Your contractor has years of experience and knowhow in the construction of driveways, roadways, and parking lots and therefore you should accept his recommendations concerning the construction or resurfacing of your project. By accepting his recommendation you might now the cheapest job available, but you will benefit by getting a longer lasting quality project in pavements,
Once you have accepted the recommendation of the contractor concerning base, drainage and thickness of material, you will have a driveway that will initially have a very pleasing appearance. From this point on you can preserve the appearance and prolong its life by a few simple precautions.
Once your project is completed you will be the proud new owner of a driveway made from material commonly called Black Top, but better known by Highway Engineers as Asphaltic Concrete. This material has been used to build the finest pavements in America and in the world.
A driveway can lose its tenderness in anywhere from 2 to 3 years. Be patient! The flexible material will in the long run give you longer life.
Here are some simple Don’ts about your driveway emphasizing how to prevent unsightliness or deterioration in the first year particularly.
1. Don’t place sharp or pointed object on the black top driveway. They will cause holes and indentations.
2. Don’t turn the wheals of your car sharply while the car is standing still, it will scuff the surface. Start the car moving and gradually turn the wheels while the car is in motion. These power steering scuffs do not indicate a material defect and in many cases nearly “heal themselves” in time.
3. Don’t park the car in the same spot each time. Chance its position each time.
4. Don’t allow large heavy vehicles in your driveway. Chances are the base has not be designed for it.
5. Don’t allow weeds to crowd edges. In summer at the peak of growth, they have been known to lift the edges or grow right through the blacktop.
6. Don’t allow snowplows in the driveway without a warning to keep the blade high enough from the surface to prevent gouging and scratching.
7. Don’t allow gas or oil to spill on driveway since it will dissolve the asphalt from the stone and create an unsightly hole.
8. Don’t drive or park near the edges of the driveway unless it is confined inside a single a concrete or stone curb from which it can be supported.
9. Don’t expect a puddle free surface unless you particularly request a greater than normal slope to your driveway or it is on a hill. Most driveways are too small for the use of sophisticated paving machines used on road projects. A great deal of the paving is done by hand spreading and perfectly smooth surface cannot be achieved. There also might be some minor settling depending on the type of sub grade.
10. Don’t be alarmed by the roller creases left by compaction equipment. Most contractors can iron most of them out buy they ar sign that pavement was rolled when it was still hot enough for better density and compaction. They nearly disappear in time.