If you have chosen us for your asphalt project, we are very happy to gain you as our customer, and we don’t take the opportunity to work at your home or commercial property lightly. We appreciate your business and want you to be an informed consumer. Below are some typical things we would like you to know about your newly installed asphalt.
We strive to make sure that the structural soundness of your asphalt is our top priority and that it ALSO has a pleasing look aesthetically, but we want all of our customers to have reasonable expectations of the different textures and colorations that may be present at the completion of your project. Asphalt is a material that is installed with a combination of machines and hand tools, and depending on the installation required to achieve the particular shape and configuration of your project, you will always* see areas that are smoother and areas that are rougher than others. These are no reason for alarm, and completely typical of any asphalt installation. Also bear in mind the asphalt is batch mixed and using natural materials of sand, stone and oil products. While the asphalt plants, that all asphalt companies purchase our material from, strive for consistent mixes of asphalt, the product is made of natural ingredients, stones of different sizes, therefore a perfectly smooth and consistent surface is not guaranteed. Variations of surface texture and even color can be found within one driveway or parking lot, and certainly comparing your driveway or lot to other driveways or lots.
Blemishes/Flaking are typical and occur primarily from the texture of the material itself and the curing process.
Tire marks or streaks are typical for newly paved driveways and lots. The asphalt itself is heated to a very hot temperature when it is made, and brought to your jobsite, and even after installation it remains somewhat malleable. The asphalt has an extensive “curing period” of several months, while durable, it is not completely hardened for up to a year. Do not be alarmed if you see tire impressions or markings, as you continue to drive on the asphalt they will blend in.
NOTE* it is detrimental that you do not turn your steering wheel while sitting in place on new asphalt as you can damage it and push it out of place, if this is to happen enough to make a deep indenture, rest assured we can heat it up and fix it, but we tell all of our customers to make sure to try and turn the wheel of the vehicle while in motion, not sitting still.
Sharp objects, such as kickstands, chair legs, ladders, etc., can puncture your new asphalt, please be careful of such items, especially in the summer months.
Sealing, patching, and crackfilling are great alternatives, but WILL NOT GIVE YOU THE LOOK OF A NEW DRIVEWAY. CRACK FILLER WILL EVENTUALLY SETTLE, and sealer will eventually wear, they are maintenance products.
CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR NEW ASPHALT!
With proper maintenance, you will enjoy your asphalt for many years.
There is a normal “break-in period” for all new asphalt, situations listed above are normal and should be no cause for alarm.
We recommend a proper maintenance program. Ask for details on our sealing maintenance plan.
Finally Folks…
When your driveway is finished, and we pack up our equipment to head back home, we want to thank you for the opportunity to help you with your paving needs and hope you can keep in mind these few things…
In General, your driveway or parking lot is only made of sand, stone, and tar(asphalt). While it is very durable and usually easy to repair, try not to misuse it, and you will be able to enjoy your new asphalt for many years. Try to maintain it, it is an investment, and try to remember that this is a product to park your cars and drive on, it is outside, and in the elements, we aim to give you a beautiful finished product, but can not promise perfection, it is at the end of the day a DRIVEway or PARKing lot, and built to serve a purpose to drive and park on.