Asphalt Driveway Replacement: 6 Signs It’s Time
This asphalt driveway was severely damaged by a rainstorm and needs to be replaced or repaired.
Asphalt driveways last a long time. Asphalt is durable and able to withstand the summer heat and heavy rains we experience here in the Southeast. It’s one of the best driveway paving materials here in the South Carolina.
With proper maintenance and care, you can extend the life of your asphalt driveway considerably.
But there comes a point where the asphalt is so old and damaged, that it can’t be repaired or resurfaced anymore. You just have to bite the bullet and replace it.
6 signs you need to replace your asphalt driveway
How can you tell that it’s time to replace your driveway? Here are a few telltale signs.
You have extremely severe cracking in large areas or everywhere.
There are major distortions in the asphalt due to tree roots, tire ruts, or water damage.
There are many significant potholes.
You notice serious asphalt “raveling” with pavement breaking up in large chunks.
The foundation layer under your asphalt is faulty or severely damaged.
The asphalt is just very old and beyond repair. Or repairs wouldn’t last long.
What does it mean to replace an asphalt driveway?
Driveway replacement involves removing the old asphalt surface layer and the underlying base layer to put down an entirely new subbase and topcoat.
A local asphalt driveway company can take a look at your asphalt and determine if it’s possible and cost-effective in your situation to seal, repair, resurface, or replace your asphalt driveway.
In the article below, we’ll examine how long asphalt driveways last, major asphalt problems you might see, and factors involved in asphalt driveway replacement costs.
Looking for asphalt driveway contractors near you in Columbia, SC?
Not sure whether you need to replace your asphalt driveway yet? No worries.
If you are in Lexington or Richland Counties in South Carolina, we’d be glad to take a look at your asphalt and help you determine the condition of your driveway. Then we can give you a FREE quote for the repair or replacement cost of your asphalt.
Call us at 803-521-4978 or email us at bootsonenterprises@gmail.com for a FREE estimate.
A gorgeous aerial view of downtown Columbia, South Carolina and the State House.
How long do asphalt driveways last in SC?
An asphalt driveway that is properly installed can easily last 15-20 years in South Carolina. Extreme weather conditions: intense UV rays, high/low temperatures, heavy rains, and ice can all impact the structural integrity of asphalt over the years. And, of course, if you have very heavy vehicles using your driveway a lot, that can cause more wear and tear.
It can be possible to extend the life of your driveway if you catch issues early on. But let’s look at how weather in South Carolina can affect your driveway.
How does heat affect asphalt driveways?
Unless you make sure to take care of maintenance, heat and cold can shorten the lifespan of asphalt.
Like almost all materials, asphalt expands a bit when it’s hot and contracts when it gets cold. When temperatures get high enough, like 90+ degrees Fahrenheit, asphalt can get soft, gooey, and sticky. Definitely not a good time to walk barefoot on your blacktop driveway.
When asphalt expands and contracts over and over again from temperature changes, this can create cracks — or even buckling — over time.
Another issue? Oxidation. UV rays from the sun can interact with asphalt in a chemical reaction that can weaken asphalt’s strength over time. This makes the asphalt more brittle and prone to cracking. You’ll notice the black color fades to a black-gray.
If you live in South Carolina where summers are very warm and sunny, it’s a good idea to keep tabs on your asphalt driveway’s condition. Staying on top of routine asphalt maintenance can put a stop to damage before it gets severe.
So when you see cracks, indentations, potholes, bumps, or fading, call your local asphalt driveway contractor. And if you know it’s been a few years since your asphalt was sealed, go ahead and schedule an appointment for a fresh coat of blacktop.
How does cold weather affect asphalt?
Thankfully, we don’t get as many freeze/thaw cycles as a lot of areas do up North. So we aren’t as impacted as some areas by harsh winter conditions. But in places where there are a lot of cold days below freezing, all that expanding and contracting can cause cracks to form in asphalt.
A few cracks here or there may seem like a minor issue. But they are signs that damage is happening to your asphalt, and eventually, that damage may extend to your subbase. So call an asphalt contractor near you early on when you notice any kind of damage. You’ll be glad you did.
Alligator cracking on asphalt pavement is a sign that it’s time to call a reputable asphalt company near you.
What types of asphalt damage do driveways have?
Asphalt driveways can become damaged over time due to temperature changes, UV light, rain, and ice. But what kinds of problems should you be on the lookout for with an asphalt surface?
Asphalt cracks
You may assume that all cracks are the same in an asphalt driveway. But there are actually several types of cracks and they reveal different types of problems a driveway may be experiencing.
Some of the most common types of asphalt cracks include:
Alligator cracking/fatigue cracking
Fatique cracking or alligator cracking in asphalt involves a lot of small cracks that interconnect and almost look like really dry skin or like a dry lake bed. (See the picture above.) It’s common to see this on roadways in South Carolina and it may indicate a weakened base layer under the asphalt. Sometimes, it happens when asphalt isn’t thick enough or the load has been too heavy.
Block cracking
Block cracks are large cracks that have a rectangular shape and are usually a foot or more wide. It can be caused by temperature variations over time.
Longitudinal cracking
Longitudinal cracks in asphalt are long cracks that run parallel to the length of the driveway or road. They are not related to heavy loads but can be caused by a number of structural quality issues or weather-related deterioration.
Transverse cracking
A transverse crack runs from side to side on a driveway or road perpendicular to the length of the pavement. This is often caused by temperature changes over time or issues from reflection cracking.
Asphalt distortions
Distortions in asphalt don’t necessarily involve cracking. They are misshapen areas where the smooth flat surface you started out with begins to ripple, fold, or have indentations. It often means there are issues in the base layer under your asphalt pavement.
Here are a few of the most common distortions.
Depressions
Asphalt depressions are low areas that look like bowls that sink down into the asphalt surface. They tend to fill with water. Sometimes this happens if the lower layer under the pavement fails.
Rutting
Rutting in asphalt can become a serious problem. It almost looks like you can see where vehicles tires travel and that trail is indented into the pavement like big grooves. You see it the most on asphalt where large trucks come through and the pavement wasn’t built to withstand that kind of pressure.
Shoving
Asphalt shoving or wash boarding looks like ripples in the pavement. You can often see this at intersections where a lot of heavy trucks stop then turn left.
Other common types of asphalt damage
There are a lot of ways asphalt can become marred and less-than-perfect in appearance. Here are a few more examples of ways asphalt can disintegrate over time.
Potholes
We are all familiar with potholes on roads in South Carolina, unfortunately. They can get pretty deep if they aren’t repaired quickly and correctly. Generally, an asphalt patch can be a good solution for a small number of potholes. But if they are everywhere, resurfacing or replacement may be the best option.
Raveling
Asphalt raveling is a slow deterioration of pavement surface material over time. The asphalt material breaks up from the top layer first and becomes thinner and more eroded. If you can imagine a very old asphalt road that hasn’t been maintained in years, you are probably picturing raveling.
While a small area of raveling could be repaired with a patch, removal and replacement will generally be required if a large area is damaged.
Boots On Enterprises installing an asphalt driveway in South Carolina.
Factors involved in asphalt driveway cost
How much does asphalt replacement cost?
Paving a driveway generally costs a few thousand dollars or more. Asphalt paving costs are affected by several factors. It can be helpful to consider these ahead of time before you ask an asphalt contractor for a quote.
Amount of prep work required
The cost of driveway asphalt paving is also impacted by the amount of work a driveway contractor needs to do before paving.
Grading, breaking up an old driveway and hauling the debris away, taking out trees or boulders, etc…are all going to increase the cost of paving your driveway.
Ease of access
Hills and curves will add to the cost of an asphalt driveway. So can your location. A driveway that needs to be paved on a steep mountain far away from an asphalt company is going to have more costs involved than a flat driveway in a contractor’s usual service area.
Region in America
How much to asphalt a driveway also depends on the area where you live in the country. Pricing depends on local fuel costs as well as the cost of living in the area.
For example, if you live on the West Coast where wages and gas prices are much higher overall, you may pay more than someone who lives in the Southeast.
Size of the driveway
Of course the length and width of the area you want to be paved impact the cost of paving a driveway. The more asphalt you need, the more the job will cost. So a longer driveway costs more than a shorter one. And a wider driveway costs more than a narrower one.
Another issue in paving an asphalt driveway is the thickness of the asphalt. If you want your driveway to handle extra heavy vehicles, you may decide to go with thicker asphalt and that would impact your price.
When you contact a driveway contractor near you, they’ll likely give you a quote for asphalt by the cubic yard or by the ton. When it comes to buying asphalt, the quantity definitely matters.
Upgrade options/decorative paving
It probably goes without saying, but if you want special decorative upgrades, that will also increase the cost of your asphalt driveway. What kinds of upgrades might you want to get? Turns out, you can get pretty creative with asphalt.
Curbing/Edging
If you want the edges of your driveway to last a long time, you may want to line the sides of your asphalt with concrete curbing for a professional, polished look. If you want something a bit more special, consider natural stone pavers or concrete blocks.
Don’t forget to do some beautiful landscaping along each side of your driveway for a huge wow factor.
Painting/colored asphalt
Asphalt can also be painted. We’ve all seen painted parking lines or traffic markings on asphalt. But you can also have asphalt painted with decorative designs or colors to make a unique product that will get a lot of attention.
Stamped asphalt
Asphalt can also be stamped (also called imprinted asphalt technology) to look like brick, stone, or other designs. Stamped asphalt never has weeds growing between the “bricks” and is extremely durable. The stamping can even be applied to older asphalt surfaces. Generally, people also want the asphalt to be painted or colored to look like brick, stone, etc…to match the stamped pattern.
Additional work
While you are having your driveway replaced, it’s a great time to add some other upgrades to your property.
Driveway drain/yard drainage system
Driveway gate
Driveway lights
Fencing
Landscaping
Tree/shrub trimming
A Boots On Enterprises asphalt driveway near a lake after completion.
Looking for driveway contractors near you in the Columbia, SC area?
If you are wondering how much it is to repave a driveway in the Columbia area, we can help!
At Boots On Enterprises, we are happy to give you a FREE estimate on your asphalt driveway project so you have all the information you need to make the best decision.
Call us at 803-521-4978 or email us at bootsonenterprises@gmail.com.
Want to see some pictures of our work? Check out our gallery here.
Whether you need driveway repair, patching, or replacement, we can handle all your asphalt and concrete paving needs. We also invite you to take a look at our other services like landscaping, tree services, and fencing in case you’d like to do several projects at once to make your property more beautiful and functional for years to come.
With property improvements like paving and landscaping, not only do you get to enjoy the benefits, but you can increase your property value. It’s an investment that you’ll never regret.
