Specifications for a Residential Asphalt Driveway
- Types. There are two types of asphalt for driveways. ...
- Base. No matter what type of asphalt you choose, or how thick you put it on the driveway, there must be a solid base under the driveway for it to ...
- Size. The local zoning board establishes how wide each driveway must be, as well as the depth of the asphalt on the driveway.
- Sealer. ...
- Warning
Full Answer
What type of asphalt is best for your driveway?
Types of Asphalt
- Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) Of all the different types of asphalt out there, hot mix asphalt is currently the most common form used for roads and pavements.
- Warm Mix Asphalt (WMA) Warm mix asphalt is made similarly to hot-mix asphalt, except at lower temperatures. ...
- Cold Mix Asphalt. ...
- Porous Asphalt. ...
- Quiet Pavement. ...
- Perpetual Pavement. ...
How much does it cost to build an asphalt driveway?
The price can rise or fall depending on many factors including location, quality of material, depth of material required, and the size of your drive. Asphalt driveway installation pricing across the country can be anywhere from $1,500 to $10,000, but most spend $4,000 to $8,000.
How thick should an asphalt driveway be?
An asphalt driveway should at least be 2 inches thick. When asphalt is correctly laid, the material’s thickness and inherent flexibility distribute the load’s weight, which is eventually supported by the base layer beneath.
How to plan and install a new asphalt driveway?
How Much Does It Cost To Pave A Driveway – How to Plan and Install a new Asphalt Driveway
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- FAQ about How Much Does It Cost To Pave A Driveway. ...
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What is the best thickness for an asphalt driveway?
A 4-inch thickness may be adequate, but 5 or even 6 inches of full-depth asphalt will assure you of a stronger, stable driveway under a wider range of climate and loads. As an option, some contractors use 6 to 8 inches of compacted aggregate, or gravel, as a base under 3 inches of asphalt pavement.
What is the proper base for an asphalt driveway?
crushed angular gravelStrong blacktop driveways are typically built using crushed angular gravel as a base. This gravel needs to be a minimum of 6 inches thick for light vehicle traffic such as cars and pickup trucks.
How wide should an asphalt driveway be?
How Wide Are Residential Driveways? Primarily, most professionals recommend that you install a 10 feet to 12 feet wide driveway. The standard driveway width for an SUV or conventional pickup truck is 10 feet. Anything less than 10' wide will likely present difficulties for drivers, even in smaller vehicles.
How deep should a sub base be for a driveway?
How deep should my sub-base be? Generally, a flexible sub-base of unbound material needs to be at least 100mm deep, as does a bound sub-base of CBM/HBM. For bitumen-bound material, then 50mm is a typical minimum thickness.
How do you prepare the ground for an asphalt driveway?
The Complete 7-Step Process for Asphalt Pavement InstallationStep 1: Demolition and Removal. ... Step 2: Grading and Sloping. ... Step 3: Prepare the Sub Base. ... Step 4: Proof Roll, Undercutting and Sub Base Repair. ... Step 5: Binder and Surface Course. ... Step 6: Install New Asphalt Surface. ... Step 7: Butt Joints and Transitions.
What goes down before asphalt?
1:168:39And sitting on the surface of the asphalt to avoid pavement failures and premature deteriorationMoreAnd sitting on the surface of the asphalt to avoid pavement failures and premature deterioration material like rocks or gravel should be removed prior to grading.
How big is a standard driveway?
The standard driveway width for residential homes ranges from 9 feet to 24 feet. The width of your driveway will vary based on whether you want a single car drive or double car drive....Double car driveways can be between 20 and 24 feet wide.TypeSizeSingle Car Driveway9-12 feet wideDouble Car Driveway20-24 feet wide3 more rows
What's the average size of a driveway?
Following are the typical dimensions of various types of driveways: Single-car driveway: 10' - 12' wide. Loop driveway: 12' wide. Double-car driveway: 20' - 24' wide.
How big is the average driveway in square feet?
Size: The average 2-car driveway in the U.S. is 16 x 40 feet, or a total of 640 square feet. Many driveways may be larger or smaller, depending on the distance from the garage or house to the street and possible extensions for RV parking.
What is the ideal fall for a driveway?
The typical gradient required for good drainage is between 1:60 and 1:80. What this ratio means is over the length of a driveway, the end that features drainage channels should be one unit lower for every 60/80 units of length.
How long should a driveway sit before paving?
In general, a driveway should settle for six months before paving. This recommended time span will vary according to soil and weather conditions, and proper compaction can allow you to pave far sooner.
How do you compact a sub-base for a driveway?
How is a sub-base laid for a driveway? Spread layers of max. 150mm with rakes. ... Compact the layer by multiple passes with equipment until compacted fully. ... It must be level checked to make sure even, to a typical tolerance of +10mm to –15mm. ... It's important that it's tight, i.e. no pockets or holes.
Specs for a Residential Asphalt Driveway
For most homes, 2” to 3” of asphalt on a driveway is thick enough to bear the weight of family vehicles. This thickness also holds up to heavy trucks and equipment that are occasionally parked on your driveway.
How Much Weight Can a Residential Asphalt Driveway Hold?
Manufacturers develop asphalt materials that are rated for certain weight limits. You will find a Structural Number on the label, or you can ask the contractor for this information. One of the denser asphalt materials has a Structural Number 3, and this means that the final product is 3x stronger than the aggregate in its original form.
How Thick Should Asphalt Be for a Residential Driveway?
Use 2” to 3” as a baseline for the thickness of asphalt on your driveway. If you plan on having heavy vehicles on the driveway, such as an RV, boat, or commercial truck, use 4” of asphalt. Climate should also be considered.
How Many Layers of Asphalt for a Driveway?
You can use two layers of asphalt to form a strong and affordable driveway. Some contractors put down a 6-inch to 8-inch layer of gravel or compacted aggregate, and then lay down 3” of asphalt.
How Much Does an Asphalt Driveway Cost?
An asphalt driveway costs $2 to $6 per square foot for materials, and $5 to $7 per square foot for labor. The average residential asphalt driveway costs $4,737.
How Long Does Asphalt Last?
Asphalt is designed to last 12 to 20 years. Your driveway may last less time or more time, depending on how it was laid, climate conditions, use, and maintenance.
How Do You Maintain an Asphalt Driveway?
Every 12 to 24 months, sweep the asphalt, and spray it with a hose to remove any debris that is stuck in the material. Asphalt should be seal-coated every 2 to 5 years.
How wide should a driveway be?
One of the most important considerations for residential driveways is the width of the pavement. The absolute minimum pavement width for a single automobile width is eight feet (8′), with ten feet (10′) being more desirable. When both pedestrians and an automobile will be using the driveway, the minimum recommended pavement width is twelve feet ...
How thick should asphalt driveway overlay be?
It is recommended, however, that the overlay have a minimum compacted thickness of at least one inch (1″).
What should be removed before paving a driveway?
The subgrade type and strength will influence the overall pavement structure. Prior to construction of the driveway, all of the topsoil should be removed. Additional soil should be removed to accommodate the final driveway pavement.
What should be preserved in a driveway?
Aesthetic objects such as trees and rocks should be preserved whenever possible. Care must be taken to locate the driveway away from trees and shrubs whose root system may affect the pavement as they grow. Also, to avoid unsightly cuts in hilly areas, driveways should generally conform to the terrain.
How much slope should a driveway have?
In flat areas, the driveway should have a minimum slope of two percent (2%) or a crown not less than one-quarter inch per foot (1/4”/ft.) so that all surface water will drain off. Drainage from roof downspouts, patios, and walkways should, if feasible, be piped well away from the edge of the driveway.
How many feet should I park side by side?
To park multiple cars side by side, the parking area of the driveway should be increased by 10 feet per car to allow for the opening of doors. For the length of the driveway, the width can vary. In general, the width increases at the parking area and narrows down along the drive length.
What are the two most important considerations when designing a pavement?
Two of the most important considerations in designing a pavement are traffic and drainage . If either is not accounted for in the pavement design, then the pavement structure will either be over-designed (and money wasted) or under designed (and result in premature and continual maintenance).
What is the Proper Residential Asphalt Driveway Thickness?
When trying to estimate the specs for a residential asphalt driveway, there is no quick and easy way to know exactly what you’re going to need. The first step that you should take is finding out what kind of soil you have.
How Much Does A Residential Asphalt Driveway Cost?
Now comes perhaps the most critical factor; the residential asphalt driveway cost. The price is going to vary depending on the service you use. It’s a good idea to call around and get some estimates before choosing one specific company.
How thick should an asphalt driveway be?
The thing is asphalt driveways should always be built to accommodate the traffic load. A residential driveway may not need a thickness of more than 4 inches. But commercial driveways or municipal roadways have to deal with a totally different kind of traffic overload.
What is the best mix of asphalt for a driveway?
Asphalt used for paving your driveway is usually a mix of aggregates like stone and dust and chemical binders. And for an optimal mix of these components, you need the asphalt to be of a minimum thickness. The road needs and region also play a vital role in deciding the amount of layering and asphalt components.
How thick is a municipal road?
In the case of municipal roadways, thickness may vary between 6 to 9 inches or it can even go up to 11 inches.
Can heavy vehicles cause damage to driveways?
And experience tells heavier vehicles can cause a lot of damage over time. This significantly hikes up the Driveway Paving Cost and you may have to install an entirely new driveway. That’s why commercial driveways built for heavy vehicles such as a big truck use a thicker asphalt for paving.
Can you put a bike on a driveway?
Well, in some cases, yes it can be. It’s considered to be a good option for a regular driveway with minimum to average traffic load of regular car and bikes. But there’s a caveat here. If you do happen to live in an area like Toronto, temperature fluctuations and freezing conditions are bound to happen.
Can you overlay asphalt?
This will depend on the present conditions of your driveway. Asphalt overlay is only laying an additional coat of asphalt over the surface.
What is the most important thing to consider when paving a driveway?
Maintenance. Most experts agree that the quality of the paving job is what matters most to driveway performance — particularly using a mix that is appropriate for the job and achieving good compaction. But maintenance is important, too.
What is driveway surface mix?
Many experts prefer that driveway surface mix have a finer gradation than highway mix. This gives a finer surface texture and smooth appearance. Siler prefers a mix composed of good angular aggregate with stone-on-stone contact (sometimes called aggregate interlock).
What is good construction practice?
Good construction practices. “Good workmanship is important, so the driveway will last,” says Prather. “Compaction is critical, including the edges and joints in the pavement. “You have to tamp the edges of the pavement,” adds Prather. “And make the seams (joints) look good — tight and good.”.
Does a slope to a pavement mean water will run off?
You’ve got to have slope to your pavement so the water will run off. The water needs to run off to the side in a sheet. “If you have good drainage, your pavement will last,” adds Prather. “Both good surface drainage and good subgrade drainage. The rock has to be laid right so it will allow the water to leach out.
Does filling cracks in driveway stop water?
Filling the cracks does stop water penetration and prolongs the life of the driveway, ” says Prather. In addition to sealing the driveway for appearance purposes, sealing can be used to preserve the pavement. Fuel-resistant, polymer-modified asphalt sealers can guard against spills.
Is pavement sealing a matter of choice?
Overall pavement sealing is a matter of choice and wear-and-tear. Water is the enemy of pavements. Proper installation of drainage at the time of construction is important, but it is equally important to assure that the drainage continues to work. Water can soften the subgrade and/or undermine the pavement.