Lamacchia Landscape Construction. is committed to bringing you many years of satisfaction with your asphalt driveway. The finest care has been taken in the preparation and installation, but your care is essential to keeping your driveway in its best condition!
Determination of Product
Asphalt is a manmade product consisting of oil, liquid asphalt, sand, and stone. There are different types of asphalt. The size of the stone determines the type and use. The larger the stone, the stronger the asphalt.
When purchased, asphalt is 440º F and takes many days to cool enough to drive on. Since asphalt is an oil based product, the oils must rise to the surface and evaporate before the asphalt reaches maximum strength. Usually, 4-6 months is adequate. Being a manmade product, no two truck loads are exactly alike. One might contain slightly more oil or sand or stone than the next.
Since asphalt is a dark, heated product, the sun can reheat and soften the surface. On a sunny day with 85º F air temperature, the asphalt surface can reach 140º F, making it susceptible to scuff marks and tire prints if not treated with maximum care. This has nothing to do with the installation and is totally beyond the contractor’s control. It is the nature of the product’s reaction to heat determined by the manufacturer’s blend of ingredients.
A correctly installed driveway should not settle or crack. Adequate base material depth, properly compacted, provides a solid base. 2” of binder asphalt for strength followed by 1.5” of finish asphalt should produce a stable driveway lasting 18 to 25 years.
Beating the Elements
Asphalt is not concrete. It cannot withstand heavy equipment, cars, and campers parked in one spot for prolonged periods of time. It can easily be dented by fallen tree branches, hand tools, bicycle kickstands, lawn furniture, and ladders. It can easily be scuffed by power steering, snow plows, or dragging heavy objects across it.
Do’s and Don’ts
- Do keep your driveway surface free of debris such as acorns, rocks, and nails, etc. They can easily become imbedded during warm weather
- Never use power steering in a stationary position. Always turn the wheel slowly with the car in motion.
- Don’t leave sharp objects on the driveway. Bicycle kickstands, furniture, ladders and pointed tools.
- Don’t fuel lawnmowers or gas powered tools on the driveway.
- Don’t park in exactly the same place repeatedly.
- Don’t drive over edges of driveways. Edges are a driveway’s weakest point!
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