This page will touch on
some of the most important facts and helpful tips regarding your new
asphalt. In order to get the most out of your surface, you should have
a good understanding of how to care for it throughout the years.
PAVEMENT
APPEARANCE:
All freshly laid pavement
may vary slightly in appearance on different areas of a job due to the
physical composition of asphalt. The finished surface of pavement will
have varied textures due to the physical make up, which is made from
of various sized stone, sand, liquid asphalt and other small items.
Another reason for varied finished textures is because some areas may
have been raked, spread and/or compacted with hand tools, while others
were spread and compacted by machinery.
BACK-FILL EDGES:
After all paving is
complete; it is highly recommended that you have all open edges of
your new pavement backfilled as soon as possible. Fill with topsoil to
just below the asphalt surface, then seed. This will strengthen the
edges and help prevent cracking.
ASPHALT
HARDNESS:
It will often take 6-12 months for the surface of your new asphalt
to harden and cure, therefore your new drive may remain relatively
soft until then. It is okay to walk on your new blacktop
immediately after paving is complete. We highly recommend
keeping all automobile traffic off new asphalt for at least 3 full
days, and even longer in warmer temperatures. Your new drive will
soften and harden as temperatures rise and fall during the day.
The hot summer sun may add 40 degrees to the surface of your
driveway. With an increased temperature, your new asphalt will be
more susceptible to cosmetic or even structural damages.
Scuffing the blacktop
surface will occur on warm days, especially before the asphalt has had
time to cure. On the hottest days there may be quite a few visible
scuff marks, don't be alarmed, because these tend to be merely
cosmetic. They will usually disappear within a few weeks as the
surface cures and temperature cools.
CARE TIPS:
There are many helpful
tips that you should keep in mind in order to keep your new drive in
its best possible condition. Here are a few things to remember about
asphalt, especially while it's curing and during warm days:
-
Okay to walk on right away
-
No automobile traffic
for at least 3 days after
paving
-
Backfill open edges for structural support
-
Don't always park
vehicle in same spot
-
Avoid sharply turning
vehicle tires &
unnecessary acceleration
-
Limit heavy-duty truck
traffic
-
Don't park heavy
trailers for long periods
-
Use caution with
motorcycle kickstands
-
Avoid using folding
chairs on new surface
-
Don't use gasoline, oil,
anti-freeze, or transmission fluids over asphalt.
-
Try to avoid
sealcoating driveway or lot for as long as possible
-
Fill potential crack
(1/4" or larger)
with a pourable rubber product
All of these common
actions have the capability of damaging the surface of your pavement,
especially during its first year. Excessive weight on concentrated
areas will leave indentations in the blacktop, while the listed fluids
will prematurely weaken asphalt and cause failure.
If you have any further
questions regarding the care of asphalt or have damage that you would
like fixed under warranty or otherwise, please don't hesitate to
contact DRS LTD by calling 608-274-4932
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