Asphalt Driveway

We decided to have our asphalt driveway replaced.

It was a spur-of-the moment decision when the paving company who was doing our neighbor's knocked on our door and asked if we were interested in having ours redone.

Our old driveway was old and cracked and we got what we thought was an okay deal so we went ahead and had it done.

For comparison, here's a before shot. I forgot to take a picture before the guys came and broke up our driveway but this one still shows the old asphalt in the ramp that goes from the sidewalk to the street. Our driveway had cracks that were bigger than that and had weeds growing out of the cracks too.

It took the contractors 3 days to get everything done.

On day 1, they came and dug out and carted away the old asphalt.

On day 2, we came home to a mini-road roller parked in our driveway, it was used to compact the gravel base.

They laid the asphalt on day 3.

While all this was happening, I was doing my own research on how to take care of a new asphalt driveway and I learned quite a few things:
- you can walk on asphalt 24 hours after it gets laid
- you can park on it after 3-5 days (we waited 5 whole days to be sure)
- It takes 6-10 months to completely cure so during this time, we'd have to avoid parking in the same spot all the time and also avoid turning the wheels while the vehicle isn't moving.

We may also have to get it sealed after it cures and then every 2-3 years after that.