In our opinion, there’s nothing in the world more beautiful than a brand-new asphalt driveway. It’s an immediate and noticeable upgrade to your property, and you likely want to preserve that brand-new look for as long as possible.
That’s why it’s important to know about the new asphalt driveway mistakes that can take away that shine more quickly than usual. Read on as we break down a few things to avoid doing on your new asphalt driveway. At the end, we’ll also breakdown a few basic care tips to keep your asphalt driveway looking as good as possible. Let’s dive in!
Mistake 1: Not respecting the curing phase.
The first and most common of the new asphalt driveway mistakes is easy to make, because asphalt curing is a bit of a mystery to most. Your asphalt driveway is a flexible, petroleum-based material. When first laid, it’s essentially a very thick liquid that needs time to harden and cure, a bit like paint or resin.
The thing that trips up most homeowners is that you’re able to walk on this material as soon as 24 hours after it was laid, so the assumption is that it’s ready to tackle all the everyday driveway needs. But for the first few weeks, that cure is still a bit fragile.
It’s vital to give your driveway time to fully cure and reach maximum hardness before throwing any heavy loads at it, especially if you choose to access asphalt driveway services in summer. The heat can make the asphalt soften again, so it can’t be treated as a 20-year-old road just yet.
Don’t worry; your driveway team will let you know when it’s safe to walk, drive, and load up your driveway, depending on how it was constructed. It’s just important to respect those timelines to avoid scarring your shiny new installation.
Mistake 2: Putting concentrated, heavy loads on your driveway.
During the curing stage of your asphalt driveway’s life, try to avoid putting concentrated, heavy loads on your driveway. Things like parked boats and caravans, very narrow tyres, or kickstands and jacks can leave marks if the ground is warm.
Anything that puts a concentrated amount of weight on a very small surface area spells trouble for your driveway’s surface, which is why we have to call out this new asphalt driveway mistake.
Mistake 3: Power steering too enthusiastically.
Most cars have power steering built in (unless you’re driving a much older model). It’s designed to make it much easier to turn the wheels while the car is standing still, and while this isn’t much of a problem on a driveway that’s been around for a few years, new asphalt is vulnerable to the ‘grinding’ motion that power steering can create.
Scuffing isn’t the end of the world, functionality-wise. But if you want to keep your driveway looking as shiny as possible for a while, then it helps to make sure your car is always moving slightly before you start to turn. This way, the tyres are rolling over the surface instead of twisting or grinding.
Don’t panic if you do notice some minor scuffing; it’s your driveway after all! This will happen naturally and blend back into the driveway as it is used over the years.
Mistake 4: Allowing fuel or oil spills to sit.
One of the most common new asphalt driveway mistakes we see is owners treating fuel or oil spills as a given. But these spills can actually eat away at the surface of your new driveway.
The chemistry here is a little complex, but essentially, asphalt is petroleum-based, just like your car’s fuel or oil. That means there is a like-for-like relationship between your driveway’s surface and any spills, creating an opportunity for chemicals to dissolve the binding agent that holds the asphalt together.
Spills happen! It’s natural. But if you see one, don’t let it be. Cover it with an absorbent material (cat litter is oddly helpful for this) to soak up the liquid, then wash the area with mild dish soap. Otherwise, that puddle of oil will turn into a soft spot, which might in turn become a pothole in your brand-new driveway.
Keep in mind that these mistakes are few and far between, and most of them are only things you have to watch out for in the curing stage. Your asphalt driveway is actually quite hardy and will go the distance with you if properly cared for! Consider sorting out some edge protection, regularly give it a good sweep, and bring in your asphalt driveway contractors to reseal it every few years.
With this care list, you’ll have a driveway that even outlasts your property.
Trust the experts for top-notch asphalt driveway services.
Whether you’re having a new driveway installed or need your existing one resealed, the team at Asphalt & Civil can help. We are Auckland’s resident concrete and asphalt driveway specialists, providing new construction and maintenance services across the region.
We also offer more tips on how to avoid new asphalt driveway mistakes or manage small issues with a team, so get in touch if you have any questions about your next repair!