How To Properly Maintain An Asphalt Driveway

Many homeowners opt for the asphalt option when building their new driveway. If you're in the market for a new driveway and considering asphalt over concrete, or already have an asphalt driveway, then you must know the importance of proper care and maintenance.

Driveway maintenance, while not difficult to carry out, is very important. Cracks and pits in a new driveway are unseemly, not to mention the safety hazard that they may create. Luckily, asphalt driveways are very easy to maintain, and you do not need any special tools or skills to do so.

Take Care Of Mini-Cracks And Stains Before Sealing

The asphalt driveway should be sealed about six months to a year after installation. The sealing process is quite simple, and contains a few steps.

First, visually inspect the driveway for any cracks and stains. Oil stains should be removed prior to sealing – this can be done by scrubbing with detergent and water. Small cracks will also tend to appear. These cracks can be filled by a number of convenient products, and many come in a squeezable bottle. Simple fill the crack and let it set for a few hours.

Seal The Asphalt

Once the driveway is free of oil stains and the mini-cracks have been filled, it is ready to be sealed. For this, you will need a sealcoat or asphalt emulsion. Ensure that you have a few days of sunny weather for the sealing process.

The exact application method for the sealcoat will depend on the particular variety you buy. Generally, you will be using a long-handled tool with a squeegee on the end. To seal, simply pour a 30cm ribbon of sealcoat onto the driveway, and use the squeegee to spread it back and forth across the asphalt. For the next section, repeat the process on an adjacent patch of asphalt, ensuring that the edges of the two sealed sections overlap.

Once the entire driveway is sealed, allow the first coat to dry for anywhere between 6 and 12 hours (depending on how hot it is, and your particular sealcoat's instructions). Apply a second coat after this, and you're done! Once you're finished, you need to keep cars off your driveway for 24 hours. Park your own car on the street, and block off the entrance to your driveway with some brightly coloured ropes to prevent other cars from entering.

Repeat Every 5 Years

Typically, you should reseal your driveway every 3-5 years. Regular visual inspections will help you determine exactly when you should repeat the maintenance process – look for little cracks and blemishes.

By conducting regular maintenance, you can expect your asphalt driveway to have a lifetime of over 30 years. For more information, contact a company like Melbourne Asphalt Contractors.