If you haven't been happy with your old concrete driveway, you may want to switch to asphalt when it's time to put in a new driveway. Asphalt is dark, so it doesn't show dirt and stains like concrete does. Plus, if you keep up with sealcoating, you won't have to worry about the asphalt fading. Here's what you need to know about switching from concrete to asphalt.

Asphalt Is Sometimes Put Over Concrete

You may have heard you can pour asphalt over concrete. However, this is something you should discuss with your residential asphalt contractor. Doing so will save money and disruption since the old concrete doesn't have to be dug out, but your new asphalt driveway may not last as long. Your contractor can assess the condition of the concrete and let you know if putting asphalt on top of it is a good idea and a good way to spend your money.

Your New Asphalt Driveway May Need A New Base

If you choose to have the old concrete torn out and hauled away, the contractor has to rebuild the soil base since the soil under asphalt is prepared differently than soil under concrete. It's especially important to repair the base if it has any damage or drainage problems. A base for a concrete driveway isn't always as compacted since concrete itself is compact and strong.

The residential asphalt contractor may need to dig up the soil and add gravel or recycled concrete and compact it into a solid base. This is done taking slope into account so your new driveway will drain properly.

An Asphalt Driveway Requires A Binder

After the base for the driveway is finished, it's time to start working on the asphalt. The first thing to go down is a binder layer that consists of oil and aggregate. Next, hot asphalt is spread over the binder and then compacted so it forms a solid and strong driving surface.

The last thing you'll need to do is have a sealcoat applied that protects the new asphalt from sun and rain damage. Your contractor will let you know when you can have that done because it often depends on the outdoor temperature conditions.

Installing a new asphalt driveway may sound complicated, but it goes fast since a residential asphalt contractor has heavy machinery to do all of the work. Still, you won't be able to use your driveway for a few days. Your contractor lets you know when it's safe to walk on the asphalt, drive on it, and park heavy vehicles on the asphalt without causing damage. 

For more information about residential asphalt, contact a local company.