All You Need To Know About Asphalt Driveway Installation

As your driveway will be the first section most people will see when they visit your house or office in Sydney, it must be constructed and designed well to give the entire property “curb appeal”. Many earthworks contractors recommend asphalt as your driveway material since it performs as well as other options in the market, but at a lower cost.

Like other asphalt driveways Sydney, you need to maintain the material every few years by cleaning it and treating it with sealant. The good news is that asphalt is made out of petroleum, making it flexible and less likely to crack compared to other paving substances.

What makes up an asphalt driveway?

The material that contractors will lay on your driveway is just like the stuff which road crews are applying to streets. An asphalt driveway has a combination of sand, stone, and asphalt, also known as “hot mix” or “hot mix asphalt”. This compound is initially heated to a temperature above 148.889°C (or 300°F), and contractors must quickly work on it before it hardens.

A new driveway installation begins with a 4 to 8 inch coating of compacted granular fill to form a sturdy, well-draining base, which is then covered with 2 to 3 inches of “hot mix”, and finally compacted by a steamroller. A freshly paved asphalt driveway can normally be used 40 minutes after installation.

Why is asphalt the best option for you?

It helps lessen noise pollution.

Noisy streets can be a distraction, especially if you work or study from home. A road made from asphalt can bring down highway noise by as much as 7 decibels. If you are not convinced, lowering noise by 3 decibels is the same as doubling the distance between the listener and the source of the noise.

It is environmentally friendly.

Asphalt is 100% recyclable, and post-consumer waste like used tires can be reused for new driveways and roads to conserve natural resources and reduce landfills. This material also requires less energy to create compared to other pavement options.

It is safer for drivers.

Streets and driveways made out of asphalt provide high skid resistance and high color contrasts between road markers and the pavement to guide drivers in any weather condition. The material is not affected by ice and snow, and the dark color reduces glare while melting ice faster than other pavement options. Some road surfaces are coated with special asphalt to minimize splashes and sprays during rainy days, reducing the chances of vehicular accidents and fatalities.

When is the best time to lay down asphalt?

Paving with “hot mix asphalt” relies on warmer temperatures for the ideal workable conditions, so it is best to lay down an asphalt driveway during the spring and summer seasons. Even if you live in warmer areas around Sydney, the winter season is not a good time for engaging in this project.

If the air in your environment is cold, your earthworks contractors have to work on this pavement faster since the crew needs time to compact the asphalt. Your driveway may end up bumpy, irregular, uneven, or worse, unfinished if the workers are not able to smoothen the pavement.

The thickness of your paving will also affect the success of this project. The more asphalt you have to work with, the more flexibility you have. For example, your contractors have up to an hour to install 3 inches of asphalt at an air temperature of 40°F, but if the available material is only 1 and a half inches thick, the crew has to finish the job in 15 minutes or less.

For thin layers of asphalt (the average is about 1 and a half inches), it is best for the crew to work on your driveway when the air temperature is 70°F or higher. Ask your contractor if the job can be done when the temperature is between 50°F to 60°F, as the “hot mix” can still be serviceable at this moment, although time will be limited.

How long does an asphalt driveway last?

Your last pavement installation would usually last up to 2 decades, depending on factors like the climate, the quality of the work done on it, how often it is used, and how well it is maintained. Of course, if you take good care of your driveway, it will remain in service longer.

You can actually use an asphalt driveway perpetually, so how long it stays in good condition is normally a matter of aesthetics. Can you still live with your pavement looking aged and broken beyond repair? It may be time to call an earthworks contractor.

Who should you hire as an earthworks contractor?

Installing an asphalt driveway requires complex equipment and techniques that only earthworks contractors can use. Get referrals from your friends and family and do your research before calling, because there are a lot of “fly-by-night” agencies in Sydney that are eager to take your money and exchange it for an unsatisfactory job, particularly with the granular base.

Ask your contractor about the materials they use for the base, and how thick they will form them. If you wish to replace your outdated pavement, ask the contractor if they improve on the old base or replace it prior to adding asphalt. A reputable contractor will have a working 1-ton roller to smoothen the asphalt.