Asphalt

Homeowner Use and Maintenance Guidelines

Asphalt is a flexible and specialized surface. Like any other surface in your home, it requires protection from things that can damage it. Over time, the effects of weather and earth movement will cause minor settling and cracking of asphalt. These are normal reactions to the elements and do not constitute improperly installed asphalt or defective material. Avoid using your driveway for one week after it is installed. Keep people, bicycles, lawnmowers, and other traffic off of it.

Chemical Spills

 Asphalt is a petroleum product. Gasoline, oil, turpentine, and other solvents or petroleum products can dissolve or damage the surface. Wash such spills with soap and water immediately, and then rinse them thoroughly with plain water.

Hot Weather

 Avoid any concentrated or prolonged loads on your asphalt, particularly in hot weather. High-heeled shoes, motorcycle or bicycle kickstands, trailers, or even cars left in the same spot for long periods can create depressions or punctures in asphalt.

Nonresidential Traffic

 Prohibit commercial or other hefty vehicles such as moving vans or large delivery trucks from pulling onto your driveway. We design and install asphalt drives for conventional residential vehicle use only: family cars, vans, light trucks, bicycles, and so on.

Sealcoating

 Exposure to sunlight and other weather conditions will fade your driveway, making the surface gravel material more visible. This is a normal condition and not a material or structural problem. You do not need to treat the surface of your asphalt driveway. However, if you choose to treat it, wait a minimum of 12 months and use a dilute asphalt emulsion rather than the more common coal tar sealant. The sealing process will usually fill hairline cracks. Larger cracks can be filled or patched with a sand and sealer mixture before resealing.

Parasol Properties Limited Warranty Guidelines

 We perform asphalt repairs by overlay patching. Parasol Properties is not responsible for the inevitable differences in color between the patch and the original surface. Sealcoating can eliminate this cosmetic condition and is your responsibility.

Alligator Cracking

 If cracking that resembles the skin of an alligator develops under normal residential use, Parasol Properties will repair it. If improper use, such as heavy truck traffic, has caused the condition, repairs will be your responsibility.

Settling

 Settling next to your garage floor of up to 1.5 inches across the width of the driveway is normal. Settling or depressions elsewhere in the driveway of up to one inch in any 8-foot radius are considered normal. We will repair settling that exceeds these measurements.

Thermal Cracking

 Your driveway will exhibit thermal cracking, usually during the first 12 months. These cracks help your driveway adapt to heating and freezing cycles. Cracks should be evaluated in the hottest months—July or August. We will repair cracks that exceed ½ inch in width.