Putting in a new driveway or laying a new parking lot is a lot more involved than just pouring out some asphalt and rolling it down. There are many steps involved to make sure that the paving project stands the test of time. It must stand up to snow, sun, rain, and heavy vehicles. More can be found here.
Which Kind of Base
There are two kinds of bases that can be laid on top of the subgrade. One is the asphalt base. Once the paving contractor is satisfied that the subgrade is solid, a base coat of asphalt is put down and compacted. The other kind is an aggregate base. Aggregate is crushed rock that is poured over the subgrade and then compacted. The problem with using an aggregate base is that they don’t always stand up well to water. Sometimes the subgrade will crumble because too much water seeped into the aggregate base. Learn more about Drainage is Vitally Important to a Paving Project.
Thickness of Asphalt
Now it’s finally time to start laying the asphalt. Asphalt is applied in layers. The thickness of each layer is decided upon in the initial consultation with the project manager. Thicknesses depend on the expected use of the pavement. If the asphalt is used for heavy truck traffic, the asphalt will need to be thicker.