If you’re a homeowner thinking about getting a new asphalt driveway, one of the first things you’ll want to know is how long it will take until you can start using it. It may be a nuisance not to be able to drive and park in the driveway, but abstaining from doing so for the required period will guarantee that there will be no harm to the new asphalt.
Care and maintenance for asphalt should start as soon as it is installed. Taking care of it starts with knowing the correct answer to the question, “How long before I park on the new asphalt driveway?”
How Long Before Parking on New Asphalt Driveway
A new asphalt driveway requires time to cure. Climate is the primary cause of it drying faster or slower. For best results, let the seal coat at least 72 hours to dry in particularly hot areas before driving or parking on it.
However, asphalt takes six to twelve months to cure properly and is more vulnerable to harm during that period. Drying out to the point that foot and vehicle traffic is safe takes between 48 and 72 hours. If you can help it, try to avoid driving on it for at least 14 days. New asphalt needs this. Newly resurfaced asphalt may be dry to the touch in a few hours.
Asphalt takes six months to a year to properly cure and harden after being laid. Scarring, subsurface damage, and depressions are particularly easy to cause on freshly laid asphalt. When exposed to high temperatures, fresh asphalt may become very hot and show scuff marks. Scuff marks on new asphalt will disappear after it cures or the weather cools down.
Even if your parking lot doesn’t have designated spaces, this might be an issue with driveways. Dents may form where the wheels touch the tarmac if you frequently park while it is still wet. Make it known that individuals may help prevent this by not parking in the same spot every day. If you want your new driveway to look its best, you should wait at least two weeks before using it.
How Long Before Walking on a New Asphalt Driveway?
While cooling, it’s preferable if nothing is done with it for at least three days (72 hours). However, if you find yourself in an unavoidable situation, you may safely walk on compacted asphalt after 24 hours have passed.
After 24 hours, the asphalt is ready for pedestrian traffic, but only if you avoid wearing shoes with sharp edges. Heels have the potential to damage freshly paved roads by creating ruts and holes. Heels and cleats of any kind should be kept off the concrete until it has completely hardened. A newly paved asphalt driveway should last as long as possible without cracking or settling. Impatience on the homeowner’s part might lead to early damage to the freshly paved driveway.
How Long Does It Take for Asphalt to Cure?
The curing time for fresh asphalt is dependent on the asphalt mix design, the oil content, the temperature of the mix, the thickness of the laid asphalt layers after compaction, and the temperature and weather conditions when the mixture was put together.
New asphalt needs at least 48 hours to harden before it can safely support pedestrian and vehicle traffic. However, in hotter climates, you may need to wait longer. Asphalt takes 6–12 months to cure, so monitoring it closely during that period is especially vital since it’s more vulnerable to harm.
Asphalt is meant to be flexible, which is why we insist on the distinction between “curing time” and ” drying time,” terms that are sometimes used interchangeably. Staying pliable requires a certain degree of fluid retention. The major cause of blacktop drying is water infiltration, which occurs in paved asphalt driveways, parking lots, highways, speed bumps, and other asphalt surfaces.
The water washed away the oil used to maintain the asphalt overlay’s flexibility and resilience. As asphalt dries, cracks, warping, raveling, and loose aggregate form on the surface of the matrix, notably sand and other fine aggregates. Thankfully, other than cracking, it takes months to years for asphalt to show dryness.
What Are Some Tips To Keep Your Asphalt Safe?
Following these tips will ensure the safety of your asphalt driveway as you wait for it to dry and cure.
- There will be a three-day ban on driving on the asphalt, and maybe longer if the weather stays warm.
- Don’t go too close to the curbs or other hazards on the road.
- Avoid parking motorcycles or bicycles on the asphalt until it has fully hardened, and keep large vehicles off of it until then.
- Don’t put petrol or oil on the road.
These guidelines are an extra layer of protection for making brand-new asphalt as secure as possible. New asphalt may typically be driven on after three days. However, this time frame might vary depending on weather conditions.
Contact A-Rock Services for you to be guided when you can drive or park on the new asphalt. We are paving experts who are skilled and knowledgeable about asphalt care and maintenance.