How to place asphalt

by TM Maria Be a king in your own kingdom

A road or access paved with asphalt can last around 40 years, since the asphalt is durable, resistant and low maintenance. Paving with asphalt is not difficult, but laying the asphalt properly requires heavy machinery, which most homeowners do not own. Therefore, you may not be able to place the asphalt on your own. However, understanding how the process is done will allow you to make sure the contractor does his job correctly. Read the steps that follow in this article as an installation guide.

Find a contractor

It is important that you feel comfortable with the person you hire. Ask your friends and family if they can recommend you to someone, since what you are looking for is a contractor who does his job well and has the best equipment and machinery. Also, you should talk with potential contractors before hiring them. In addition, you should read and study the contract to confirm that everything you require to be done is specified in the document. Here you can get the expert contractor from asphalt company Stamford CT.

Remove the current surface of the road to be paved

It is likely that they have to break the existing concrete and remove the pieces or pick up the loose gravel.

Flatten the access slope

· To achieve adequate drainage and prevent access from sinking or collapsing, the surface should be flattened. In this way, the water drains to the sides or to the bottom.

· Place a hose on the top of the road and let the water flow to determine where the water drains.

· Build mounds and fill the lower areas to get the proper slope. An optimum slope is 0.6 by 30 cm (1/4 inch per foot).

It covers the base floor with crushed stone (gravel)

· The type of crushed stone used is crucial to obtain adequate drainage. The stone should be thick and pointed (with teeth or spikes).

· If the underlying soil has a clay base, you will have to place a layer of crushed stone 20 cm (8 inches).

· If the underlying soil is sandy, you will have to place a crushed stone layer of 10 cm (4 inches).

Fill the subsoil with crushed stone

Let this base settle for about 1 week

For reasons of time, many contractors will skip this step. The benefit of letting the base settle is to obtain a stronger and more seated base naturally.

Choose the thickness and size of the asphalt layer

The size of the aggregate usually determines the ranges of the asphalt pavement, ranging from 1.3 to 2 cm (1/2 to ¾ of an inch).

In general, smaller aggregates are used for residential accesses, since it gives a more regular appearance. However, if the aggregate is larger, the pavement will be more resistant. The proper thickness of the asphalt layer is 5 to 7,7 cm (2 to 3 inches).

Compact the asphalt with a heavy roller compactor

Take care of the edges of the access

The asphalt must have a 45 ° slope at the edge.