Many homeowners in Round Rock, TX look at their driveway and realize the asphalt has seen better days. If you live around neighborhoods like Forest Creek or Old Town, you already know what our Central Texas heat and sudden downpours do to asphalt. Asphalt takes a beating from the elements. Taking care of residential asphalt is straightforward, but you do need to know where the line is between a solid weekend DIY project and a job that requires heavy machinery.
Before the Equipment Rolls In
Preparation makes or breaks an asphalt job. You cannot just slap new material over a mess and expect it to hold up. Central Texas soil is full of expanding clay, which shifts constantly and cracks driveways from underneath.
Here is what you can tackle before anyone shows up:
- Walk your property and map out drainage issues where water pools after a storm.
- Clear out vehicles, toys, and low-hanging tree branches near the work zone.
- Mark any sprinkler heads near the edge of the driveway so they do not get crushed.
Leave the heavy grading, sub-base compaction, and calculating proper drainage slopes to an experienced crew. If the foundation is not locked down tight, even the best asphalt will fail within a couple of years.
During the Paving Process
When the crew is on site, things move fast. Hot mix asphalt arrives very hot, usually around 300 degrees, and you need to stay out of the way while letting the professionals work. Safety is key here, and heavy steam rollers require plenty of operating room.
What you should do while the crew is working:
- Keep pets and children safely indoors away from the noise and hot equipment.
- Stay off the fresh surface entirely because walking on hot mix leaves deep footprints that are difficult to fix.
- Talk to the lead crew member about water runoff patterns to make sure water is flowing away from your foundation.
Horizon Paving Solutions provides Asphalt Paving services for homes in Round Rock, TX. We always tell property owners to let us handle the rolling and laying. Trying to rake hot asphalt yourself without the right lutes and experience usually leads to an uneven, bumpy finish that collects water.
After the Paving is Done
The crew packs up and leaves, but your job is not quite finished yet. Asphalt takes time to fully cure, especially during those scorching Round Rock July and August afternoons when the sun is relentlessly beating down on your property.
You will need to exercise some patience during the curing window:
- Keep foot traffic off for at least 24 hours.
- Park your cars on the street for 3 to 5 days, depending on how hot it is outside.
- Avoid sharp turning maneuvers or power steering stationary cranks on the new surface for the first couple of weeks.
- Plan on applying a quality sealcoat about six to twelve months down the road to lock out UV rays and oil leaks.
If you spot a minor hairline crack six months from now, you can grab a jug of DIY crack filler from the hardware store and seal it up yourself. That is routine maintenance you can easily knock out on a Saturday morning. But if you are dealing with widespread sinking, alligator cracking, or base failure, do not waste money on temporary fixes. For Round Rock homes, Horizon Paving Solutions is here for all your Asphalt Paving needs.