How Do I Keep My New Asphalt Looking New?
There is nothing that looks better than freshly paved asphalt! It’s a sophisticated and clean addition to any commercial or residential property. But as you know all too well, asphalt can age quickly when it’s not properly cared for—even within a few years, it can start to deteriorate dramatically.
After you’ve hired an asphalt contractor and completed your paving job, what’s the next step? If you want the best results, it’s good to know the care and keeping best practices for your freshly paved asphalt.
Give your new asphalt time to dry before driving on it.
DO give your asphalt some time to look its best. Let your asphalt cure for best results. While it’s safe to drive on new asphalt as soon as it is dry (usually about 24 hours after paving, though to be safe you can avoid driving on it for three days or even five during the peak heat of summer) it needs much longer to fully cure and reach its prime strength and resiliency.
For the first year or so after paving, respect your new asphalt’s curing process by monitoring how long vehicles are parked in one spot, speed of driving, and the amount of weight on the new surface.
DON'T park in the same spot every time. Over time, repetitive parking can create impressions in the asphalt. Even leaving outdoor furniture in the same spot can create depressions. If you plan to leave a trailer, boat, or vehicle parked in one spot for some time, place plywood under the tongue and/or pads under the wheels. Padding your outdoor furniture can also help protect surfaces and keep them even.
When it comes to your asphalt investment, a little vigilance and TLC can go a long way.
DO make sure to clean up any spills right away. Don’t let oil or fuel spills stay on your asphalt. It’s important to clean them up right away to avoid weakening the surface and causing ongoing damage.
DON’T let ice and snow sit on the surface. While this fortunately isn’t a great area of concern for our Contra Costa County asphalt paving contractors, it’s still important to know that snow and ice can damage your asphalt. Clear snow and ice as soon as possible, particularly during the first year of curing after fresh asphalt is laid. Water can get through the porous surface of your asphalt easily, and if it freezes, it will expand. This can cause cracks and potholes. You can use an ice melting product on your asphalt to prevent this.
DO encourage safe driving. Peeling out, drifting, donuts—unsafe driving and fast speeds cause real long-term damage to asphalt. Speed reduction installations such as speed bumps can help encourage safer driving. Talk with our team about asphalt speed bumps.
Check asphalt every month or so for small cracks, holes, and fissures. The sooner you address asphalt defects, the better it will look in the long run!
DO spot check for holes and cracks in asphalt frequently. Patch holes and apply asphalt crack sealant to small fissures in your asphalt paving right away. The faster you catch them, the more effectively you prevent a serious aesthetic or structural problem.
DON'T ignore weed growth. It’s also a good idea to keep an eye on the edges of your paving to watch for weeds. Over time, roots can create bumps and start spreading cracks in your pavement. Pull the weeds up the by root to prevent problems.
DO call Durango Paving & Grading, Inc. for regular sealcoating services. It’s important to apply a sealcoat after your pavement has cured. This prevents water from getting into the porous surface of your asphalt, and it prevents fading as well. DON'T apply sealcoating for at least one year. After that period, contact our team to discuss regular sealcoating services.
For asphalt maintenance services in the Bay Area, contact Durango Paving & Grading, Inc. at (510) 506-0315. Our team of professionals can help!
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