Frequently asked questions

1.  How long should I stay off my new driveway?

We recommend that you not drive on your new driveway for at least 3 days.  This time frame is dependent on the weather.  Cooler days and nights will allow you to get on your driveway much sooner than days that are above 80 degrees and sunny.

2.  Why do you recommend not driving on the new driveway?

Your driveway is made with a combination of liquid asphalt sand and stone.  Because a major ingredient in this mixture is a liquid at warm temperatures the driveway will stay "soft" until the heat is released from the surface and cured properly.

3.  When should I seal coat my new driveway?

 We recommend that you allow your driveway to go through a winter before sealing.  Then if desired, seal coat every 2 to 3 years to refresh the black color.

4.  What should I do around the edges of my new driveway?
Loam and seed should be brought flush with the surface of your driveway to support the edges and also prevent erosion.  If you have an area where you may drive off the edge, we recommend placing gravel flush with the new surface.

5.  Can I snowplow my new driveway?
Yes, snowplows will rarely damage a driveway.  They may leave small scratches on the surface which will disappear over time.

6.  What is the difference between "Binder" and "Top"?
A paving project may consists of one or two layers of pavement.  In some circumstances it is better to use one layer of  commercial grade asphalt but most of the time a two coat process is used.  The base or binder coat is a larger stone mix of asphalt and top or finish coat is a smaller mix of asphalt that when laid gives you a smoother look.

7.  Why do some people recommend binder one year then surface the next?
This allows your driveway to go through a freeze/thaw cycle and do any settling that could occur in a new driveway installation. This is used predominantly for new home construction where the earth has been dug out for ground clearing and site preparation.   This may also be beneficial if you have additional construction or yard work to complete.

8.  When should I overlay or resurface my driveway?

 A driveway overlay, also known as a resurface, is a cost effective way of rehabilitating your existing paved driveway.  This must be done before the driveway has rutted, cracked or deteriorated. 

9.  Why can't you give me a quote over the phone?
Every driveway is different.  The location, size, accessibility and type all factor in the cost of the driveway. 

10. Are you going to use recycled asphalt?
Asphalt recycling is the wave of the future.  Most new asphalt pavement produced has a certain amount of "old" asphalt pavement introduced into each batch. We may also use a mixture of recycled asphalt and gravel as a base for a new driveway.  This creates a very hard surface to pave on.

11. Why can I drive on a road immediately after being paved and not my driveway?
A city or town road is something that people expect to be able to use.  It is not practical for the municipality to prevent citizens from using a street just because it is freshly paved.  Most vehicles stay moving on the newly paved surface so very few surface marks appear in these locations.  At an intersection and other areas where vehicles change directions or speed, marks may occur.  Since traffic will continue to use this road they will actually knead the mark out of the surface on hot days.

We recommend that you stay off your new driveway to insure that the appearance stays satisfactory.  A vehicle may be driven on a driveway very soon after the asphalt is installed but marks may appear on the surface.  Since you do not have the traffic of a city street to remove these marks they may remain indefinitely.

If you have any other questions please feel free to contact us. 

.