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Apr 10, 2007 - Home Improvements >>

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How About a New Asphalt Pavement Driveway? - by Paul Glover

Problems with Alternative Driveway Materials

A damaged driveway is the last thing you want to fuss with when you need to travel here and there several times a day. But that's what you'll end up doing if you install a driveway with other materials, like concrete for example. Concrete is prone to periodic cracking as temperature changes in the weather occur and it just isn't as flexible as asphalt pavement is.

Other materials, such as sand, gravel, or dirt aren't reasonable options either. Because these materials are never secured to the ground, they can actually damage the vehicle that sits on top of them. Loose dirt, dust, and rocks can flatten tires and/or fly up into motors and cause all kinds of problems that are completely avoidable by installing an asphalt pavement driveway instead.

In fact, as part of the asphalt pavement installation, you contractor will completely remove loose dirt, dust, and rocks (topsoil) so that it's never an issue. This topsoil is replaced with a foundation that helps asphalt pavement stick to the ground and prevent debris from entering your vehicle.

Special Asphalt Pavement Considerations

In addition, your contractor may need to level the driveway in an effort to prevent and/or drain potential water collection. Water that's left to collect in a driveway will eventually erode the driveway or worse, drip and drain and find its way into your home or garage!

If you plan to store large heavy vehicles on your driveway, you should talk to your contractor about full-depth asphalt pavement...

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