3 Options For Dealing With An Old Asphalt Driveway
If your driveway detracts from the curb appeal of your property because it's faded or has alligator crumbling, you may wonder what you can do to make it look better. In addition to making the asphalt look better, you also want to repair cracks and holes so deterioration stops and you get a longer life from the asphalt. Talk to an asphalt paving contractor to find out what options you have. Here are three possibilities.
1. Replace Your Driveway With A New One
The most drastic step would be to tear up the old asphalt, repair the base, and pour on new asphalt. This might be the best solution if the base has a lot of damage since the base has to be stable before new asphalt is put on.
Tearing up the old asphalt gives the contractor a chance to fix drainage problems and compact the soil so it won't shift under the weight of your cars. This might also be the best solution if you want to widen or change the shape of your driveway.
2. Add An Overlay Of New Asphalt
If the base under the old driveway is still in good shape and draining properly, your contractor may avoid tearing out the old asphalt. They might put on an overlay of new asphalt that's just a few inches thick. This makes your driveway look new, but it saves work and is less expensive than getting an entirely new driveway.
3. Repair The Damaged Areas Of Your Driveway
The least expensive option will probably be to repair the damaged areas of asphalt. This might involve just putting filler in cracks, but in the case of alligator crumbles, the asphalt may need to be removed in the crumbled area and replaced with new asphalt once the base has been repaired if it needs it.
Potholes can often be filled in with patching material, but if the holes go into the base, the asphalt around the hole may need to be torn up so the base can be repaired and the hole can be patched. A potential problem with repairs is that the filler or patch material will be much darker so the repairs could be obvious.
A possible solution for this is to have a sealcoat put on once the patches have cured. A sealcoat makes your entire driveway dark again, which is an improvement over the faded look of old asphalt. Plus, the dark color helps the repairs blend in.
The repairs might still be somewhat noticeable under the sealcoat since a sealcoat is very thin. Your asphalt paving contractor can offer advice on the right way to make repairs so your driveway has an attractive appearance that enhances the view of your property.