A paved driveway makes your home look crisp, clean, and gives an overall neater appearance. Paving your driveway also adds to curb appeal and the overall value of your home. There are several benefits to having a paved drive, so it is easy to understand why they are desired. Nevertheless, in an effort to save money, many homeowners ask themselves, “Can you asphalt your own driveway?”
Should I Hire a Paving Contractor or Go DIY?
The first question you need to ask yourself as a homeowner is, can you handle the necessary equipment required to complete the job?
Paving with asphalt requires heavy equipment such as rollers, saws, blades, rakes, dump trucks, and a machine to premix the asphalt to the correct temperature. If you are not familiar with equipment such as what was listed, we suggest that you do not attempt to pave yourself but hire a reputable contractor to complete the job for you.
Here at Prime Paving & Sealcoating, we understand that local big-box stores offer solutions for homeowners, but they are not the same as the materials that we use to pave with asphalt. Not forgetting to mention the expertise that is needed to operate large equipment to ensure the asphalt mixture is compacted correctly. Asphalt that can be purchased at a local store may be suitable for a temporary repair, but it is not intended to pave an entire driveway.
That is why we recommend that you hire a professional paving contractor to complete your project.
What is Involved With Paving a Driveway?
Paving with asphalt is more complex than it appears to be. To begin with, before any mixture can be poured, regardless of asphalt or concrete, a roadbed needs to be prepared.
Preparing a roadbed consists of grading, and possibly excavating, an area if needed to be level and smooth. Then a sub-grade surface with gravel and sand will be applied and compacted. Compacting the sub-grade level reduces any water content and keeps the soil from settling. If this foundation is not firmly set in place, then your driveway will end up a mess and deteriorate quickly. A professionally installed driveway can last upwards of 25-30 years with proper maintenance. However, if the sub-grade level is not prepared with planning and care, your investment will not last long.
Following the steps above, a prepared asphalt mixture will then be poured and compacted to create a smooth driving surface. However, it takes an experienced contractor and heavy equipment to heat the various asphalt mixtures to the proper temperature before being poured.
Paving a Driveway Requires a Team Effort
Paving may seem like it is a simple solution, but as you can see from our discussion, it is not something that can be completed on your own. To ensure quality, paving a driveway requires a skilled team.
Operating heavy equipment requires someone to be skilled to ensure the safety of those around them and for the protection of your property. Furthermore, renting the equipment necessary can prove to be a daunting task in and of itself.
With a trained team of paving experts, you can rest easy and know that your driveway will be professionally installed quickly and efficiently. With the proper equipment and staff, a paving contractor can finish your paving project in a fraction of the time it would take the average layperson.
In addition to completing projects faster than you can a professional paving contractor can also advise you on how to properly maintain your driveway so that you get the best return on your investment.
If you are looking for a paving contractor in the following counties, contact Prime Paving & Sealcoating for a free estimate! We serve the Triad, Foothills, and Charlotte Metro areas along with Caldwell, Cabarrus, Catawba, Cleveland, Davie, Forsyth, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, Mecklenburgh, and Rowan counties.
