Tips on Driveway Paving

Driveway paving is one project of many for a resident that wishes to build their own home. There are many benefits to having a paved driveway. It makes it easier to access the home and it just gives the home a more appealing look. It is important that the driveway is properly paved to ensure the finished product lasts for many years.

• Ensure that ground you plan install the driveway on, known as the sub-grade, is accurately prepared. Preparation of the base for your driveway paving is important. Remove all organic material and topsoil. Pour six inches of a base aggregate – stone is a popular choice – on top of the earth. Failure to do these steps in the beginning can result in water retention, which may cause cracks and other damages to the driveway in the future.


• Pave the driveway to a proper thickness and compaction to ensure a quality job is done. The driveway should be at least two inches thick once the asphalt has been compacted. Compacted asphalt is about 3/4 of the thickness of loose asphalt that is just been poured. Keep these numbers in mind to be sure you have a driveway that is thick enough to withstand the weight of your vehicles.


• Select the proper materials for your driveway paving job. Not all driveway mixes are created equal. Also, make sure the asphalt you are using is suitable for your location. An asphalt mixture that works well in Michigan will not be the same as the one needed for a driveway in Florida, where the temperature is much hotter.


• Pour the driveway so that it has a slight slope to enable water runoff and drainage. Pitching the asphalt from the center of the pavement outward allows the water to drain from the surface. Also, be sure to pitch the driveway 18 inches for every 100 feet to keep water from pooling up next to the house.