Running a local contracting business means Western Paving talks to property owners every single day who just want straight answers. Property owners do not want sales pitches or confusing technical jargon. Property owners want to know what is going on beneath their tires, how long the Asphalt Paving will last, and what the Asphalt Installation is going to cost them. Western Paving gets asked a lot of the same questions about Asphalt projects around Westminster, so we decided to lay out the most common ones right here.
How long should a new asphalt driveway actually last in Westminster?
If Asphalt Paving is installed right and you take care of the Asphalt Driveway, you can easily get 15 to 20 years or more out of a new asphalt surface. But local conditions matter for Asphalt in Westminster. Down here in Westminster, we deal with intense UV exposure from the Southern California sun and occasional heavy downpours that test your drainage. If the base is not compacted properly or water is allowed to pool against your foundation, that lifespan drops fast. Maintenance is what keeps your Asphalt Paving alive, too. Sealcoating every few years blocks out the sun and moisture, doubling your investment for homes in Westminster.
Why is my asphalt getting soft or rutting during hot summer afternoons?
Asphalt is petroleum-based, meaning asphalt reacts to extreme heat. During scorching Westminster summer weeks, the surface temperature of a dark Asphalt Driveway can get much hotter than the actual air. If your asphalt mix is not designed with the right polymer-modified binders for our climate, or if heavy trucks sit parked in the exact same spot every day, the Asphalt Paving will start to groove or soften. Letting vehicles turn their wheels sharply while standing still will chew up hot asphalt in no time. Give the new Asphalt mix time to cure fully and try to avoid sharp stationary turns on the hottest days in Westminster.
Can you just pave right over my old, cracked driveway?
Sometimes yes, but often no. Property owners love asking this because an asphalt overlay is cheaper and faster than tearing out the old Asphalt Paving. If your sub-base is still solid and the cracks are mostly surface-level, an asphalt overlay works great for an Asphalt Driveway in Westminster. But if you have alligator cracking—where the asphalt looks like a spiderweb or a puzzle piece—that means the sub-base underneath has failed. Laying fresh hot mix over a ruined foundation is just throwing money away. The cracks will mirror right back through the new Asphalt surface within months.
How long do I have to keep cars off a fresh patch or driveway?
As a rule of thumb, stay off your new Asphalt Paving with vehicles for at least 48 to 72 hours. People see the dark color and think the Asphalt Driveway is ready to handle heavy weight immediately. Even after the asphalt is rolled flat and looks finished, Asphalt takes weeks to fully cure and harden all the way through. Walking on the Asphalt Paving is fine after a few hours, but parking a heavy SUV on it too early will leave permanent depressions. Western Paving always tells property owners to be extra careful during the first week.
What causes those annoying potholes to form in our local neighborhoods?
Potholes start with water. Even though we do not get freezing winter ice like they do up north, rain finds its way into tiny hairline cracks in your Asphalt Paving. Once moisture gets trapped beneath the surface and traffic rolls over the Asphalt Driveway day after day, the sub-base erodes. The asphalt loses its support from below, collapses under weight, and creates a major hole. Filling asphalt cracks with rubberized sealant before the rainy season hits is the only way to stop this cycle in Westminster.