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Driveway needs pavement

3K views 12 replies 12 participants last post by  jbfan 
#1 ·
I have not seen any where that can teach me how to pave the driveway myself or cheaper that the professionals. Or is there such an animal?
My mom has aproximetely 110' x 10' driveway that has maybe 25 degree incline because it is up a mountain. What is the best pavement for it, one that will last a long time? Is concrete better than asphalt? Can I do it myself? If not any suggestions that are a little less than $4,000?
I have absolutely No knowledge on the subject:huh: .
PG
 
#3 ·
For anyone considering driveway repair using hot asphalt, I just did it and can share a few thoughts. The purpose was to apply a temporary patch. I will be completely redoing the driveway next year.

I prepared the area ahead of time to take 2" of asphalt and some padding areas with variable thickness. I cleaned the existing asphalt with a wire brush and then applied Emulsified Asphalt to the existing asphalt to help the new asphalt stick. I picked up asphalt from the asphalt plant in 1/2 tonne increments using my trailer.

1. You have to work fast because 1/2 tonne of asphalt cools off fairly quickly.

2. I used a hand tamper to compact the asphalt. It doesn't work that great. I recommend a mechanical tamper. You might get a better finish.

3. I used paint thinner to keep the asphalt from sticking to the tools. You can also use desiel fuel, which might work better. It is best to apply it to the shovel just before using it, because it does evaporate with the heat of the tool.

4. For 2" of asphalt compacted, apply 2 1/2 loose.

5. It is much more difficult doing areas of variable thicknesses because the amount that the asphalt compacts varies with the thickness applied.

I did an area of approximately 10' x 5' and a few potholes. It was manageable. Doing anything much larger might be very difficult. There is a lot of pressure to get the asphalt laid and compacted while trying to teach yourself how to properly rake it. I was working full out. In the end I did not get a very nice finish.

In general, I would say if your doing a small area and you don't care all that much about the finish, it can be done. I saved several hundred dollars doing it myself.

But if you are concerned about a nice finish, are doing a large area, or want it to last a long time, it might be advised to get a company.

Good Luck
 
#5 ·
Mike Mike, even with asphalt, this job is out of the scope of the OP. They need to hire a professional, regardless. Even if it is loose rock, they still have to have someone there to use the equipment to spread out the material, unless they already of the equipment needed, but I doubt that.
Ayuh,... Pavin' is My day job...

No way in 'ell it's a Diy'er job...

Other than the scope of the actual installation, the local plants use a 3 ton minimum drop batch plant..
I can't feature gettin' a drop into anything less than a class 6 dumptruck...

Btw,... Yer lookin' at 'bout 15 tons to cover Mom's driveway with 2" compacted..
 
#7 ·
I'm a DIY'er, but asphault is one thing I won't attempt in large spaces. Too much equipment goes into doing it right, might as well pay someone to do it, and do other projects around the house on your own to make up the cost.

Putting down a gravel driveway would be an easier project for a DIY, but will still require machinery and some knowledge.
 
#8 ·
My hubby and I own an asphalt paving business, and this is for sure not a diy project..... First you need to know something about elevations, and drainage...... If you dont know what you are doing, you could end up with a lake or possibly even cause flooding on your neighbors property which I imagine you would be responsible for if you changed flow patterns and it cause damage. You will need 4 inches compacted depth of limestone flex base.... processing and compaction are crucial if you expect it to last. You will also need to apply tac to the base prior to installing the asphalt... thats the glue that binds the surfaces together!! Then you need 2 inches compacted depth of hot mix asphalt. To get that kind of compaction you need will require a 5 ton steel wheel roller and they are quite expensive to rent. Since it is on a pretty good incline if not done properly, it will eventually slide down the hill!! I think this is best left to a pro! Hope this helps!!
 
#9 ·
Just curious, Tammy. What would you bid for the drive OP described-roughly? I have a similar one that needs redoing badly, but have a water problem that none of the paving companies seem too interested in addressing with water seeping, freezing on drive in winter. Seems it'll just break up again.
 
#11 ·
Hard to say with out looking at it and knowing exactly what the problem is with seeping.... ie... soaking from top, or squishy sub base..... if water is seeping from underneath the mat in small areas, this can addressed by digging out asphalt and base and stabilizing the sub base with lime..... we sometimes even stabilize the base rock with portland cement.... repair, and overlay..... if water is standing next to drive, you may need to dig a trench to drain it, or possibly dig out asphalt and install drainage pipes so water can go under the driveway...
like I said without seeing what the problem is, not knowing distance from plant, fuel prices, trucking, moving equipment, ect it would be impossible to give you an estimate on cost....
I can tell you our prices per square foot are all over the place and there is no set per square foot price... it varies from job to job with all the variables, and I know what my market will bare from city to city and county to county.....
I am not sure where you are located but in my area the asphalt supplier also does large paving projects but they don't do residential work.... we get a lot of calls thru the year from referrals. I would suggest you call them and ask if they can refer you to a reputable contractor. If you plan to get bids, make sure all the contractors are bidding apples to apples and that the bids are turn key.....
 
#12 ·
Why do you say the driveway NEEDS pavement? Naturally a paved driveway is nice to have expecially considering that it is on a grade. Is there a problem with mud and erosion with the driveway? It may be advisable to address those issues with proper drainange of the driveway that is there. I tend to get potholes in my own gravel driveway but know that the problem can be addresssed with proper drainage when time allows.
 
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