You can mow the lawn, trim the hedges and paint the front door, but if the driveway looks tired, the whole house looks tired. The good news is that many driveway eyesores have simple fixes. The less good news is that some of them are signs of a bigger problem underneath.
This quick guide walks through the most common blemishes we see on asphalt driveways in New Jersey, what causes each one and what you can do about it.
Oil and Fluid Stains
What you see: Dark, shiny or brownish spots where cars park, often right in front of the garage.
What it means: Motor oil, gasoline, transmission fluid and antifreeze do more than stain. They are petroleum-based or chemical products that soften the asphalt binder, so the spot can eventually turn crumbly.
What to do: Act fast. Cover fresh spills with cat litter or another absorbent, let it sit, then sweep it up. Scrub what is left with dish soap and warm water and rinse well. Avoid harsh solvents, which can do more harm than the oil. If a car keeps leaking, put a drip pan or mat under it until it is fixed.
Weeds and Grass in the Cracks
What you see: Green shoots coming up through cracks or along the edges.
What it means: Seeds and soil have settled into an opening, and there is enough moisture underneath to support them. Roots then widen the crack and let even more water in.
What to do: Pull the weeds by hand, roots and all, and avoid prying at the pavement with a metal tool. Then look at why the crack is there. A few isolated cracks on an otherwise sound driveway can be monitored. Many cracks, or cracks forming a web pattern, usually point to base problems that call for milling and repaving or a full replacement.
A Faded, Gray Surface
What you see: The deep black has turned dull gray, and the surface feels rough or sandy underfoot.
What it means: Years of sun, rain and freeze-thaw cycles oxidize the asphalt binder at the surface. As it dries out, fine particles wear away and the aggregate starts to show.
What to do: Fading on its own is cosmetic, but it is often the first sign that the top layer is aging. If the driveway is otherwise solid, milling the worn top layer and repaving restores the color and gives you a new wearing surface.
Ragged, Crumbling Edges
What you see: Broken chunks along the sides of the driveway, especially where cars cut the corner.
What it means: The edge has lost support. Soil beside the asphalt washed away, or tires repeatedly rolled off the pavement.
What to do: Backfill along the side with topsoil and compact it so the edge has something to lean on. Plant grass to hold the soil. Badly broken edges are best rebuilt with a properly supported base when the driveway is repaved. If you keep driving off the edge because the driveway is too narrow, widening it may be the real fix.
Puddles and Water Stains
What you see: Standing water after rain, or a dirty ring where water sat and dried.
What it means: There is a low spot, usually from settling or poor original grading. Water sitting on asphalt seeps into any opening and weakens the base, and in winter it turns into a sheet of ice.
What to do: Redirect downspouts that empty onto the driveway. Regrade the soil beside the driveway so water has somewhere to go. Any ponding that keeps coming back usually means the grade needs to be corrected during a repave or replacement.
The Crazy Quilt Driveway
What you see: A driveway covered in mismatched repairs of different colors and ages.
What it means: Repairs have done their job, but the driveway as a whole is reaching the end of its life.
What to do: When the repairs outnumber the original pavement, it is time to consider a new surface. Depending on the base, that could be milling and repaving or a full replacement with a new base.
When Eyesores Add Up
Single blemishes are usually manageable. When several show up together, they are telling you something. Our post on common signs your driveway needs to be repaired helps you judge how serious things are, and three things that can damage your asphalt driveway explains how to prevent new ones.
If your driveway has moved past quick fixes, we can help with asphalt driveway paving and replacement throughout Monmouth, northern Ocean and southern Middlesex counties. Estimates are always free.
Need this done right?
Dan The Paver handles asphalt driveway paving across Monmouth, Ocean (Toms River and north) and southern Middlesex counties. Free on-site estimates.