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Why the Road Base Under the Pavement is ImportantThe road base under the pavement can be likened to a building foundation. You may wonder why builders often pay attention when the foundation of a house is been made, but the simple truth is, the foundation of a house is the most important aspect of the building because it carries the weight of all other things over it.
A pavement is constructed for the sole function to aid the movement of vehicles of various sizes and weight from time to time and you should not forget that the base under the pavement is just like a building foundation which supports the surface and withstands the weight of traveling vehicles. Failure to make the base strong enough to withstand any weight of vehicles moving over it will cause the surface to open up as early as possible before the pavement reach its life expectancy. If you want your driveway to last long enough the way it should, you should pay attention to the base under the pavement during construction. When the base is solid, the cost of maintaining your driveways will be reduced because of the low damages done to your driveway. Hot Mix Asphalt Cure Time is ImportantA newly fixed driveway with hot mix asphalt is readily accessible for cars after a couple of days but is liable to damage until its cure time is fully attained. Asphalt drying is a term used to explain why asphalt road can be used by car owners after a few days of asphalt fixing.
It takes approximately one year for asphalt to finally be cured after which it is less susceptible to damages. Asphalt curing takes place gradually until it becomes fully hardened but before it attains full cure, you must avoid parking your car on the same spot to prevent indention on the road. Also, avoid activities that could subject asphalt to wear and tear or excessive stress on it. The importance of asphalt hot mix asphalt cure time is to prevent asphalt from damages resulting from the stress of heavy trunk moving on it and from harsh climates conditions such as heavy rainfall, snow, and extremely hot weather. This will help to preserve the life expectancy of the asphalt because it is better at withstanding the unfavorable conditions when it is fully cured. Also, cure time is necessary for the application of seal coating; seal coating is applied after one month and three months cure time for private and public driveways respectively. It is therefore important to take care of your driveway made with hot mix asphalt within the first year to ensure its longevity. Proper Thickness and Compaction Are NeededWithout exaggerating, proper thickness and compaction are needed for an asphalt driveway. However, before deciding how thick you want your driveway to be, there are important factors to put into consideration.
Some of these factors are the weight of the intended vehicles, at what speed is expected a vehicle to move on the driveway and how busy is the road going to be. These factors are essential in determining the right thickness for the driveway. The thickness and compaction work simultaneously and they both determine the long-lasting of a driveway. A driveway with low traffic and with not so heavy vehicles will require a thickness not less than 2.5inch and not more than 3 inches, while a driveway with heavy traffic and heavy vehicles such as trunk will require at least 4 inches of thickness. When the right thickness is not used and the gravel and stone material used is not well compacted, the driveway deteriorates in no time and require replacement or reinforcement. The essence of proper thickness and compaction is to ensure that your driveway lasts long enough before needing replacement or patching. Also, it helps to save the cost of fixing your driveway after a few years of construction. |
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