Question on New Asphalt Driveway - water droplets everywhere

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Nov 11th, 2012 4:25 pm

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Nov 11th, 2012 7:46 am

alanbrenton [OP]: Deal Expert; Apr 21, 2004; 60782 posts; 26613 upvotes

Nov 11th, 2012 7:46 am

Question on New Asphalt Driveway - water droplets everywhere

For some reason, our builder contacted us a few weeks ago to let us know they will be repairing the driveway. We never raised any issues with it but maybe the neighbor adjacent to us did.

So the old asphalt driveway was torn and replaced with a new one, this time looking much darker than it was previously (it used to be the same grayish color the section passed the walkway was).

We were told not to drive along the driveway so we parked our car on the street for four days. My wife thought the installer was kidding when he said not to drive on it for the next four days but today I noticed it wasn't necessarily a joke:
http://www.ehow.com/how_4853726_care-ne ... veway.html

I noticed that our driveway, including our neighbor's, seem to be a lot more repellant now with morning due or rain not evaporating or getting absorbed. I look at other driveways in the area and I don't see the same water puddles on them.

Is this normal for newly asphalted driveways? Is this because of a sealant? Seems that from my readings on RFD, sealants don't have to be used for the next while.

Thank you.

10 replies

Nov 11th, 2012 8:28 am

Pete_Coach: Deal Expert; May 10, 2005; 37413 posts; 11929 upvotes; Ottawa

Nov 11th, 2012 8:28 am

Asphalt is basically oil and gravel (well, a bit more than that but basically that is it). Oil will repel water and make it bead up. When asphalt "cures" it will loose through evaporation and wear some of the top layer of oils and hence will "grey" and become more absorbent. That is why they say to seal the asphalt every year, to replace that top layer of material. It is normal for you to wait 1 year before applying your fort coat of sealant.
As for not driving on it for a few days (I was told not to drive on it fir a week), it makes sense. Especially if they disturbed the sub soil. It needs time to cure and harden before it is hard enough to withstand a 4000+ pound vehicles weight on very small contact patches. You don't build a house on the foundation you poured yesterday (well, you could but it takes time to cure properly).

“Those people who think they know everything are a great annoyance to those of us who do.”

+1

Nov 11th, 2012 8:41 am

alanbrenton [OP]: Deal Expert; Apr 21, 2004; 60782 posts; 26613 upvotes

Nov 11th, 2012 8:41 am

Thank you Pete.

I guess I'll have make sure these beads are wiped off before I do my seasonal tire changes since the coefficient of friction is much reduced on wet surfaces.

Nov 11th, 2012 8:50 am

mepooooo: Newbie; Oct 29, 2012; 20 posts; 2 upvotes; ARICHAT

Nov 11th, 2012 8:50 am

The asphalt need 4-7 days to get hard enough because it needs time to set without any weight on it. If the weather is hot it takes longer. Thats why in the summer
trucks are not allowed to travel in the hot hours. The new asphalt can't absorb water so that is not problem. Don't worry.

+1

Nov 11th, 2012 9:04 am

GapBoyPCS: Sr. Member; Jan 11, 2008; 653 posts; 98 upvotes; Toronto

Nov 11th, 2012 9:04 am

alanbrenton wrote: ↑Thank you Pete.

I guess I'll have make sure these beads are wiped off before I do my seasonal tire changes since the coefficient of friction is much reduced on wet surfaces.

I'm not sure why you want to wipe the beads off. If I read Pete_Coach's post correctly, the beads are actually water being repelled from the asphalt surface - not oil. The surface may be a bit slippery (just like any wet surface), but it shouldn't be something like a sheet of ice. A few of the houses around me got their driveways done and none of them are sliding around (unfortunately, some are parking on theirs already *doh*).

Also, if you're planning to do the tire changes yourself on the new driveway, I'd hold off or find a better location or surface. Right now, even with a few days of curing, there is a chance that the car jack (with the car's weight on it) sitting on the asphalt can damage the driveway.

Nov 11th, 2012 9:26 am

alanbrenton [OP]: Deal Expert; Apr 21, 2004; 60782 posts; 26613 upvotes

Nov 11th, 2012 9:26 am

GapBoyPCS wrote: ↑I'm not sure why you want to wipe the beads off. If I read Pete_Coach's post correctly, the beads are actually water being repelled from the asphalt surface - not oil. The surface may be a bit slippery (just like any wet surface), but it shouldn't be something like a sheet of ice. A few of the houses around me got their driveways done and none of them are sliding around (unfortunately, some are parking on theirs already *doh*).

Also, if you're planning to do the tire changes yourself on the new driveway, I'd hold off or find a better location or surface. Right now, even with a few days of curing, there is a chance that the car jack (with the car's weight on it) sitting on the asphalt can damage the driveway.

Yeah. While having breakfast, I figured I might as well do it on the portion of the driveway that is city/town-owned (passed/beyond the pedestrian walkway).

Nov 11th, 2012 10:36 am

Pete_Coach: Deal Expert; May 10, 2005; 37413 posts; 11929 upvotes; Ottawa

Nov 11th, 2012 10:36 am

alanbrenton wrote: ↑Thank you Pete.

I guess I'll have make sure these beads are wiped off before I do my seasonal tire changes since the coefficient of friction is much reduced on wet surfaces.

Good one LOL

“Those people who think they know everything are a great annoyance to those of us who do.”

Nov 11th, 2012 11:26 am

Trooob: Deal Fanatic; Oct 25, 2003; 9308 posts; 424 upvotes

Nov 11th, 2012 11:26 am

Please don't change your tires on your driveway, and if you must place large pieces of wood underneath your jack, or be prepared for large depressions in your driveway

+1

Nov 11th, 2012 11:52 am

Pete_Coach: Deal Expert; May 10, 2005; 37413 posts; 11929 upvotes; Ottawa

Nov 11th, 2012 11:52 am

B0000rt wrote: ↑Please don't change your tires on your driveway, and if you must place large pieces of wood underneath your jack, or be prepared for large depressions in your driveway

Very true, even when the asphalt has cured it is not strong enough to bear the weight of the small pad of the jack, jack-stand or even worse, the wheels of hydraulic trolley jack.

“Those people who think they know everything are a great annoyance to those of us who do.”

+1

Nov 11th, 2012 12:19 pm

alanbrenton [OP]: Deal Expert; Apr 21, 2004; 60782 posts; 26613 upvotes

Nov 11th, 2012 12:19 pm

Pete_Coach wrote: ↑Very true, even when the asphalt has cured it is not strong enough to bear the weight of the small pad of the jack, jack-stand or even worse, the wheels of hydraulic trolley jack.

Good to know. I guess I should do it out on the street where the road is cemented a flatter?

My garage/driveway is on a decline and I can get the car rolling out of the garage by releasing the hand brake and starting the ignition outdoor.

Nov 11th, 2012 4:25 pm

Trooob: Deal Fanatic; Oct 25, 2003; 9308 posts; 424 upvotes

Nov 11th, 2012 4:25 pm

alanbrenton wrote: ↑Good to know. I guess I should do it out on the street where the road is cemented a flatter?

My garage/driveway is on a decline and I can get the car rolling out of the garage by releasing the hand brake and starting the ignition outdoor.

It's not about being flatter or not, and if the street is not concrete, don't do it on the road either, do it in your garage.

Your garage should not be on steep decline.

+1

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