Your driveway should be a well-built and long-lasting feature of your yard's landscaping to provide value and good use to your home. When you are planning for a new driveway, there are some ideas and insights you need to remember in order to ensure your driveway gives you the surface you need. Here are some recommendations for the right installation and a long-lasting asphalt driveway.

Install Proper Drainage

When you are planning to install a new driveway or to remove and replace an existing damaged one, you will need to consider the drainage that is needed in the area so you can have it installed right. A driveway without the right drainage will not remain solid for long, as the moisture seeping onto and under the asphalt will erode away at its structure and base to leave it weak and broken. 

Look at the area to see if there is a natural slope or low area where moisture flows to or if your existing asphalt has become sunken and cracked. These issues need to be corrected with a layer of compacted gravel and also an additional drainage pipe layer under existing asphalt, especially with areas of high drainage. For example, if your driveway is in an area where water flows across during heavy rainstorms, it is recommended to install drainage below the asphalt to facilitate the drainage and prevent erosion and washout of the structure and foundation of the driveway.

Also, be sure any downspout from your roof gutters is diverted away from your asphalt surface. It is not recommended that your roof runoff is allowed to flow and pool onto the asphalt surface. You can install a downspout extension to point the runoff to another area, or use a concrete or stone splash block to protect the surface.

Pave at the Right Time

Paving a new asphalt surface is usually completed in the summer and warmer months because this helps the asphalt settle and cure properly. Wet weather and cold conditions can allow moisture to get below the layers and cause the asphalt to cool too rapidly, resulting in a poor-quality asphalt driveway.

Therefore, be sure you plan for an installation when your weather is not rainy or cold but rather, warm and dry, which will give you the best results for your new driveway. If you wake up on installation day and find a rainstorm has come into the area, your professional asphalt crew should have no problem rescheduling the installation work.

For more tips, contact a company like Northern Asphalt LLC.