Select an Asphalt Driveway Contractor with These Tips

Deciding to maintain an asphalt driveway is certainly a major one that the top prerequisite for this would be of a contractor. Hiring a contractor is not easy because several of them have mushroomed out of nowhere in the past one decade. Therefore, it becomes very important that you follow the guidelines mentioned below during selecting a contractor for sealing your driveway.

Avoid Door To Door Advertisers

• A very important tip to keep in mind is avoiding those who knocks your door and ask if there is some asphalt related requirements.

• You should rely upon the companies searched on the Internet, through local yellow pages and through referrals from your friends.

Select the Specialist

• The next thing you should do is hiring a company that is working dedicated to perform the task that you are looking to do.

• This means shunning away the companies that do these maintenance related tasks on the side or anyone else who does it here and there.

Know the Modus Operandi

• If you are getting the asphalt driveway sealed, the first thing you need to know is their modus operandi and most importantly, how they apply this sealing agent on the affected areas.

• By the way, before knowing, it’s important to know that "brushed-on" application is best, squeegee is okay, and spraying the sealer is the worst method.

• In the spray case, it would be watered down for sure after looking great for a few weeks and then mysteriously vanishing away right before your eyes.

Some Other Tips to Hire an Asphalt Driveway Expert

• Ask what type of sealer they use as oil-based sealer soaks into your driveway and disappears.

• Ask the contractor if they add sand to their sealer.

• Know the square footage of your driveway to calculate the total expenditure.

• The contractor should come out in person and look at your driveway.

Step-By-Step Process to Perform Asphalt Repairs

Deciding to perform asphalt repairs on your own is a major decision and therefore, experts say that you’ll have to consider several points before even initiating the process. The top thing to consider is the reason behind the failure of the existing installation. There could be various reasons, but the two most common ones are – 

• Damaged by water – The water seeks some ways to penetrate inside the construction and starts loosening it from the inside. As the inner layer gets washed out, the upper layer experiences huge cracks and moisture-laden pieces.

• Damaged by ultraviolet or UV rays – As far as UV rays are concerned, they play havoc by damaging the layer and breaking away the materials used in the construction process.

The Process of Asphalt Repairs

Step 1

• The first step involves removing the base material that has been saturated completely. You’ll require equipment for this and the size of the equipment would generally depend upon the size of the damaged area. 

• If the size is small, you can use a skid steer for debris removal, but in other cases, you’ll require bigger machines like mid-sized excavators, etc.

Step 2.

• After evaluating the area and removing the entire debris, you’ll have to give a saw cut to the affected area.

• These cuts are initially made on the popping chalk lines and thereafter, making sure that the cuts are straight. 

• With this step, you’ll make sure right from the beginning that the results would be robust and long-lasting.

Step 3.

• Once these saw cuts are made in the perimeter, you’ll have to clean out the asphalt neatly and also other materials from the affected area.

• This removal with give you a fresh base and a proper foundation would be made possible.

• Now, simply replace the area with a new compactable material, such as stone or crush and run.

• It might become important to compact the area, but it’ll majorly depend upon the size and depth of the excavation done for asphalt repairs. 

What Do Determine Before Availing Asphalting Services?

Getting asphalting services to get a new driveway built is not an easy thing as the toughest part is to search for a service provider that holds expertise in the art. As far as expertise is concerned, the service provider should be aware of the key elements of asphalt concrete paving and installation services. Here is a brief intro of these elements.

A Suitable Foundation

• Even the highest quality asphalting services are of no use in the presence of improper ground foundation.
• For a driveway that is going to bear lots of weight one or two months down the line, the base should be a solid sub grade with a strong aggregate base.
• If the sub grade is not stabilised correctly, it can cause problems in the construction later on.
• Similarly, the soft wet clay should be removed or covered with a durable stone base, as this’ll reinforce the ground surface.
• Not doing this will result into buckling, cracking, crumbling, and ever-increasing deterioration in the driveway.

Good Quality Drainage System

• The companies offering asphalting services should be well aware that water is the enemy number one for asphalt.
• Therefore, proper drainage is a must wherever, this material is being used in the construction process.
• For this, proper slope is mandatory so that water does not stand on the construction.
• Moreover, it should not be given any single opportunity to seep inside from the edges.
• If this happens, it’ll cause premature potholes, crumbling, and cracks.

Proper Supply of the Raw Material

• Any construction using this material would stay under the threat if it’s made using improper ratio of the raw material or the raw material is b-grade.
• This is because construction that involves this material stays vulnerable to weathering and oxidation
• For driveways, the ideal mixture should contain less air voids than highway mixes, but more binder. 

Reasons Why Asphalt Patching Sydney Is Recommended On the Top

If you still in confusion of whether to avail asphalt patching Sydney services or not, the answer is here that you should go for it immediately. The reason is the advantages that are described below.

• It is economical
• It is durable
• It is relatively safer
• It is completely recyclable

The Economical Advantages

• One of the top reasons is that asphalt is a relatively low-cost as compared to other building materials.
• It is less expensive also in terms of the time it takes for construction using this material.
• Moreover, this material dries faster and the roads and highways built or repaired using it will not have to stay closed for too long.

Durability

• Durability is another reason to go for asphalt patching Sydney because it is a weather resistant material and can be designed for low and high traffic conditions both.
• Moreover, it can withstand harsh weather conditions and the heaviest of semi-trailers.
• It can also be designed to fit a specific purpose.

Safety Related Benefits

• A very remarkable USP of this material is its smooth-like finish.
• Because of this, it offers skid resistance, reduced splash back and better visual distinction between road markings to the drivers.
• It is also helpful in keeping the roads free from ice and snow.

Recycling Related Benefits

• Asphalt patching Sydney is a good option because it is a recyclable material and can be used over and over again.
• You’ll observe that its life cycle would never end.
• It can be dug up and re-used in some other place and this fact makes this material so popular and useful.
• This point ensures that we don’t leave any debris to dispose at landfill sites.

The Benefits That One Can Have By Having Footpaths Of Asphalt

Overview: The asphalt footpaths sydney provides you with durability along with flexibility. It is moreover cost effective than other kind of foot path say like those made of concrete. If you read along you will know more about the benefits.

It Provides Durability Along With Flexibility

Concrete contains water, sand, cement and stone aggregates where as asphalt is made by mixing oil derivative which is called bitumen in the mixers. As concrete contains water it dries up and cracks develop making the surface lose its durability. This does not happen in case of bitumen. It can maintain its durability for years. Moreover when salt is used to melt ice that salt does not affect this nature of foot path and it remains the same.

It Is a Cost Effective Method

The cost of laying and maintaining asphalt footpaths sydney made of tarmac is much less than that compared to other means. The cost of installation is less as it takes merely two days to lay blacktop paves way and maintaining that is also easy and can be done by self.

It Is Eco Friendly in Nature

The asphalt that is used for this kind of foot path can be recycled and used for other purpose. This eco friendly nature of tarmac also makes it the chosen one. If this nature of foot path is made it is seen that it will help to save many square areas of landfill space.

DIY Application Tips To Apply In Asphalting Services Sydney

For several years now, for several reasons, asphalt has continued to be the most preferred material for driveway construction. The experts of asphalting services Sydney say that one very prominent reason behind this popularity is the durability and resistance to different natural and unnatural agents.

On the other hand, they say that to maintain their longevity, you need to maintain it on a regular basis and for this, asphalting services Sydney are very important. They also say that through simple DIY steps, you can give a good makeover to them easily with the help of these tools.

• Medium to Large Push Broom or Large Foam Mop
• Garden hose and nozzle
• Small trowel or putty knife
• Small shovel (or grass edger)
• Gloves and rags to protect your hands and for cleanup

You will also require the following materials if you are going for sealing and fixing this stone. These products are easily available in any hardware store near your home.

• Asphalt Driveway Sealer
• Asphalt Driveway Crack and Hole Filler
• Sand to fill deep holes or cracks

Steps to follow to get this thing done in no time.

• Clean off all the dirt, grass or weeds from the driveway.
• Use a trowel or putty knife to dig out as much of the dirt and debris as possible.
• Use your lawn edger, a shovel or spade to remove any grass or dirt.
• Use your broom to sweep the driveway as clean as you can.
• Wash the driveway off completely using a pressure washer.
• Let it dry completely and check for contaminants.
• Fill any cracks or holes with Asphalt Filler nearly to the top.
• Wait for it to dry and re-apply another coating if cracks re-appear.
• Apply the driveway sealer to end asphalting services Sydney.