Your driveway takes a beating around here. Between the heavy clay soil shifting under our feet in Lafayette and the brutal freeze-thaw cycles we get every winter, asphalt does not last forever. Eventually, patching will not cut it anymore and you are looking at a full Asphalt Paving project. If you have been wondering what actually goes into getting a new Asphalt Paving project installed, Heritage Asphalt Co will break it down.
Before the First Truck Rolls Up
Most people think Asphalt Paving starts when the machinery arrives, but the real work happens beforehand. Homeowners in Lafayette can handle some of this prep work to save some money, while other parts are strictly contractor territory.
- Clear out vehicles, toys, and patio furniture from the work zone.
- Mark your underground sprinkler lines so nobody destroys your lawn layout.
- Call 811 to get utility lines marked. You definitely do not want to clip a gas line.
Demolition and hauling away the old, broken asphalt is heavy, dirty work. That is the time to let a crew with a skid steer and dump truck take over. Trying to break up forty feet of degraded asphalt with a sledgehammer on a Saturday is a great way to wreck your back before the Asphalt Paving project even starts.
During the Paving Process
When Asphalt Paving day arrives, things move fast. A good crew will show up early, rip out whatever is left of the old surface, and grade the base. That base is important in our area. Lafayette clay expands and contracts wildly with moisture changes, so you need a solid aggregate base compacted properly before a single ton of hot mix goes down.
Once the grading is locked in, the paving machine lays down the hot asphalt for Asphalt Paving. You will see heavy steel-wheel rollers right behind it, compacting everything to the right density. This is not a DIY weekend warrior project. Hot mix asphalt arrives out of the truck at around 300 degrees, and you only have a small window to rake, pitch, and roll it before it cools down and sets up for good.
After the Paving Crew Leaves
Just because the rollers are gone does not mean your job is finished. Curing takes time. Keep foot traffic off the fresh asphalt for at least 24 hours, and keep cars off it for 3 to 5 days or longer if it is exceptionally hot out, because high heat keeps asphalt pliable.
Once it is fully cured, maintenance is your best friend. Heritage Asphalt Co provides Asphalt Paving services for homes in Lafayette, CO, and we always tell homeowners to stay ahead of minor cracks. Give your driveway a good sealcoating six to twelve months after Asphalt Paving, and then every few years after that to lock out moisture and UV rays. Handle the weed pulling and small maintenance yourself, and call in pros when structural damage shows up down the road.