You’re looking at your old driveway and wondering if it is worth replacing it and especially wondering how long will your new asphalt driveway last. Maybe you just had a new driveway installed and you’re asking yourself the same question.
The good news is that a new asphalt driveway can last between 15 to 25 years. There’s obviously a pretty big gap between those numbers and you might be wondering why there is a ten year difference.
The short answer is that there are a number of things that can affect the life span of your new asphalt driveway. Let’s break down those items.
When your driveway was installed did your contractor account for proper drainage and sub-base? These are two important things that if they are not addressed at the time of your install can cause serious problems with your asphalt driveway, as well as have it deteriorate faster than normal.
Are you sweeping your driveway regularly? Have you been keeping weeds away and maintaining landscaping around the edges? Are you removing oils, stains and chemicals from your driveway when and if you see them? These are all basic maintenance items you can do to increase the life span of your driveway.
Are you seal coating small cracks in your asphalt? This is something that you can typically do yourself and if not you can hire a professional to do your seal coating. This is an important step in maintaining your driveway.
Do you have a small pot hole that could be filled? Issues like these should not arise until near the end of your driveway’s life. If you are dealing with large cracks and potholes it might be time to consider resurfacing your driveway which is a less expensive option compared to completely replacing it.
If you do all of these things you should see a beautiful driveway on your property for many years to come.
When is the best time to repair your driveway? The simple answer is when you see an issue with it. If your driveway is starting to lose the luster that it had when it was first installed you should understand that this is not unusual. Wear and tear is common...
Toying with the idea of replacing your driveway but you’re unsure if you should. Here are some suggestions for when you might want to call for an estimate.
Any home project can be overwhelming whether you’re doing it yourself or hiring someone else. It can get even more overwhelming the higher the price
