PLEASE BE CAREFUL!!! Due to the inherently soft nature and slow curing time of asphalt, it is necessary to be very careful with your new pavement. The most common problems are tire marks made from stationary turning in hot or sunny weather and driving over the edges. Please try to be moving when turning, or the top surface of asphalt will be easily torn or scarred! Also, please be careful with any pointed objects such as jack/kick stands, ladders, lawn furniture, etc. Please do not drive over the edges, as this will weaken and crumble them; and backfill the edges with gravel/lawn right up to the edge level. Asphalt takes approximately 2 years to begin to cure, although you can drive on it about 2-4 days or so after it's been paved. As your pavement ages, it will become harder and will provide many years of durable service.

Dear Customer,
Congratulations on your new asphalt driveway/commerical paving! We are pleased that you have chosen us as your paving contractor and confident that this “care page” will answer all of your questions for a longer lasting driveway.

Please Keep Off...
Since the liquid asphalt in blacktop needs time to harden and cure, usually 12-24 months, if not longer, your driveway will remain soft and pliable until then. You may walk on your new driveway immediately, but keep automobile traffic off it for at least 3 full days and longer in hotter, more humid temperatures. Even after the blacktop has cured, do not expect it to be as hard as concrete.

Watering Your Driveway...
Your new blacktop will soften & harden as temperatures rise & fall. Watering down your driveway with a hose on hot days will cool and temporarily harden the blacktop. This is helpful but not mandatory. If soap suds should appear, do not be alarmed. This is a reaction between the diesel fuel found in blacktop and a high chlorine content found in some city water. Although every effort is made to avoid puddles in your driveway, some small ones are inevitable depending on the natural slope and drainage of your ground.

Do’s & Do Not’s...
• Blacktop is scarred by automobiles starting out too fast, pulling in too quickly and just plain driving too fast.
• During the first 12-24 months while your driveway is curing, do not park in the same spot every time.
• Do not turn your steering wheel back and forth when your car is not moving.
• Do not use jack stands or car ramps unless a piece of plywood is placed under them to help distribute the weight.
• Do not let oil trucks, concrete trucks and any other heavy trucks on your driveway. Excessive weight from large, heavy vehicles can depress your new blacktop. When storing campers for long periods of time, place a piece of plywood under the tongue jack and also under the tires.

Bicycle Kickstands, Etc...
Bicycle kickstands, motorcycle kickstands and lawn chairs exert weight on concentrated areas and will create holes and depressions in your new driveway.

The Edges...
The edges are the weakest part of your driveway due to the lack of side support. Avoid driving on the edges since they will crack and crumble in time. We suggest building up the sides of your driveway with topsoil. This will support the edges and enhance the appearance after grass is grown.

The Makeup of Blacktop...
Your driveway may look smoother in some areas than in others because of the makeup of blacktop. Blacktop has various sizes of stone and liquid asphalt, and other ingredients which cause a varied texture of the surface. Also, blacktop areas that have been raked and spread with hand tools may appear different in texture from those spread by machine.

Avoiding Spills & Leaks...
Avoid gasoline, oil, anti-freeze, power steering and transmission fluid spills and leaks. These will dilute the liquid asphalt in your blacktop. Any hairline cracks that may have developed over the winter due to the contraction and expansion of the ground should be filled with crack filler. These products can be purchased from your local building supply store.

Sealcoating...
To preserve your new driveway, it is advisable to sealcoat it after it has been paved. Sealing too soon however, may cause damage to your new drive. The best time to seal is 3-12 months after it has been paved, and every 3-4 years thereafter. Because blacktop is naturally porous, water can seep into and through paving. This not only causes deterioration, but results in ridges and upheaval due to frost and freezing. Blacktop is also softened and broken up by gasoline, lube oil, grease, road salts and anti-freeze which drips from cars. Sealer protects blacktop with a coating that is impervious to these harmful elements.

Please Remember...
In a recession many companies will do whatever it takes to get your business, which means skimping on materials and craftsmanship. Since 1952, through three generations, thousands of local home owners have relied on us to produce the very finest pavement, at the lowest possible price.