How Long for New Asphalt Driveway to Cure

If you have just resurfaced your driveway, then an obvious question is how long you have to wait before you can park or drive on the newly laid asphalt.

First off, there's often some confusion between drying and curing. Let's begin by understanding the two terms.

Asphalt requires about 6 to 12 months to completely cure and is normally a bit more susceptible to damage during that period. It, however, takes 2 to 3 days to dry for foot or car traffic. This applies to new and fresh asphalt. Resurfaced asphalt dries within just a couple of hours after application.

The drying time of asphalt partly depends on the existing weather conditions. Excessive heat could slow down drying and at times even make the asphalt soften again before fully curing. That is precisely why it is not advisable to conduct asphalt repairs when the surrounding temperatures are over 100° Fahrenheit. Nonetheless, spraying the asphalt surface with cold water could be useful at this point.

The ideal time to schedule for asphalt application is during early summer or spring. Remember that asphalt can't be laid when it is raining. During cold weather, asphalt can begin to harden even before the crew finishes working on it. The result is bumps or lumps in your driveway that require starting over to be fixed.

Advantages of asphalt driveways

Asphalt driveways are a great choice for both home and business owners for a number of reasons. They include:

• Cost; asphalt is cheaper compared to concrete
• Durability in cold weather; asphalt is known to be flexible. It contracts and expands with changes in temperature
• Longevity; when properly laid, asphalt driveways could last for up to twenty years

When can you drive and park on fresh asphalt?

When it comes to driving and parking on fresh asphalt, you should follow the rules below:

• Do not drive on fresh asphalt for 3 days (72 hours)
• Do not park on fresh asphalt for 14 days

The vehicle's weight could cause scarring, rutting, and even depressions in the uncured asphalt. This risk increases further for bigger vehicles such as campers and trucks. Even after the suggested 72 hours, cars that are very heavy could result in damage if the driveway wasn't specifically designed to bear such weight.

During the hot summer season, asphalt takes a little bit longer to dry and harden. This means that you might have to wait for a whole month before driving on it. The high temperatures leave the asphalt supplier thus increasing the risk of surface damage. During this period, you could park along the street.

Experts recommend applying a seal coat to newly laid asphalt. It significantly increases the lifespan of the asphalt driveway as well as minimizes the costs of future repairs. The seal coat should be applied thirty days after the asphalt is laid. Similar to asphalt, the sealer takes about 2 to 3 days to dry.

Application of the sealant should be scheduled for a warm and sunny day. The sealer requires adequate sunlight to dry well. A bit of wind could also be helpful, provided that it does not interfere with the job getting done.

Care and maintenance of asphalt driveways

Once you get your new asphalt driveway laid, you'll without a doubt want to maintain its aesthetic and integrity for as long as possible. Proper care and maintenance begin as soon as the new asphalt is laid. You could help to ensure the durability and long life of your asphalt driveway by:

Prevent gas and oil spills

Keep in mind that asphalt is an oil-based product. Oil and gasoline spills could dissolve your driveway's surface and eventually result in deterioration. Avoid any leakages or spills of these substances and immediately clean up any leaks or spills with absorbent material to reduce damage. If your car has a fluid leak, ensure that the leak is fixed before the car is parked on the new asphalt.

Protect the edges of the driveway

The edges are probably the weakest part of the driveway primarily due to the absence of any side support. Avoid driving your car on the edge of your driveway as it will crack and eventually start crumbling.

Experts propose building up the soil at the sides of your driveway using topsoil to about an inch from the driveway's surface. This permits room for water drainage and sod growth, and will also support these edges and improve the landscape's appearance once the grass grows.

Seal cracks

Cracks might appear on your driveway because of the movement underneath the surface and/or in the subsoil during the freeze or thaw cycle. In addition, the movement could be due to water leaking beneath the driveway. Water leakage could be because of landscape design, over-watering, or even too much rain. In Minnesota, for instance, eventual cracks are unavoidable.

Keeping these cracks filled up and your asphalt driveway coated with a sealant will go a long way in maintaining the good status of your landscape. The good news is that you could fill up the cracks yourself using various products designed for this purpose.

Prevent the growth of grass and weeds through cracks

Plants, like grass and weeds, are capable of pushing through asphalt. Fortunately, you could utilize a spot-killer to correct the situation. At times, trees or large plants situated near the driveway's edge push through. In such a scenario, you'll want to uproot the plant for a permanent solution. In case a tree root manages to push through the surface and you don't want to cut down the tree, you'll be forced to fill the cracks annually.

Keep away narrow and sharp objects

Narrow and sharp objects should not be used on fresh asphalt as they leave behind small indentations. These objects include ladders, patio furniture, high-heeled shoes, and kickstands for motorcycles and bicycles.

How Long for New Asphalt Driveway to Cure

Source: https://www.plantedshack.com/how-long-before-parking-on-a-new-asphalt-driveway/

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