Before you schedule a driveway replacement, it is important to know how long it will take. By understanding how long it takes to replace a driveway (as well as possible delays), you can better prepare for staying off of it.
The Driveway Replacement Process
Process details vary depending on the contractor. However, replacing an asphalt driveway generally occurs in the following steps.
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Consultation
Before any demolition can take place, you must receive a consultation and estimate of your driveway’s replacement cost. At Walt’s Paving, we strive to meet your needs quickly and efficiently at an affordable price, so our consultations focus on your satisfaction.
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Demolition
Next, it’s time to rip up the old driveway. Depending on your driveway’s thickness/material, this takes about a day. It’s also noisy work, so you might want to warn your neighbors. We use high-power equipment to break up the old concrete or asphalt and then cart it away.
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Grading and Sloping
Grading and sloping your driveway is an extremely important step in the paving process. Without proper sloping, your driveway will not efficiently drain excess water. Over time, standing water breaks down asphalt, resulting in dips, potholes, and cracks. We make sure to angle the driveway properly as part of its foundational work.
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Sub-Base
After we finish grading, it is time to lay the sub-base. Your driveway’s sub-base is an extra layer of aggregate, which helps support the weight of your vehicles. Again, the sub-base plays an important role in the forming of your driveway’s foundation. This step only takes a few hours, but it is vital. Without this step, you would have to replace a driveway much more frequently.
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Paving
Finally comes the actual paving of the asphalt. By this time, we have probably been working on your driveway for a day or two. We use high-quality equipment to mix, pour, and level the asphalt over the foundation.
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Curing
After paving the asphalt, you should avoid walking or parking on the driveway for 5-7 days, until it is mostly firm. The driveway will fully cure under the sun in a couple of weeks.
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Sealcoating
As a final step, a fully-cured driveway benefits from sealcoating. This step is usually separate from the main paving process and does not have to be done immediately upon installation.
How Long Does the Replacement Process Take?
It is important to remember that there is no “one size fits all” timeframe to replace a driveway. At Walt’s Paving, we promise to stick as tightly to the schedule as possible. However, depending on the size and complexity of the project, delays are possible. Weather, in particular, possesses the power to slow down driveway replacements. If the sun shines especially bright or hot after the replacement, curing might take a little longer since heat softens the asphalt.
Generally speaking, it takes anywhere from 3-7 days to fully demolish an old driveway and pave a new one. After new asphalt has been paved, you can expect about 5 days of initial curing before you can park your vehicle on the driveway again. It takes about 2 weeks to fully cure. Then, the asphalt may be sealcoated for extra protection and a longer lifespan.
Call Walt’s Paving Today!
You can count on Walt’s Paving to complete your residential or commercial paving project in an efficient and timely manner. We have over 40 years of experience paving asphalt driveways, making asphalt repairs, and sealcoating asphalt. We are located in Osceola IN and service homeowners and businesses within 50 miles of Elkhart IN. Call us today.
