Asphalt Installation Recommendations For Long-Lasting Pavement Stability
An asphalt paved driveway or parking area on your property is a big investment and an important addition to your property. An improved and paved surface provides added value to your home and provides you with a long-lasting and useful area for work and play. However, the proper installation process for the pavement is essential. Here are some recommendations to make your asphalt driveway a long-lasting pavement and beneficial feature on your property.
Adjust the Foundation
The foundation of your asphalt pavement is one of the first things that is installed, but you don't want to skip over its quality. A durable foundation to your asphalt will need to be made of a well-compacted material, whether it is the existing soil or an added material.
Look at the soil around the site where you plan to install the asphalt pavement and check it for compaction and also stability. If the soil is around the exterior of your home and the home has recently been constructed, you should seriously consider removing the soil and replacing it with a compacted soil or a large gravel to provide a solid base. Most soil that is backfilled around a home is not compacted well and contains air pockets and is too soft to support an asphalt pavement.
Your professional asphalt pavement crew will likely check the soil for its drainage qualities and compact it into place with added sand or gravel to promote drainage. They may also excavate the soil and replace it with a base layer of large gravel, which they will top with a medium-sized angular gravel, which they will compact together to produce a sturdy layer. Only then will they be able to install the two-inch layer of hot mix asphalt and compact it together to form the asphalt's surface. Any form of corner-cutting will leave your asphalt exposed to damage and failure.
Install Good Drainage
After the foundation of your asphalt, a good drainage layer is essential to the asphalt's long-lasting ability. You should look at the slope and surface area of your pavement to determine where surface water will flow from your asphalt and where any below-grade moisture will seep. Water from existing groundwater sources, from nearby landscaping irrigation runoff, and from your home's gutter downspouts can all contribute to excess moisture in the layers below your pavement, and they need to be managed to keep your asphalt's surface intact.
Look to install a French drain below your asphalt in low areas or areas of steep slope to collect the extra runoff and prevent erosion and freeze heaving of the foundation. Also, make sure the surface of your pavement has a good slope to let precipitation naturally flow from its surface and onto surrounding areas.
Contact a company like Northern Asphalt LLC to learn more.
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