A freshly paved driveway with asphalt is a quite a sight to behold. The sleek and smooth surface not only improves the appearance of your home, but it also enhances your curb appeal. What’s more, you can relax knowing that you won’t have to resurface the driveway again for a few years to come.
Asphalt is one of the durable and reliable paving materials. However, lack of proper installation and maintenance could lead to a mess later on.
Here are some of the worst mistakes you can make with asphalt paving.
Hiring Inexperienced Contractors
You want to create the best asphalt paving on a budget. Nonetheless, trying too hard to save money can end up costing you more in the long run. Hiring a cheap contractor who has no idea of what asphalt is and what measures to take always end up with shoddy work. Specialized equipment and skills are essential when paving.
Wrong Application of Sealer
It’s critical to seal the asphalt driveway after the paving job is done to ensure that it lasts as long as possible. Sealing the driveway too long after paving has completed or sooner could make the sealant less effective. What’s more, you could end up replacing the driveway earlier than you had anticipated. Sealer takes approximately three days to dry in a sunny weather. Planning when it comes to sealing ensures that everything goes accordingly.
Stopping the Compactor Straight On
Failing to turn at an angle and halting the compactor straight on is another mistake people make with asphalt paving. This means the indentation left behind gets harder to level out. The only way to solve this is to allow your operators to train stop at a 20% angle. The indentations made on edges can be smoothed out in future compared with a straight on.
Failing to Use Slope Control and Auto Grade Systems
The smoother pavement you envy is as a result of the auto grade systems which reduce operator mistakes. The only thing you need is to ensure that the slope control and auto grade systems are configured. Proper training should also be allowed so that the operator knows how to adjust the equipment.
Paving Asphalt Too Fast or Changing Speeds
Changing speeds disrupts uniformity and also throws off the timing of the operation. The problem is that this may cause the rollers to have pressures to keep up with the changing speed. You may also experience a washboard effect together with density issues if the compactor impact spacing is not consistent.
To solve this, have the operators learn how to work with speed limiters to allow for a cleaner application.
Failure to Control the Head of Material
Most common mistakes are as a result of an improper head of material. Also, allowing fluctuation increases waves and bumps in the final result. With the latest technology, operators can control the head of material with sensors. This will help reduce these issues from cropping up.
Turning the Depth Cranks Too Much
Making adjustments on the cranks can lead to bumps and waves. However, with the right training, operators can break the habit of moving or adjusting the crank often.
Choosing Poor Quality Asphalt
Asphalt is available in a variety of different qualities. Using poor quality asphalt can lead to poor results in the final product. Make sure to spend money on quality asphalt to avoid disappointments later on.
Poor Planning
Most homeowners make the mistake of rushing when it comes to paving. Failing to check whether or not the paving is cleat to start working on. Paying the right amount of attention will help you achieve the best possible outcome.
Asphalt paving is not only inexpensive, but it’s also durable. Avoiding the above mistakes will help boost the attractiveness of your exterior home space. Do not forget to work with professionals and always choose quality materials.
