The best asphalt paving in Decatur, Bloomington, Springfield, and Champaign, Illinois, has become very popular recently. This type of pavement provides a myriad of different benefits that sets it apart from other options and gives you the best chance of keeping your driveway safe and robust for years to come. Here’s how long you can expect this type of driveway to last for your home. Understanding these factors, including the best way to keep your asphalt strong, will ensure you get the most quality out of this driveway type.
How Long an Asphalt Driveway Lasts
When you buy an asphalt driveway, you can anticipate a pretty broad range of years. Most asphalt paving is going to last more than 10 years or so after installation. Only the lowest quality pavement is going to last under 20, though, because most has been carefully balanced and selected to ensure that it is not only easy to install but strong enough to last your home for a long, long time.
That’s why it is possible to get asphalt that lasts for nearly 40 years or more. Compared to concrete, which may crack very quickly in cold weather and due to water damage, that is an incredibly long time. Though good concrete may last nearly as long, asphalt has a much easier time reaching that age because its maintenance needs are much lower than concrete or other types of pavement types.
That long-lasting nature is just one reason why asphalt has slowly become more popular than concrete over the years. However, that doesn’t mean that your pavement is guaranteed to last 40 years or longer. Many different factors can affect your asphalt lifespan, which is why it is critical to examine these elements and understand how they may affect you and your driveway.
Factors That Affect This Span
Though your asphalt may last the life of your home in some situations, many factors can decrease its age. Typically, these problems occur when something damages your asphalt and makes it prone to various surface issues. You need to make sure that you use sealant on the surface of your driveway to avoid these concerns and take other steps to keep it safe by understanding these factors.
Weather is probably the most damaging element on asphalt paving. That’s because hot temperatures may cause asphalt to warm up and potentially become soft. Though this situation is most common in extreme heat and is quite rare, you’re going to age out the asphalt much faster when it does occur. Unfortunately, heavyweight can also damage asphalt and cause it to fail if you aren’t careful enough.
These frustrating issues are all things that can make some people regret buying asphalt paving because they didn’t take enough steps to protect it. That said, there are thankfully more than enough ways that you can keep your pavement protected and add years to its life. The steps below should give you that help.
Making Your Driveway Last Longer
If you are getting asphalt paving soon or are interested in this type of pavement option, you need to make sure that you fully understand the techniques used to add years of life to your asphalt. These methods are designed to be easy to implement, simple to upgrade, and easy enough for the average person to manage. By following them, you give your driveway the best chance of success.
For example, you may want to water your driveway during the summer to keep it from getting damaged when the temperature rises too high. We’re not talking about watering your driveway every day – that would backfire and cause damage by letting the water absorb into its surface – but doing so often enough that the temperature remains reasonable and doesn’t become destructive to your surface.
It would help if you also tried to change the parking on your driveway as much as possible. Parking in the same spot too often can cause damage by stressing out these areas. Try to shift the position of your vehicle every few days or so. And never put weighty objects on your driveway for long, such as anything that weighs more than a car, or you may end up damaging the surface very quickly.
We Can Help You
If you have or want the best asphalt paving Decatur, Bloomington, Springfield, and Champaign, Illinois, has to offer, please contact us at The Road Doctor today to learn more. Our experts have years of experience working in this field and will do whatever it takes to protect your yard. We can also provide maintenance if your driveway ever ends up getting damaged for any reason at all. And we can also provide tips and other types of steps that you can use to protect your driveway for years to come.