Got Questions About Asphalt Driveways? 
Everything You Need to Know About Asphalt Driveways

One of the most common questions we receive when installing a new asphalt driveway is a concern with marks left by the tires. Until asphalt is fully cured (up to 24 months) it will be soft in spots! Heavy weight sitting in one spot - such as from a car - can often lead to sinking and tire marks. Atlas Asphalt recommends a minimum of two weeks before you can drive across the new blacktop, and a minimum of a month before you can park on it! While it is best that major tire marks be avoided, small indentations and impressions are nothing to worry about. As the asphalt is driven on and further compacted by the car tires, these marks will work themselves out. It is often possible to cause more damage by heating up and trying to blend in fresh asphalt. If the tire marks are so bad that our repair crew supervisor is worried they may never go away, we will wait until the asphalt is fully cured before attempting any appropriate driveway repair option. During the curing process it also normal to see other imperfections like: roller marks, footboard marks and other compaction marks. These are only noticeable when it’s wet and still dark in color - don’t worry these too will disappear!

Since a new asphalt driveway is made out of rocks, sand, and tar, we will often see inconsistencies in the asphalt mix. This inconsistency is called segregation in the mix, and will lead to some areas of the new pavement to be coarse, while some areas appear smooth. While this may not be the most visually appealing driveway finish, it is nonetheless extremely durable, structurally fine, and most importantly - normal! Fresh asphalt is never perfectly smooth, and as long as the driveway has been appropriately compacted by a professional asphalt paving company, any areas of rough texture should not be a major concern. At the end of the day, it is a driveway. Cars will park on it, it will sit outside in rain and snow storms, and it will see years of wear and tear. A new driveway is always rough, but as you drive on it, these areas of concerning texture will buff out, leaving you with a beautiful, durable, residential asphalt driveway.

While an asphalt driveway should never be bumpy, it will also never be perfectly smooth. A residential asphalt driveway is engineered to be durable. Interlocking angular stones create the composition of the asphalt mix, and this is why we are able to achieve compaction. After a driveway is completely cured, you may consider sealing the asphalt driveway. Sealcoating and asphalt driveway will fill in the exposed aggregate. Driveway sealer is self-leveling, so any pitting or gravelly texture will be corrected by a thick Velvetop seal coat. This should be part of a yearly maintenance plan, and helps to protect and preserve your new asphalt driveway. Ask your estimator or paving crew foreman for more information!

Because fresh asphalt is oil-based, we see water-resistant properties that cause the top layer of asphalt to collect standing water. While these areas of pooling may seem to be a concern, it is completely normal. Fresh asphalt has significant surface tension, which means that the water is unable to run freely over the pavement. This water will then bunch up, often sitting on top of the asphalt even in areas that are not below grade. As the asphalt cures, and the oils dissipate, and the water is able to run freely. Typically, we see this release in surface tension weeks to months after the new driveway install. When you see standing water, there is nothing to worry about. In small areas less than 1/4 inch deep, the puddling should correct itself. If not, we will be here to correct any of your issues!

Fresh asphalt is made with natural and synthetic materials. While fresh asphalt consists of tar, oil, petroleum, and other dark products, it is not made with any dyes. New hot mix asphalt is produced with sand that is beige, rocks that are all different colors, and may vary in color and texture. Really dark batches are common, and lighter gray batches are also common. Residential asphalt driveway companies never know what will come out of the silo at the asphalt plant, but no matter the color, you can bet that South Suburban Asphalt is sourcing the best materials. We would never cut corners, and our company always aims to create finished products that we would be happy with at our own homes!

Driveway cracking is standard. Over the winter, we experience changes in climate that lead to expansion and contraction. Sometimes, cracking can be due to improper ice melt on the new asphalt driveway. We live in MN and Unfortunately cracking will eventually happen with all surfaces at any time because of the ground movement we experience - Asphalt, Concrete and Pavers.

A flat driveway is anything under 2-3% grade on any area of the driveway surface. We will do everything to encourage the water to drain, but if under the minimum drainage requirements bird baths and standing water can form. If the driveway has a negative slope (reverse grade) from the street we will try to have the water run off one of the edges, but this cannot be guaranteed. In this circumstance a concrete apron is recommended to push water to one side and to keep water away from going into the garage.