When is it Time to Replace a Driveway?

Your driveway is the entrance to your home and plays a huge role in the curb appeal and how you feel when you or friends and family drive-in.

A common question is “Is it time to replace my driveway?”

This is a question only you can answer. But we can provide some helpful insights to think about to help you make the best decision.

A new asphalt driveway built the right way should last you 20-25 years. However, a driveway that was installed by cutting corners or skimping may only last 1-10 years.

From the first day, your driveway was installed until now the slow process of deterioration began. The care in which it was installed will determine how long you have until a replacement is needed.

Here are some things to consider.

Cracking

All hard surfaces will crack at some point in our northern climate. Frost, temperature changes, water, rodents, ants, and chemical spills all play a role.

Expansion cracks are normal and nothing to be concerned about. These are the cracks you see on all roads that usually run from side to side across the pavement that makes the bump…bump…bump sound as you drive down the road. The main cause is from the earth going through extreme temperature changes from summer to winter and the movement that is associated with that causes the asphalt or concrete to crack along that expansion point. The maintenance is simple. Apply crack filler to prevent water and debris from entering and expanding the crack as it freezes in winter which will widen the crack and deteriorate the base underneath. Even a well-built driveway will develop these cracks in the northern half of the U.S

After crack filling your driveway will go on with its life for many years with minimal maintenance. The function or performance of your driveway will not be affected and replacing is not necessary.

At some point (hopefully many years later) your driveway will develop many cracks as the asphalt binder wears down and loses its ability to hold the driveway together. As this starts to happen it will deteriorate more rapidly as water gets into and under your driveway and the weight of your vehicles can no longer be supported by the asphalt. Small and then larger pieces of your driveway will start to come out in the process causing potholes. Now it is time to Replace.

Function

A driveway is meant to allow you and your family and friends to access your property. Many driveways do not fulfill this. Either they were built without function in mind or your family’s needs have changed. Time to Replace.

Poor Drainage

Few things are more destructive than water and everything should be done to direct water to the desired location. Water should correctly run off a driveway to the side, road, or proper drainage space. If it does not, it could damage your home’s foundation or cause standing water problems. If inadequate drainage causes problems, they are only more expensive to fix with time. If you have inadequate drainage it is now Time to Replace.

What to Do

There are things homeowners can do to delay replacement. Home improvement stores have driveway patching asphalt that you can use to fill in low spots and potholes. You can try seal-coating your driveway to give it a fresher look and hide the blemishes. These options can buy you a little extra time but will look unsightly. Hiring an asphalt company to patch a broken driveway will likely be expensive and won’t last and it is usually worth saving that money for the new driveway budget.  If thinking about your poor driveway is taking up to much headspace it may be time to replace and start fresh.

Contact Blacktop Concepts Today

At Blacktop Concepts all of our salesmen are experienced as asphalt pavers themselves and are highly knowledgeable in the actual driveway replacement process. They can help walk you through the steps and considerations you need to make when deciding on a new driveway.

A good driveway is one that you should not have to think about. We love helping homeowners come up with solutions to create a driveway that works for your family and simplifies your life. Contact us today!