New Pavement & After Care
New Pavement & After Care
Asphalt pavement is popular for everything from paving driveways to busy highways. It is economical to install and maintain, attractive and long-lasting. However, new asphalt pavement is a bit more fragile than pavement that is several years old. During the first few months of your pavement’s life, New Pavement & After Care is important and you should pay special attention to protecting your new pavement from damage.
New Pavement & After Care
Follow the Contractor’s Recommendations
When you have new pavement installed, your contractor will let you know how long you should wait before allowing pedestrians and vehicles on the pavement. The time of year, job specifics and the type of traffic all play a role in his evaluation. For example, if the weather is warm, it may be all right to permit pedestrian traffic the next morning and vehicle traffic in 24 to 36 hours. Property owners seldom need to keep their areas closed for more than 48 hours after the installation is completed. It is very important to follow your contractor’s recommendations if you want to prevent damage to your new pavement.
Take Extra Precautions
Whether you have had new asphalt pavement installed on your parking lot or your home’s driveway, you should take extra precautions to prevent damage. The kickstands on motorcycles and bicycles can sink into new asphalt pavement, but you can prevent this by placing boards on the pavement for the kickstands. Gas, oil and other automotive fluids can soften asphalt, so be sure to remove them promptly. Do not rest trailer jacks directly on new pavement. If possible, park boats and other trailers somewhere else. Make sure that you do not turn your steering wheel sharply while your vehicle is stopped; this can leave scuff marks and can sometimes remove chunks of pavement. Do not drag heavy objects over your new pavement. If you must use a dolly, cart or bin, make sure that it has rubber wheels as metal wheels can leave marks.
Schedule Your Sealcoating
As part of a comprehensive maintenance program, sealcoating can double the life of asphalt pavement. However, sealcoating cannot be applied until the pavement has cured for at least 30 days. To ensure that you do not forget this vital procedure, go ahead and schedule your sealcoating when you have your new pavement installed.
Never Overburden Your Pavement
Your new asphalt pavement was installed to support a specific volume of traffic consisting of vehicles of certain weights. Heavier loads can damage your pavement, so avoid them. For example, if you told your paving contractor that your new driveway would only be used by two compact cars, do not park an RV on the driveway.
If Your New Pavement Is Damaged
Some types of damage will disappear over time or be minimized by sealcoating. For example, minor scuffs usually fade quickly. If there are unsightly depressions or gouges, they can typically be repaired with ease. Major damages, however, may require more extensive repairs.
Whether you need new pavement installed or existing pavement repaired, Dirtworks can help. We are a full-service paving contractor serving the Cape Cod area with asphalt paving, milling, asphalt repair, sealcoating and parking lot striping. We also offer snow removal, site work and excavation services. We have more than 20 years paving driveways and commercial work with industry experience and are deeply committed to delivering superior results at competitive rates. If you would like to receive a free estimate, you can complete our online form or call (508) 240-5541.
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