How Long Does An Asphalt Driveway Last?

Installing a new driveway is a costly investment that can enhance the appearance of your home and increase its value. When considering a new driveway, homeowners often ask about the life expectancy of their new driveway. This is because driveways are costly, and homeowners want assurance before making the investment.

4 Factors That Affect The Longevity Of Your Driveway

How long does a driveway last? Typically, an asphalt driveway lasts 15 to 30 years. This can vary depending on several factors including but not limited to:

• Proper Installation
• Type of usage (residential or commercial)
• Weather conditions
• Maintenance

Here are the reasons why these factors matter. 

Proper Installation

The process of installing a new asphalt driveway can be complex and difficult so it needs to be done correctly to ensure that you get the most out of it in the long term. 

Designing a driveway requires preparation and experience. The right contractor will take all of the appropriate steps in the process. Proper installation is the first step to a long-lasting driveway. This starts from the bottom up.   

An experienced professional will make sure your driveway is correctly graded so that water can drain easily. This helps prevent damage caused by water pooling on top of the asphalt.

They will rake the area to remove dirt and debris and create a level surface. They will thoroughly compact the aggregate in the foundation to reduce the risk of the asphalt shifting and cracking.

Choosing The Best Asphalt Driveway Company

Be sure to hire professionals who specialize in residential asphalt paving. They will have:

• Years of experience installing asphalt driveways 
• Knowledge of techniques that are specific to asphalt paving
• Access to high-quality asphalt
• Tools and equipment that are specific to the job
• Reviews and other proof that they provide quality work 

Hiring a bad or inexperienced contractor for your driveway may initially save you money. However, this decision will eventually lead to negative consequences that will become apparent in the future and can negatively affect the lifespan of your asphalt. 

If you are concerned about the company working on your driveway, you should consider paying more to hire a reliable one. A reliable company will be able to do the job well and give you a driveway that lasts longer.

Hiring an inexperienced contractor who takes shortcuts can lead to a driveway needing repairs or replacement earlier than expected. Carelessness during any step in the process can result in a driveway that will fail prematurely. 

You’re paying for a service so don’t be afraid to ask about the process. A real professional will be happy to provide answers. 

Consider How Your Driveway Will Be Used

The type of usage should be taken into consideration when installing a new driveway. This refers to the type and weight of the vehicles that will be parked on the driveway. If you do not plan for the right type of usage then you could do early damage to your driveway. 

Typically a residential driveway will be at least 3 inches thick. This is perfect for parking passenger vehicles like cars, vans, or lightweight trucks. 

If you are parking heavy trucks, campers, trailers, and equipment, then you may need a thicker layer (usually around 4 to 5 inches) to accommodate the extra weight.

Furthermore, a good contractor may lay down a thicker aggregate foundation to prevent the driveway from breaking down under the heavy weight of the larger vehicles. 

Weather Conditions Can Affect Asphalt

How long does asphalt last in the cold? Cold, frigid temperatures can cause asphalt to contract and crack. It is important to pay attention to this if you live in an area with big temperature changes throughout the year. Examples of such areas include Western Wisconsin and nearby Saint Paul, Minnesota. 

Water can seep into the cracks and freeze. This widens cracks over time since water expands by approximately 9% when it freezes into ice. If left unattended to, small cracks can become a big problem due to the freeze-thaw cycle.

At the opposite end of the spectrum, prolonged heat exposure can have an effect on older driveways. Plus, UV radiation from the sun can weaken the asphalt cement over time. 

Hot-mix asphalt is a great building material for areas with frequently changing weather since it is very flexible and durable. It is able to endure the expanding and contracting without easily breaking down and cracking. Hot-mix is commonly used in the midwest because of the winter temperatures. 

Even though this is the case, you should perform regular maintenance to extend the lifespan of your driveway.

Driveway Maintenance

Remember, good maintenance and upkeep can add a lot of years to the life of your driveway. Here are some quick maintenance tips for a longer-lasting driveway:

• After installation, let your driveway cure for at least 72 hours before use.
• Regularly inspect your driveway for cracks and repair them quickly. 
• Spray cold water on hot days to cool it down. This helps protect against cracks. 
• Don’t park vehicles that are leaking fluids like oil or gasoline on your driveway since oil can degrade the petroleum in the asphalt. These types of leaks cause damage that can lead to early driveway repairs.
• Rock salt is safe to use on asphalt for ice removal in the winter.

Cosmetic Issues That Won’t Affect The Life of Your Driveway

Here are a few common things that might affect the appearance of your driveway. Although the looks may be affected, the longevity is not.

Heat Absorption

Asphalt absorbs the heat of the day and on warm days can be marked by tires, kickstands, or any other pressure points.

These marks will be more visible when it’s overcast or when the driveway is wet. Sometimes you will see the roller marks when the light is right. As the driveway ages, these cosmetic looks will diminish, and they do not compromise the longevity of the driveway.

Rock & Joints

We will install a three-inch finished thickness of asphalt, and there is some rock that shows in the asphalt. The rock can be more concentrated in some parts of the driveway, but it doesn’t affect the driveway in any way. Having more rocks in your driveway is better for strength and will help prevent the need to fill cracks.

Most driveways are wider than the width of the paver. This means that there will be joints where one pour will meet the next pour. These can be seen on all asphalt surfaces that are wider than one width of the paver.

Consult a professional asphalt paving company

If you want to be sure that you have the best information contact the people at Blacktop Concepts. Serving the Twin Cities East Metro area and Western Wisconsin for more than 40 years, we can provide the right answers to all of your questions. Contact us today!