Asphalt Driveway Tips!

To give your driveway years of quality service and like new appearance, an asphalt driveway requires time to cure or harden. This time is a relatively short period before use. It is generally only 3-4 days before you can drive on new asphalt. The following are a few tips to ensure long lasting.

• Keep all vehicles off new asphalt pavement for 4 days to give proper time for the asphalt to harden. Note: Hot Summer temperatures may extend this hardening time.
• You may walk on the driveway after 2 days, but refrain from using high heels, rollerblades, lawn tractors, and or bicycles.
• Asphalt remains extremely susceptible to chemicals during the hardening process. Gasoline, antifreeze, oil, diesel fuel, or household chemicals can cause discoloration, cracking or disintegration. Make sure none of these or other corrosive substances come into contact with the asphalt. After the driveway hardens, these chemicals will have damaging effects on your driveway, but at a slower rate.
• After the driveway has been paves, the edges of the asphalt are higher than the ground. To reduce damage to the edges of the asphalt and potential tripping hazards, be sure to back fill the edges with dirt and/or grass. Do not drive on the edges of the driveway.
• It is recommended you seal your driveway between 6 weeks to 12 months after your driveway has been installed.
• Delivery drivers, and repair servicemen, or visitors may not know your driveway is new. Overweight vehicles or drivers turning their wheels in place will blemish the surface of the asphalt. It is suggested you block or post a warning on the new driveway for 2 weeks to keep others from damaging the surface of your new driveway.
• Motorcycle kickstands, auto jack stands, etc. Will leave impressions in new asphalt and during prolonged periods of hot weather.