Asphalt is a brilliant material for driveways. It is flexible, durable, and low-cost compared to concrete. These are more than enough reasons for most Australian residents to choose asphalt over any other.
But even an excellent substance like Asphalt can deteriorate over the years. Sure, regular maintenance can help you prolong its life to a great extent. However, your driveway may see some unexpected damage due to weather, heavy loads, or tree roots.
When such damage happens, you must take charge immediately and engage an asphalt company. Otherwise, it can cause accidents, inconvenience, and even unforeseen expenses. But you may ask, how can you effectively repair your entire driveway?
Your first mantra: The longer you delay, the worse it gets.
So, act fast. Once you hire a concreting contractor, the professional will more or less follow the procedure we are about to lay out here.
I. How to Tell if an Asphalt Driveway Needs Repairing?
Before anything else, you must identify if it’s the right time to repair your asphalt driveway. Some homeowners worry when the asphalt changes colour, from black to grey, within a few months. But that is normal.
You also needn’t worry about hairline cracks or when the old sealant is peeling off. But you should pay attention to these:
- The surface is so rough that it’s chipping away
- Cracks are wider than the hairline width
- Deep potholes down to the base gravel
- Crumbling edges
Seeking advice from a commercial concrete contractor in Melbourne is better in the above situations. They will assess the extent of damage, your due course of action, and the costs involved.
II. Is DIY Possible for Asphalt Driveway Repairs?
As you can tell, resurfacing and repairing a driveway is a heavy job. It requires certain equipment, skillset, and understanding. Therefore, it is recommendable to consult an experienced asphalt company.
However, if the damage is not too severe, you can tackle it yourself with a few tricks. Some minor repairs you can DIY are sealing cracks, filling large holes with cold patches, and adding towel patch materials.
These occasional repairs act as essential maintenance, extending the life of your asphalt driveway.
III. How to Repair and Resurface an Asphalt Driveway?
One important question to consider is whether to resurface or entirely replace the driveway. Both are great alternatives, but each works in different situations. If the driveway is in unjustifiably bad condition, you may be better off replacing the whole driveway with a concreting contractor.
If you want, you can replace only a portion of the driveway that deteriorated beyond repair. Otherwise, you can simply resurface it.
Once this initial question is cleared, you can begin the process. Here are a few steps it follows.
Step 1: Repair
- The general timeline for a project like this is around 3 months. For starters, fill the cracks and potholes in one session.
- Use herbicide to the weeds that grow through the cracks. After a week or two, you can remove the dead weeds.
- If your driveway has holes as large as 4 inches, pour cold patches into them. If the holes are even larger, you can also add base gravel to decrease the depth to 4 inches or less.
- Firmly compacting the cold patch asphalt is essential for a solid cure. Leave the patches to cure for 3 months. You can walk or drive on it but don’t apply sealer or filler yet.
- After the above repairs, clean the asphalt driveway sufficiently. You can use a leaf blower or push broom. Remember to only dry wash rather than power wash.
Step 2: Resurface
- Clean the driveway one more time before priming the surface. It is for better adhesion between the old and new asphalt.
- Now it’s time for overlay installation. Pour a new layer of HMA, short for hot mix asphalt, over the driveway. Compact the layer with a roller to achieve proper density and smoothness.
- Leave the asphalt to be cured for a few weeks and apply one or two coats of sealer. It protects the driveway from UV rays, chemicals, and moisture.
IV. How to Find the Right Commercial Concrete Contractor in Melbourne?
A professional makes all the difference in an asphalt paving contract. Bringing unique skills and technologies into the project, a skilled expert can elevate the outcome multifold. Hence, investing some time and effort into research is key.
Consider the following aspects to start things on the right foot.
- Licence: This is nothing special. It’s an essential requirement, yet many fail to look into it. Don’t make the same mistake; ensure your preferred company has mandatory licences and insurance.
- Experience: Working with an experienced contractor will undoubtedly give you a better output. With years of industry experience, they must have gathered many valuable insights into the work.
- Referrals: It is one of the fail-safe ways to find trustworthy contractors. Your friends and family may have some valuable resources to share; ask them.
- Past projects: If you want to be sure about someone’s work, you must look into their previous projects. It gives a quick understanding of a contractor’s work policies. While you are at it, you can also ask for some customer testimonials.
- Free estimate: Lastly, the cost of a project decides everything. So, make sure you ask for a free estimate ahead of time. By comparing one estimate to another, you can deduce a viable choice.
Final Thoughts
The asphalt work is an important aspect across the globe. It may be for a public or personal space, but having a well-laid asphalt surface makes people and vehicles comfortable. So, when you have a requirement, we hope you consider what we discussed and make the right decision.
One of the noteworthy asphalt paving contractors in Melbourne is Roadseal Civil. Their experts take the time to help you understand the process clearly and make perfect choices. Their experience and skillset guarantee a near-perfect asphalt driveway for your home or business.
