Asphalt Driveway Preparation Recommendations For Your Upcoming Profesisonal Installation
New pavement for a driveway on your property is going to provide your home with added convenience and quality improvement to its value. Whether the driveway is immediately in front of your home or is a long private driveway that connects your home to the nearest city road, you want to make sure it is installed with a correct foundation and soil preparation. Here are some preparation recommendations for a solid and well-built asphalt paved driveway on your property.
Excavate the Area
When you are planning a new asphalt paved driveway on your property, you need to inspect the soil and its condition on the site where you plan your installation. This will give you a good idea of the type of soil and its compaction so you can make the needed repairs before the asphalt is laid. If, for example, the soil is expansive and contains clay, it is going to absorb water easily. This can cause problems below your asphalt's foundation, especially in the winter when the soil expands when it freezes.
An inspection will allow you to excavate and replace the soil with a well-draining soil that will compact well and provide a durable foundation. Excavation of the existing soil is necessary to make space for a proper foundation layer and also the asphalt surface layer. You don't want to add too much height to your area when you install the foundation and asphalt layer, so excavation to level the site and add in appropriate materials is the recommended process.
Prepare the Base Foundation
After you have excavated the existing soil from your driveway site and leveled the remaining surface, you can install the drainage layer of aggregate gravel, which can be made of crushed limestone or other compacting aggregates. Compress this with a compactor roller or manual compactor machine and allow it to settle for several days. You can also supplement the existing soil with some additives, such as lime, gravel, or sand to add drainage to the soil. This combination should be mixed in thoroughly so that all areas of the foundation are uniform in drainage qualities and leveled appropriately.
With the help of your contractor, they can excavate the area and supplement the soil to provide good drainage. Then, the foundation should also allow for a drainage system that helps moisture drain from the base layer but also from the surface of your pavement. This can be completed with a central ridge down your driveway that slops off each side or so that it drains down its length. Contact a company that offers excavation services for more information.