Asphalt has established itself as one of the key players in the paving industry. The U.S. alone produces $30 billion worth of asphalt-based materials. So, if you are planning for a new parking lot or driveway, asphalt is a great option. To make an informed decision, here is all you need to know about asphalt driveway paving.
Asphalt is a culmination of binders, aggregates, and fillers which can be the following materials.
- Aggregates – sand, gravel, slags, and crushed rock
- Binder – this is bitumen that is responsible to hold the aggregates together.
You measure, mix and bake all the ingredients together to form Asphalt Driveway Paving. The best part about asphalt is its eco-friendliness as it is 100 percent recyclable. Not only that, but it is also very durable as well as safe. Asphalt can also melt ice faster than concrete paving, which makes it safer to walk during bad weather conditions.
If you wish to lay down an EPA best-practice paving, then porous asphalt is the answer. This is because porous asphalt paving allows falling water through it into the ground. Moreover, asphalt repair is comparatively easy to repair.
Installing an Asphalt Driveway.
The process of paving an asphalt driveway involves several layers. First, you start with hauling and demolishing the surface of your existing paving surface. The next step is grading the paving surface before you lay down asphalt. Your contractor will slope the grading leading to a grassy area to prevent water from sitting still on the finished surface of your asphalt.
Once you have sorted out the grading process, you put down a sub-base layer first. This will be your load-bearing layer to support the weight of the asphalt layers. Your sub-base layer comprises aggregate materials and typically more than 50 percent of this layer contains crushed stone as the primary aggregate material.
With the sub-base layer is in place, lay down the binder layer mostly made from bitumen. You mix this layer with oil in order to make it strong, and durable, and once you complete the binder layer, you put down a proof roll.
This proof layer will detect any soft or not so strong areas on your binder layer. In case there is a soft area, the foremen will dig the ground down by several feet and replace that patch with much stronger aggregates.
Once your sub-base layer is strong enough to bear the weight load, it is time to install the asphalt layer. You put down the asphalt and roll the surface smooth to make it compact. Let your asphalt cool down after the completion of the rolling process and your asphalt will be ready for action.
Post – Installation Stage of Asphalt Driveway Paving
The asphalt’s drying along with Asphalt Driveway Paving time may vary depending on various conditions such as weather. Typically, you must wait for at least 24 hours before you drive or park a car on it. Letting the car on the new asphalt driveway paving too soon may harm its structural integrity and you may have to repair it before you could even use it.
While drying, the sun will oxidize the oil present in your binders, and the asphalt will turn from black to gray. While oxidation is important so that the extra oils can release in the binder, it is crucial for you to stop oxidation from curing. You need to carry out curing after 90 days of asphalt driveway paving installation for residential purposes and approximately 30 days for commercial areas such as parking lots.
If you are a commercial or residential paving solution, then asphalt driveway paving is the best answer. Zavza Seal has been offering paving solutions in Suffolk County, NY, and its surrounding areas for decades. Our team of experts will evaluate the scope of your driveway paving requirement and deliver the most impeccable Asphalt Driveway Paving.
Reference URLs
https://bit.ly/2T16vbu, https://bit.ly/3cZetHW, https://bit.ly/3hUDRB0, https://bit.ly/2TIxKb8
Want more free resources on managing your home? Check out our recent post where we shared for Asphalt Driveway Paving proven tips on repairing a cracked walkway.