Frequently Asked Questions

Asphalt driveways are made out of rocks, sand, and tar, so we will often see inconsistencies in the asphalt mix. This inconsistency is called segregation in the mix. This will lead to some areas of the new pavement to be coarse, while some areas appear smooth. While you may desire a perfectly consistent finish, it is nonetheless extremely durable, structurally fine, and most importantly – normal! Fresh asphalt is never perfectly smooth, and as long as the driveway has been appropriately compacted by a professional asphalt paving company, any areas of rough texture should not be a concern. At the end of the day, it is a driveway. Cars will park on it, it will sit outside in rain, excessive heat and storms, and it will see years of wear and tear. A new driveway is always a bit rougher, but as you drive on it, these areas of concerning texture will buff out, leaving you with a beautiful, durable, residential asphalt driveway.

As a general rule yes, however it depends on many factors. The smaller an asphalt job is and the more preparation it requires, the more costly it ends up over a square metre rate. If you are looking at a small driveway (under 120m2) that needs preparation as well as asphalt, then concrete and asphalt can be very similar in cost.

The simple answer is yes, however there are some downfalls of doing so which is why it is not recommended. The big issue with laying asphalt over concrete is that any cracking or movement in the concrete will reflect in the asphalt. Quite often concrete is laid over ground that may be unstable as minimal preparation is done to pour concrete driveways. This means movement and cracking can occur which will leave your asphalt in a poor state. Overall this may initally be a cheaper option and also looks great initially however the lifespan of your driveway is often decreased and it can end up looking very subpar which in turn is expensive in the long run.

Asphalt cannot be calculated with a square metre rate. The reason being is that every job is different and requires different amounts of preparation, leading to requiring different pieces of machinery as well as different thickness from 30mm-50mm. Finally, the location of the job also plays a big role in the cost. We quote each job based on your specific needs to ensure you get the best rate we can offer as well as making sure there are no surprise costs at the end. An estimate can be done over the phone if enough information is known or we can produce a quote through a site inspection and measure.

For all of your new driveway care and maintenance questions, please click the link below:  https://www.colossalalliesasphalt.com.au/how-to-maintain-and-repair-your-driveway-to-prevent-costly-damage/

Asphalt joins are a result of the paving process. Because asphalt needs to be laid in sections unlike pouring concrete, there are often joins depending on the shape and size of your asphalt job. These aren’t of a structural concern, however it’s good to be aware that joins may be needed in your job.

When new asphalt is rolled, it is very common to have dirty marks off the roller from construction show on the top layer of asphalt due to the sticky hot nature of asphalt.

An asphalt driveway can last anywhere from 15 to 30 years with proper maintenance.

Yes, an asphalt driveway is a good idea for a driveway as it provides excellent traction and lasts for many years when properly maintained.

The advantages of asphalt driveways include durability, affordability, low maintenance costs, skid resistance, being slip-resistant in wet conditions, its ability to withstand hot weather and its versatility in terms of design options.