Tips for Paving Your Driveway
Taking on home improvements yourself can be a cost-effective solution for many homeowners. It's important to set out with a solid plan and the knowledge to complete the job as professionally as possible; otherwise, you will end up spending more money than if you had hired a professional in the first place. Paving your driveway will increase the value of your home and offer better parking options for the residents of the house. In this article, you will learn tips on discount paving and the best procedures to do the job right on your own the first time.
First of all, it's important to learn about the different materials one would use to pave their driveway. The most common and perhaps the most easiest method to pave your driveway is with asphalt. If you are going to use asphalt for your discount paving job, it is recommended to lay down a thick gravel base first. Depending on what kind of landscape you are working in, lay this gravel base about 4-6 inches thick, as that is suitable for most climates and ground conditions.
Once that base is in place, it's time to pour the asphalt. This liquid will form into hard pavement and create the actual driveway. The driveway will be black and won't crack easily, which will be valuable during years of weathering and wear and tear. If you live in a climate that is colder than temperate, or if you experience more cold winter months than warm summer ones, it's important that your driveway is paved to withstand these colder conditions. In cases like this, you might want to consider using a chip seal asphalt. This asphalt is a special kind that uses less cement and more water to comprise its composition.
Once you've laid your asphalt, whether standard asphalt or chip seal asphalt, it's time to add another layer. This top layer is made up of crushed gravel and tar. Once this layer is spread on top of the asphalt, you will need a large, heavy drum roller to smooth this out and soften all the bumps and ruts. It's impossible to smooth out all the nooks and crannies, however, but this textured pavement is common. Don't park cars on the driveway for about 2-3 days in order for the asphalt to harden.
Proper maintenance of your driveway is crucial for the duration of its use; without this, the driveway will crack and water will seep under the asphalt. Remember to reseal your driveway every few years to prevent this from occurring. Resealing is much easier than paving a driveway, but it can be a messy job. Make sure to clean your driveway, power washing it if possible, and to fill in any cracks with crack filler. Seal the driveway when the weather is nice, because the sealer needs a few days to dry.
Finally, keep in mind that driveway paving materials are messy and can stain almost instantly. Best of luck in your discount paving project!
First of all, it's important to learn about the different materials one would use to pave their driveway. The most common and perhaps the most easiest method to pave your driveway is with asphalt. If you are going to use asphalt for your discount paving job, it is recommended to lay down a thick gravel base first. Depending on what kind of landscape you are working in, lay this gravel base about 4-6 inches thick, as that is suitable for most climates and ground conditions.
Once that base is in place, it's time to pour the asphalt. This liquid will form into hard pavement and create the actual driveway. The driveway will be black and won't crack easily, which will be valuable during years of weathering and wear and tear. If you live in a climate that is colder than temperate, or if you experience more cold winter months than warm summer ones, it's important that your driveway is paved to withstand these colder conditions. In cases like this, you might want to consider using a chip seal asphalt. This asphalt is a special kind that uses less cement and more water to comprise its composition.
Once you've laid your asphalt, whether standard asphalt or chip seal asphalt, it's time to add another layer. This top layer is made up of crushed gravel and tar. Once this layer is spread on top of the asphalt, you will need a large, heavy drum roller to smooth this out and soften all the bumps and ruts. It's impossible to smooth out all the nooks and crannies, however, but this textured pavement is common. Don't park cars on the driveway for about 2-3 days in order for the asphalt to harden.
Proper maintenance of your driveway is crucial for the duration of its use; without this, the driveway will crack and water will seep under the asphalt. Remember to reseal your driveway every few years to prevent this from occurring. Resealing is much easier than paving a driveway, but it can be a messy job. Make sure to clean your driveway, power washing it if possible, and to fill in any cracks with crack filler. Seal the driveway when the weather is nice, because the sealer needs a few days to dry.
Finally, keep in mind that driveway paving materials are messy and can stain almost instantly. Best of luck in your discount paving project!
