Between constant exposure to the elements and supporting hundreds of kilograms of hot moving metal on a daily basis, driveways are subject to a fair amount of wear and tear over their lifetime. Asphalt driveways have a typical lifespan of around 20 years and signs of deterioration will become visible within the first five years of being laid. Although the professionals make it look easy, quite a lot of work is involved in installing an asphalt driveway and it can be quite an investment for the average home or business owner. To help you get the best value for money out of your driveway, we’ve made a basic guide of when to patch, when to resurface and when you need to bite the bullet and redo the whole thing.
Repair
Superficial cracks are one of the earliest signs of deterioration but these can be easily patched provided they aren’t too wide. There are a number of commercially available patching materials available such as sealers and fillers. All you need to do is thoroughly clean out the crack, ensure it’s dry (use a hairdryer if you suspect any damp), set your chosen patcher into the caulking gun, follow the manufacturer’s application instruction and wipe off any excess with a damp rag. However, holes and deep or wide cracks are indicative of more serious issues and patching these is only a stopgap measure.
Resurfacing
If the issues with your driveway are purely cosmetic (as opposed to problems relating to the foundation) then it’s possible to avoid the hefty cost of replacement through resurfacing. This process involves taking off the damaged top layer of asphalt and replacing it without disturbing the foundational layers underneath. As one of the leading asphalt companies in Melbourne, the team at Custom Asphalt have the skills and equipment necessary to ensure your driveway is seamlessly resurfaced.
Replacement
If your driveway has significant foundation problems, then replacement is pretty much the only course of action left. For a driveway that is over 20 years old, no amount of patching or resurfacing is likely to make a difference and it’s best to just start afresh. Although this is the most expensive option, it means you circumvent the whole patching process which makes your driveway look messy and won’t solve any long-term problems.
Call Custom Asphalt on 0418 137 943 to learn more about Asphalt Driveways in Melbourne, concrete maintenance, repair, resurfacing and replacement services.