sealing. It is crucial to do the overall sealing as per the wear-and-tear of the use of the driveways. Sealing the cracks is also a very crucial thing in maintaining the asphalt driveways. As when the cracks are open, the water and other foreign material can cause damage by entering the pavement if they are not sealed timely.
If you have been looking for the best asphalt contractors, then it is best to hire the Road Seal as they have a team of professionals who have years of experience and are highly trained in Asphalt Paving and Asphalt Pathways repair and construction.
