Install Asphalt Paving – FAQs

Learn a few basics about residential asphalt paving:

Q:  Can I use a driveway sealer like MasterSeal instead of the more expensive option of an entire new hot-mix asphalt driveway?

Yes, you certainly can–if your driveway is in good enough shape. Driveway sealers are only a surface treatment, though–a way to extend the life of your driveway. It’s the driveway equivalent of painting your house.

Q: What about crack sealing instead of using driveway sealer?

Crack sealing is a more effective type of patch than driveway sealing alone. You’ve seen this before on roadways: this thick, caulk-like substance injected in cracks. Crack sealing can definitely extend the life of your driveway more than driveway sealant, but not as well as an entirely new hot-mix asphalt paved driveway.

Q: I’ve decided that my asphalt driveway is in such bad shape that I can’t use driveway sealer. What’s the cheapest way to install real hot-mix asphalt?

Yes, you don’t need to rip out your existing driveway. If your existing driveway is in decent enough condition to provide a solid base, you can use the overlay asphalt installation method.

Q: Does weather affect when I can install asphalt paving?

Yes. Warmer temperatures give the contractor more time to work with the asphalt before it hardens. For 1 1/2″ of asphalt paving, temperatures should be at least 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Two inches of asphalt paving give you a wider range of temperatures to work with–40 degrees is the minimum. Wind conditions will decrease the amount of time the contractor has to work with the asphalt. If there is too much moisture, paving may be delayed until conditions are dry.