Building a Strong Driveway

What is the Most Durable Driveway?

Asphalt driveways are the most durable driveway that can be built.

However, there are a lot of factors that go into building a driveway that will look nice, drain correctly, and last many years. Asphalt driveways are not as simplistic as they seem, and proper knowledge of subsoil and base preparation is key to asphalt longevity.

Therefore a one size fits all approach does not work for every driveway as conditions are never the same.

Blacktop Concepts has been installing residential asphalt driveways since 1978 and we take pride in knowing our area, soil conditions, and what it takes to deliver the best asphalt driveway you can buy.

A competitor’s driveway we replaced after only 2 years.

Before:

After:

Clay Subsoil

Clay does not allow for water to percolate and drain.If not given proper time to dry and firm up, it will result in a soft/weak subsoil. In areas where we are working with this soft clay, we will need to allow more time for the clay to dry and firm up as well as an increased depth of base to solidify the foundation for which asphalt will be laid over. As we work with the soil it will tell us how much base and time we need for everything to work together.

There are times when the typical ¾ inch crushed base is not sufficient to condition the soil and we will use a 1 ½ inch crushed rock base to solidify and condition the subsoil. This will be determined after the old asphalt driveway is removed and we can inspect the soil we are working with. Our goal is to do what is right on a case-by-case basis to ensure that you will end up with a finished product that will stand the test of time.

Sand makes an excellent subsoil to allow for drainage and stability to support asphalt. When you combine sand and 4-5 inches of ¾ crushed rock base the result is a very sturdy, well-drained foundation to lay asphalt.
It should be understood that a crushed rock base does not go bad over time. On jobs where we find a solid foundation and sufficient depth of the base, we believe it is better to build on top of this foundation rather than removing the original base to add a new base.

Proper Asphalt Thickness

We provide an asphalt driveway that will be 3” thick after compaction. We believe this is the sweet spot for thickness for a residential driveway for price and longevity. To pave less would sacrifice longevity and to lay more will result in insufficient compaction and density (unless laid in multiple lifts). Every year we replace driveways that another company installed anywhere from 1-5 years prior that have already failed. A driveway built right should last the homeowner 20-25 years or more before replacement.

Schedule a FREE Estimate with Blacktop Concepts Today

After 44 years in business and understanding the different soils that we work within our area, we bring our expertise and honesty to every job. Our team is prepared to do what it takes to give you the best asphalt driveway money can buy.

Schedule a FREE estimate online or at (715) 386-0455 today.