Your driveway is the introduction to your house. It’s something you use and look at every day. For these reasons, it’s important to make sure you have a high quality driveway, which is functional, fits the style of your landscaping, and will last for a long time. As you excavate your driveway and install a new one, here are some of the important things which will ensure your driveway has the qualities to last a long time.
Driveway Excavation Work
The first key is the excavation work. First, you need to remove the old driveway. After that, your contractor will examine the base of the driveway closely to determine if it is in good shape or not. It’s possible it may have broken down and need material added to it to create a strong base for your new driveway. With new driveways, it’s important to make sure that you remove any large rocks and a strong base layer is put in place. It’s important that you remove any rocks or material under the driveway which could cause damage while you have the chance. This can add years to the life of your driveway, and greatly reduce the bumpiness during its lifetime.
Proper Stone and Gravel Base
Of course, excavation removes any troublesome objects beneath the driveway. After excavation, you need to fill these voids. A 4 to 8 inch base is necessary for a quality driveway. This will make up for any material that is removed, and help prevent possible deterioration. Experts recommend that you use a thicknesses of 8 inches over clay type soils because they have trouble draining. They also recommend you use a thickness of 4 inches over sandy (easier draining) soils. Be sure that your contractor is aware of your solid type and is serious about installing a good base. Occasionally, a less than thorough contractor will lessen the quality of the base in order to drive his bid lower.
Driveway Draining
Another important thing is proper driveway drainage. This will contribute greatly to the durability of your driveway. Because of this, one of the main design objectives for a durable driveway is to provide enough slope for to drain water off and away from the driveway. Anytime water ponds on the surface of the driveway (or even next to it) it can seep underneath and begin eroding the base, the soil, and lead to frost heaves (disruption of the level soil due to the expansion of water when it freezes).
One of the keys is the right contractor for the job. Installing a driveway is an expensive job. It’s not something you want to have to do multiple times. At New England Enterprises, of Marlborough, MA we are enthusiastic about taking care of your driveway with a high level of quality. In addition to driveways, we offer foundations for residential and commercial projects, such as basement excavation, site preparation, and foundation drainage systems. If you would like more information about our services, please contact us. A fully licensed and insured excavation contractor, our team of professionals would love to help you.