Laying Down the Pavement

Ways To Rejuvenate Your Asphalt Driveway Depending On The Repairs It Needs

26 July 2021 by Clifton Sullivan

Asphalt tends to wear out over time for a number of reasons. Your asphalt driveway looks faded, and it develops cracks and potholes once it deteriorates. When that happens, it's time to talk to a residential paving contractor about your options. Based on the condition of the driveway, your choices could include resurfacing, sealcoating, or putting in a new driveway. Here's when these paving repairs are indicated.

When The Driveway Is Fading 

If actual damage is minor but the asphalt is severely faded and unattractive, sealcoating might be the solution. This is similar to applying a layer of waterproof paint or coating on the asphalt. This makes the color of the asphalt dark again, and the coating also provides protection so you can get a longer life from the asphalt. The sealcoat does this by creating a waterproof barrier over the driveway that protects against sun and rain damage.

When The Driveway Has Drainage Problems

If your asphalt driveway has significant cracking, potholes, and drainage problems, the best way to fix it could be to tear out the old asphalt and install a new driveway. Sealcoating or even resurfacing won't be enough to prevent further deterioration of the driveway or to fix problems with drainage.

Instead, the contractor has to take away the old asphalt so the base for the driveway can be rebuilt. Then, new asphalt can be added for a completely new driveway that should last for many years.

When The Base Is Good But The Asphalt Is Cracked

As long as the base under the driveway is in good shape, the asphalt paving contractor may suggest rejuvenating the asphalt through resurfacing. This entails adding a small layer of new asphalt on top of the old driveway. This eliminates the need to tear out the old driveway. The new asphalt overlay makes your driveway look good as new and provides it with many more years of life.

When You Want To Stop Damage From Spreading

If you don't have a big budget for asphalt repairs, then you should have cracks and holes filled at the very least. If you are handy with home improvements, you can fill the cracks yourself. Repairing damaged areas keeps water away from the base and helps your driveway last longer. Since asphalt slowly degrades due to sun exposure, age, and vehicle traffic, you'll need to keep up with repairs so the damage doesn't escalate and cause damage to the base or cause extensive cracking.

If you don't want to make repairs yourself, call a residential paving contractor to check your driveway and recommend a way to repair or rejuvenate it so you can put off having to pay for a new driveway.

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