Nice And New Asphalt Paving

There is nothing quite like the look of a freshly paved driveway: deep black, smooth, with crisp edges and a clean line where it meets the street. It changes the whole front of a house. The first few weeks and months after paving have a lot to do with how long it keeps that look, so here is what to expect and how to protect it.

Why new asphalt needs a little patience

Hot-mix asphalt is placed at high temperature and compacted with a roller while it is still hot. Once it cools, you can walk on it, but it is not fully hardened. The binder continues to cure over the following months, and during that time the surface is softer and easier to mark than an older driveway. That is completely normal. It is also why the care you give it in the first season matters most.

The first few days

• Stay off it with vehicles for the time your contractor recommends, typically a few days and longer in hot weather. Foot traffic is generally fine once it has cooled.
• Keep the edges protected. Freshly paved edges are the most fragile part of the job. Avoid driving over them until the soil beside them has been backfilled and settled.
• Hold off on heavy deliveries. Reschedule an oil delivery, a moving truck or a landscaping drop if you can.

The first summer

New asphalt is at its softest in July and August. A few habits keep it unmarked:

• Don’t turn your steering wheel while the car is standing still. Roll first, then turn.
• Put a board under anything with a small, heavy footprint, like a trailer jack or bike kickstand.
• Move your parking spot slightly from time to time instead of using the exact same tire tracks every day.
• If there is a heat wave, a light spray of water from the hose in late afternoon can cool the surface.

Our guide to installing an asphalt driveway walks through the whole process from tear-out to final roll, including more on the curing period.

What is normal and what isn’t

Some things you may notice in the first months are perfectly normal:

• Tire scuffs from turning in place, which usually soften as the surface weathers.
• Slight variations in texture, especially along hand-worked edges and where the machine started and stopped.
• A gradual change in color from jet black toward a deep charcoal as the surface is exposed to sun.

What is not normal is water pooling in large areas, soft spots that sink under a car, or cracking within the first season. If you see those, call the contractor who did the work.

Keeping it nice for years

New asphalt does not need much, but it does need a few things consistently:

• Make sure gutters and downspouts drain away from the driveway, not onto it.
• Keep soil or lawn built up along the edges so they stay supported.
• Clean up oil, gas and other drips quickly.
• In winter, use a plastic shovel and a calcium chloride ice melt sparingly.
• If a problem does show up, have it repaired early before it spreads.

Curb appeal that lasts

A new driveway is one of the most noticeable upgrades you can make to a home. It sets off the lawn, the landscaping and the house itself. Our post on the benefits of paving covers the practical reasons beyond looks. If your driveway is ready for a fresh start, see our new asphalt driveway paving service, where we explain how we build every driveway to last.