New Asphalt Driveway - How Soon to Drive Tractor over it?

[dodge man]

Before I retired I worked for a civil engineering firm and we put traffic on fresh asphalt within a day and sometimes hours later. All I can say is 9 days is pretty conservative. Great looking job by the way.

 

[HKUSPnut]

Before I retired I worked for a civil engineering firm and we put traffic on fresh asphalt within a day and sometimes hours later. All I can say is 9 days is pretty conservative. Great looking job by the way.

Thanks Dave. Not that I would know the difference, but it seemed like they spent a lot of time with the vibratory roller compacting the surface. They used a hand compactor on the edges and up against the garage where they couldn't access with the big roller.

I have seen roads done where cars can use almost immediately. I wonder if this has something to due with the difference in mixes where a road asphalt is more durable than a driveway mix? Does a road mix have additives to help cure faster than a driveway mix?

 

[Egon]

Because the mix may not be the standard highway mix I’d have a tendency to wait for a few days. Highways will usually have a better prepared base than private driveways.

Also note that asphalts come with different temperature ratings that will adjust to the local climate.

Your job looks very nice. In about a years time consider having it sprayed with a tack coat and then cover with coarse sand or fine chipped aggregate.

 

[EddieWalker]

Thanks for the pictures, it looks beautiful. Funny how I never thought that about asphalt when I was younger, and living in cities!!!

Why didn't you remove that tree?

 

[Diggin It]

Pictures weren't there earlier, but yeah, that tree would've been chips.

 

[Richard]

Why didn't you remove that tree?

Glad you mentioned that.....I was scratching my head.

What happens "X" years down the road if/when that tree dies and has to come down....you have a hole there that needs to be addressed. You can't dig the rootball out now (at least easily)

The driveway is beautiful!!! Wife & I (more her than me) are tinkering with laying a concrete drive here. I fear I'd break it up with the tractor or backhoe on it....

None the less.....if I were doing that here, I would have taken the tree out. I view it as too many (potential) issues in the future.

 

[HKUSPnut]

Thanks for the pictures, it looks beautiful. Funny how I never thought that about asphalt when I was younger, and living in cities!!!

Why didn't you remove that tree?

It's funny you say that about the asphalt. You know you're getting old when an asphalt driveway is the most exciting thing you can remember in a while

I debated hard on that tree, but we don't have a lot of nice straight oak trees like that around the house and it provides some nice afternoon shade for cars parked in the driveway. I had the contractor pave a nice spot on the side of the garage to park my camper. That tree is going to make it a tricky maneuver......

 

[mred2]

I love my oak trees around my house. I have some really big ones and I have to just go around them. But I don't have asphalt. It does look good.

 

[Diggin It]

Glad you mentioned that.....I was scratching my head.

What happens "X" years down the road if/when that tree dies and has to come down....you have a hole there that needs to be addressed. You can't dig the rootball out now (at least easily)

I cut them off level about 2-3' above ground and use the stumps for bases for planters. I turned one into a yard light post.

 

[Avenger]

As many have mentioned, asphalt does not cure like concrete. Its set pretty much when it cools. But caution is the name of the game here. I like the plywood idea for crossing it.