CARING FOR YOUR NEW ASPHALT
First, we would like to thank you for entrusting GW Paving Inc with your asphalt Project.
We know you had several companies to choose from and we appreciate your confidence in our service. We've included here care and maintenance information to assist you in keeping your driveway in good shape for many years to come. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to call us anytime!
802-598-5025
Asphalt contains liquid tar, which needs time to harden and cure. It takes 24 months for a fully cured driveway, until then, it will remain pliable and soft. We've provided some recommendations to take the best care of your investment.
Asphalt Do's & Don'ts
First, we would like to thank you for entrusting GW Paving Inc with your asphalt Project.
We know you had several companies to choose from and we appreciate your confidence in our service. We've included here care and maintenance information to assist you in keeping your driveway in good shape for many years to come. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to call us anytime!
802-598-5025
Asphalt contains liquid tar, which needs time to harden and cure. It takes 24 months for a fully cured driveway, until then, it will remain pliable and soft. We've provided some recommendations to take the best care of your investment.
Asphalt Do's & Don'ts
- DON'T drive automobiles on fresh asphalt for 24 Hours. During this critical period your asphalt will still be relatively soft and will be susceptible to being impacted by the weight of vehicles. While you should be able to safely drive on your driveway after 24 hours, in some cases you may want to wait as many as 48 to 72 hours. This is especially true during warmer months of the year when it will take longer for the driveway to completely harden.
- DON'T walk on your new pavement with high heel shoes. DON'T place lawn chairs, bicycle kickstands, or any other sharp objects on it. They will create holes and depressions.
- DON'T drive too fast. It’s much better to take your time pulling into and backing out of your driveway at a slower pace than to compromise the integrity and beauty of the pavement by creating scuff marks and scarring. DO NOT turn your steering wheel back and forth when your car is not moving!
- DON'T drive too close to the edge of the pavement. The edges are the weakest part of your driveway due to the lack of side support. Driving on the edge of the pavement will cause them to crack and crumble in time.
- DON'T park vehicles in the same spot again and again. If you keep a vehicle parked in the same spot on your driveway for an extended period of time, you could cause the formation of low spots. Your driveway is especially sensitive in the first 6-12 months after an asphalt paving job, and during periods of warmer weather.
- DO give the asphalt time to cure. It’s important to understand that asphalt typically takes a full year to completely cure. That doesn’t mean that you can't drive on the asphalt for a year, of course. Once the asphalt fully dries and begins the curing process you’ll be good to go. Even so, you’ll need to take extra care to monitor the driveway until the process is fully complete. This includes monitoring the weight of vehicles being driven on the driveway, the length of time during which a certain vehicle is parked in place, where and how you maneuver vehicles on the surface, etc.
- DO use materials to distribute weight. During the initial curing time, do not park in the same sports all the time and do not use jack stands or car ramps unless you put a piece of plywood underneath. Large heavy vehicles can depress and cause ruts in your driveway! If a camper or other vehicle will be stored for a long period of time, place a piece of plywood under the tongue jack and tires.
- DO water it down with a garden hose. Even when cured, asphalt can sometimes soften in extremely hot weather and harden as temperatures fall. Temporarily water your driveway with a garden hose in order to temporarily harden it. If soapsuds should appear. do not be alarmed! This is a reaction between the diesel found in the asphalt and the Chlorine found in some city water.
- DO clean spills immediately. Few things can cause as much damage to a freshly completed asphalt paving project than an oil spill. Oil can rapidly break down the chemical binders within the asphalt, thus weakening the overall structural integrity of your driveway and leading to major problems. In the event that oil leaks or spills onto your driveway, you’ll need to take measures to quickly clean the affected area. This is best accomplished through using a solution of water and dish soap and scrubbing the area with a soft brush.
- REMEMBER, THAT NO MATTER HOW OLD YOUR DRIVEWAY IS, ASPHALT CAN BE DAMAGED, ESPECIALLY ON A HOT DAY! PLEASE ALWAYS TAKE PRECAUTIONS.