Driveways built on a property not only offer a greater level of safety and security for the owner's vehicles, they can also significantly increase the curb appeal of the property. When people purchase a new property without a drive, planning and installing a new drive is often the first project to be undertaken by DIY-minded people.

It is important to understand that the finished quality and overall durability of the drive is largely dependent on a sound and solid base. In almost all cases this requires some kind of excavation. This article looks at some things that are involved when preparing for a new asphalt driveway, should you be thinking about installing one on your property.

Understand the Importance of Excavation

If you don't properly dig down and prepare the area for the drive, you will find that you have problems after just a year or two. Any material like concrete or brick left on the drive sit will ultimately cause issues such as cracks and splits, causing you to have to reapply a surface layer or in severe cases, dig up the drive for a second time so that you can do what you didn't do properly the first time. It is a waste of time and effort to not thoroughly prepare the ground for the asphalt.

Decide Which Tools You Need

The tools you need are dependent on the size of your drive as well as the material you are excavating. If you have to remove small amounts of concrete, a pneumatic drill is a must. For large areas of concrete, consider hiring a mini digger; some companies offer excellent hiring rates. If you are excavating earth and soil, consider reusing them in your garden or giving them away to a friend or neighbor to use in their garden.

You will find that the most demanding physical work is done when removing the material from the drive where you are excavating, instead of the actual digging. Have a helper help you move the chunks of concrete or buy a couple of extra wheel barrows and enlist family members to help if working with soil.

Pull Everything Together

It can be quite a complex job installing the driveway. You may have to hire a mixer or other tools, you may be hiring a drill or digger and you will also have to take care of the skip management if you are removing concrete. All these things have to be scheduled in together to allow you to work through the stages of the drive.

Once laid, the top layer of asphalt should be checked and re-levelled after about half a day and the formwork should be removed after a day or two. Forgetting to attend to one detail during the whole process can cause an inferior or delayed job to be done.

When planning for a driveway, get the job done first time by understanding what is involved from start to finish. For more tips or assistance, contact companies like Melbourne Asphalt Contractors.

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