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Pathway Replacement Research Paper

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Options For Rejuvenating Your Asphalt Driveway If your asphalt driveway has ugly cracks and lost its rich, black color, it's time to rejuvenate it. Your options are to replace the driveway, repair it, or resurface it. Your choice will depend on the extent of the damage and the age of your driveway. Here's a closer look at each option. Driveway Replacement As you can imagine, this is the most expensive option. The contractor has to break up the old asphalt and haul it off, which adds to the expense. This option is usually necessary when there is damage to the bed underneath the asphalt. If the soil has shifted, cracks will keep coming back until the bed is built back up. You may not realize it, but your driveway is a lot more than just the layer of asphalt you drive on. There is a bed of compacted soil and aggregate underneath it that has to bear the weight of your vehicles. If problems arise with the soil due to age or erosion, your contractor will probably suggest tearing out the asphalt and putting in a new driveway. …show more content…

It all depends on the size of the cracks. If they are small surface cracks, they're probably due to wear and tear from the weather and vehicle traffic. These cracks can be filled in and smoothed over. You may be able to do this job yourself. Larger alligator cracks and potholes might be a different problem. You can fill those in too, but they are more likely to return if they indicate structural problems rather than simply being cosmetic. Once all the cracks in your driveway are filled in, you can have a top coat applied. This sealcoating restores the dark color to the asphalt and covers up the repair work. To keep your driveway looking its best, and to prevent further damage, you may wish to have a sealcoat applied to your driveway every couple of years as routine

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