This driveway had no cracks in it two years ago. After weekly dumpster, recycling, and porta-john trucks, plus maybe a dozen triaxle deliveries for gravel, it looks like this. It's not good, I think. If we spend for another layer on top, will it be stronger? What are my options for something more durable?
Heavy trucks will do that, and they usually have a disclaimer in any agreement. Before any freezing temps move in, seal the cracks real well (very important) and get a quality top coat. Thats the cheapest route to take outside of having it repaved.
Do not put new layer on old layer with asphalt. Moisture will creep in between the layers, freeze and the new will come apart. Well Seasoned gave you the least expensive fix that will work. Otherwise, if your going to repave, pull out the old and start fresh.
A lot of folks are going for road-grind asphalt as a cost effective alternative. Take the road grind and spread like regular gravel and compact it. Best done in the summer heat, the oil in the regrind locks it all together. Is more flexible than straight asphalt and usually 1/3 the cost. Important that adequate compaction is used after it is spread.
Concrete? I have 1000' + of this It might be cheaper to demolish the buildings and move them to the front of the property! PennDOT was shedding regrind like crazy this summer. Hopefully someone will still have heaps of it to get rid of next year. Might make sense to pay someone to come in, grind it up, re-do the base, and add even more millings. Sadly I have no cash to play with big projects like this. I'll have to do my best to keep it down over winter.
I filled in a hole with RAP, it was from a family member and the quality was rather poor. However, it worked. I see it priced from legit asphalt places locally, rent a compactor but you should do it in the summer as mentioned.
X2, This is sound advise. My driveway chracked up a few years back, but I just keep up with the sealing. It seems to stay in place that way. Common to see that method in all the yards and parking lots around here. We have so much frost here, it is hard to keep any road or driveway free of cracks. Cement drives are not popular up here at all. Just too much damage from the very harsh winters. that ground up asphalt is an acceptable alternative. good during the mud season.
The local quarries around here are used as the blacktop tailings dump area. A lot of times, this stuff can be purchased cheap.
My driveway looked about like that when I moved in 4 years ago. Now it's starting to break up in pieces. I had 2 different guys quote fixing it, both refused to put a top coat layer on and said that it needs to be dug out, a new base put in, and then a layer of blacktop. They said just a top layer will end up looking the same in a couple year, and that the dirt under the base is probably washing away.
They are exactly right on. Most every reputable paving contractor will not want to do a over lay for that very reason.
