How to efficiently repair a 300' long asphalt driveway?
Should I use the asphalt crack repair in-a-tube or the loose stuff in a bucket for the cracks? It's a 50 year old driveway and the it's going to take a lot of whatever I use to fill the cracks. And I mean a lot, like 40 tubes.
There are some high and low spots on the parking pad. High spots: Will a belt sander (40 grit) even make a dent or should I use a special grinder blade in a 4" angle grinder (tedious), or what will grind down the aggregate in the asphalt? I don't want to rent a 50lb.commercial grinder that I can't physically use, due to its weight. Maybe take a torch to it and melt-out the tar, then how to remove the remaining high aggregate?
Patching the low spots seems straight forward - prep the surface, apply at the correct temperature, compact.
Do I have to use a power washer on everything, to get the slurry coat or top coat/sealer to stick or can I use a soap solution and the garden hose? I've a stiff deck brush on a long handle. How deep/wide of cracks will that slurry/top coat/sealer fill, 1/4"? With the high quotes I'm getting to have pros do it, I can afford to rent a power washer for two days.
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I was wondering...With the age and all of the highs/lows you describe, have you looked into chip sealing? It's a process where a commercial agency lays down a layer of tar, then covers with a layer of aggregate, then rolls it and sweeps off the loose material. -I have no idea what the cost would be, but the process is quite effective and pretty quick. The final look might be a bit more rough than you're looking for though...As far as the sealer goes, the driveway would have to be pressure washed and dry, then the sealer is put on with a roller. You'd still have to patch the pot holes if you have them by digging out the old material, packing in a base of crushed rock, and then compacting the filler on top. One more thought...If you have a particularly bad/crumbly spots, you can cut them out with a concrete saw, and patch with filler, then compact. Any way you look at this, you have a big job ahead...:O
Maybe talk with your township road master / crew about what would be best. Sounds like an awfully hard DYI project !
Ye gads ! You sure have a challenge there ! But at least it’s getting work done on it that should last a long while once completed ! Perhaps you can get a major discount on your property taxes for inaccessibility or something ! That might make someone sit up and take notice and barter a paved driveway for you not filing suit for...um...obstruction ? LOL ! Best of luck !
Thanks.
Those pictures are just the bottom 20’ of my driveway that I fought to get the City to replace. (I’m ok with heavy construction management, as that’s part of my profession).
meanwhile, I have another 300’ feet x 15’ wide of my driveway up a hill to repair.
I cant afford to spend $5K to have pros of it.