Asphalt Driveway Tips

To give your driveway years of quality service and like new appearance, an asphalt driveway requires time to cure or harden. This time is a relatively short period before use, it's generally only four days before you can drive on new asphalt. The following are a few tips to ensure long term satisfaction with your new driveway:

Keep all vehicles off new asphalt for four (4) days to give proper time for the asphalt to harden. Note: Hot summer temperatures may extend this hardening time.
You may walk on the driveway after two (2) days, but refrain from using high heels, roller blades, lawn tractors, and/or bicycles.
Asphalt remains extremely susceptible to chemicals during the hardening process. Gasoline, antifreeze, oil, diesel fuel, or household chemicals can cause discoloration, cracking or disintegration. Make sure none of these or other corrosive substances come into contact with the asphalt. After the driveway hardens, these chemicals will still have damaging effects on your driveway, but at a slower rate.
After the driveway has been paved, the edges of the asphalt are higher than the ground. To reduce damage to the edges of the asphalt and potential tripping hazards, be sure to back fill the edges with dirt and/or grass. Do not drive on the edges of the driveway.
It is recommended that you properly seal your driveway six (6) months after your driveway has been installed.
Delivery drivers, repair servicemen, or visitors may not know your driveway is new. Overweight vehicles or drivers turning their wheels in place will blemish the surface of the asphalt. It is suggested that you block or post a warning on the new driveway for two (2) weeks to keep others from damaging the surface of your new driveway.
Using grass or weed killer along the edges or on vegetation growing through the driveway will keep unwanted plants from growing and cracking your new driveway.
Motorcycle kickstands, auto jack stands, etc. will leave impressions in new asphalt and during prolonged periods of hot weather.