Have you recently invested in a new bitumen or asphalt driveway or a parking lot and want to ensure it lasts?
Your driveway is the first thing that visitors see as they pull up to your home. So, you would want it to be welcoming and beautiful for years.
Bitumen, more commonly known as asphalt, is durable and provides several benefits. However, it is not indestructible. As a homeowner, you need to understand how to care for such a material to ensure it lasts as long as possible. And, experts in bitumen repairs Brisbane has today would say that understanding how driveways are installed will help you take care of it.
What Is Bitumen
Bitumen is a petroleum derivative. After the extraction and refining process, the substance is sticky and thick, just like tar. It is then mixed with other aggregates, such as gravel, sand, and stone, to be used for paving. Basically, bitumen keeps aggregates stuck together while gravel and stone provide strength.
Installing an asphalt surface requires putting in heavier aggregate on the area you want paved. Hot asphalt is then poured over the aggregate and pressed in using a heavy roller. Pressing helps the top, soft asphalt to bind with the aggregate below it. When the upper layer has cooled down and become solid, your driveway is ready to use.
When to Seal Coat or Resurface a Driveway
Alt-text: a cracked driveway surface
Even with a black, fresh appearance and a beautiful appeal, your bitumen driveway requires regular maintenance. And, seal coating or resurfacing done by a company specialising in asphalt installation and pothole repairs Brisbane has to offer may be the answer if a driveway no longer looks as new. But it is important to understand when to either seal coat or resurface your driveway.
Sealcoating
In this process, companies specialising in bitumen repairs Brisbane has today apply a liquid sealant over an existing pavement to fill cracks and seal the surface. The process helps protect the foundation and the sub-layers from the elements while delaying replacement.
The sealant is usually applied every three to five years. For a recently installed driveway, wait for 90 days to one year to ensure the sealant will not damage the bitumen. Seal coating too early can trap oils in the bitumen, which leads to the driveway becoming too flexible or soft.
Seal coat your bitumen driveway when temperatures are at 50 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Bitumen profiling companies apply the sealant where there are two consecutive days without rains. Such dry conditions ensure the sealant adheres properly to the existing bitumen.
Resurfacing
There are several factors to consider to determine whether or not it is appropriate to call in a bitumen installation and pothole repairs Sunshine Coast company for a resurfacing project.
- The bitumen surface is less than 20 years old.
- Surface cracks are less than two inches deep.
- Foundation is still sound.
- Cracks are less than a quarter-inch wide.
- Only 30 per cent or less of the bitumen requires repairs.
However, resurfacing is usually temporary. Water may seep between the new and old material, causing it to crack again. For the best results, always hire a reputable pothole repair company to resurface your driveway.
How to Maintain Your Bitumen Driveway
There are also things that you can do on your part to keep your bitumen driveway in good condition.
- Water down your driveway on exceptionally hot days to keep the material cool, but avoid doing it on sinkholes and cracks.
- Don’t park in the same spot on your driveway to prevent undue weight and pressure on a single area.
- Move heavy trailers or campers on your driveway, even if it is a couple of inches every few days.
- Have moving vans park on the street.
- Contact pothole repairs Brisbane experts to fix any sinkholes, chips, or cracks quickly to prevent water from seeping into the material and weakening it.
Conclusion
For maximum strength, companies specialising in bitumen installation and bitumen repairs Brisbane has to offer will put in a thick layer of compacted aggregate for the foundation. Six to eight inches of heavy gravel will help create a durable base for the top layer of bitumen and prevent buckling or sinking under the weight of a heavy-duty trailer.
Keep your home looking beautiful for decades. Our blog offers tricks, tips, and professional advice from experts to do exactly that!
