An asphalt driveway is an excellent addition that boosts the look and value of your property. However, despite having a long lifespan, it still needs proper maintenance and care to preserve its function and beauty.
Therefore, you should be wary of how to take care of your asphalt driveway before you hire a professional to install one on your property.
The lifespan of your asphalt driveway will depend on several factors. This includes the maintenance and care it obtains, geology of the soil, quality of installation, and more.
If you want to avoid wasting money on an unnecessary driveway replacement project, here are a couple of ways that can help improve the lifespan of your asphalt paving driveway:
Reconstruction
Over time, asphalt will lose its integrity. This is particularly true since it’s constantly exposed to various elements. Oftentimes, it is not a worthy investment to regularly patch your old driveway. The reason for this is that new problems will arise as soon as the resurfacing is done.
Because of this, reconstruction is the more worthwhile solution if your asphalt driveway is more than 20 years old. It’s also an ideal choice if around 35% of the overall surface area of your driveway needs to be removed due to major damages.
Resurfacing or Overlay
If your driveway shows signs of severe cracking, pooling water, or wear and tear, resurfacing it with a new asphalt layer is your best bet. This is especially true if the base stays structurally stable.
For those who don’t know, resurfacing is the process of adding a layer of asphalt to the existing surface. The new layer will be around 1-2 inches deep. The final product will look like a completely new asphalt driveway.
However, you need to fix all existing damages first before you can overlay an asphalt driveway. This includes cracks, holes, and soft spots. Else, the old cracks will reflect through the newly applied layer as soon as possible.
Resurfacing can add another 7-14 years to your driveway’s lifespan if done properly.
Crack Sealing
Sealing the cracks in your driveway every year will improve its lifespan. However, remember that doing this on a driveway that hasn’t been seal-coated might lead to an unappealing look. Thus, you might have to seal-coat your driveway first before you can seal the crack.
Sealcoating
Oftentimes, your driveway takes a lot of abuse every day. For example, the sun’s UV rays can break down the material and creates holes. Cracks can appear if water fills these holes. If you ignore these cracks, the liquids will expand. This makes the cracks and holes bigger.
Because of this, you will have to protect your driveway by adding a layer of protection. This process is commonly known as seal-coating.
It involves applying a high-quality sealant to the driveway’s surface to produce a protective layer that protects against water, oil, dust, and UV rays.
Keep in mind that driveway sealers do not last forever. That is why professionals recommend you seal-coat your driveway every 2-3 years. This depends on the weather conditions of your region.
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