Frequently Asked Questions

Since the liquid asphalt in blacktop needs time to harden and cure, usually 6-12 months, your driveway will remain soft and pliable until then. You may walk on your new driveway immediately, but keep automobile traffic off of it for at least 3 full days and longer in hotter temperatures. Even after the black top has cured, do not expect it to be as hard as concrete.

Your new blacktop will soften and harden as temperatures rise and fall. Watering down your driveway with a hose on hot days will cool and temporarily harden the blacktop. This is helpful but not mandatory. If soapsuds should appear, do not be alarmed. This is a reaction between the diesel fuel found in blacktop and a high chlorine content found in some city water. Although every effort is made to avoid puddles in your driveway, some small ones are inevitable depending on the natural slope and drainage of your ground.

Cars starting out too fast, pulling in too quickly, and just plain driving too fast can scar blacktop. During the first 6-12 months while the blacktop is curing, don't park in the same spot every time. Do not turn your steering wheel back and forth when your car is not moving. Avoid using jack stands or car ramps unless a piece of plywood is placed under them to help distribute the weight.

Excessive weight from large heavy vehicles can depress your new blacktop. Keep oil trucks, concrete trucks and any other heavy trucks off your new driveway. When storing campers for long periods of time, place a piece of plywood under the tongue jack and also under the tires.

Lawn chairs, and bicycle or motorcycle kickstands exert weight on concentrated areas and will create holes and depressions in your new driveway. Especially watch out for pointy high heels during the warm months when your driveway is new.

The edges are the weakest part of your driveway due to the lack of side support. Avoid driving on the edges since they will crack and crumble in time. We suggest building up the sides of your driveway with topsoil. This will support the edges and enhance the appearance after grass is grown.

Your driveway may look smoother in some areas than in others because of the makeup of blacktop. Blacktop has various sizes of stone, sand, liquid asphalt, and other ingredients that cause a varied texture of the surface. Also, blacktop areas that have been raked and spread with hand tools may appear different in texture from those spread by machine. Chesapeake Paving works with quality materials to avoid this as much as possible.

Avoid gasoline, oil, anti-freeze, power steering and transmission fluid spills and leaks. These will dilute the liquid asphalt in your blacktop. Any hole left by these spills should be filled with cold patch. Any hairline cracks that may have developed over the winter due to the contraction and expansion of the ground should be filled with crack filler. These products can be purchased from your local building supply store. If the damage is more extensive, you will want a professional repair. Call us for your FREE ESTIMATE.

When brand new, the surface is very black. Sometimes roller marks may be noticed. Some areas where hand work was done may be a bit more visible. After a short time of usage, the surface will blend to a very smooth appearance.

Some work can be done. Usually a temporary repair is done with a proper repair done in prime weather conditions

Porous asphalt allows water to pass-through the asphalt to a specially prepared gravel base. Permeable pavement provides a method to reduce runoff over impervious surfaces that allows for the management and treatment of storm water on-site while creating a usable area.

Product type is determined by the sales rep. Inspection of the site will indicate the best match for the anticipated usage. On most Municipal and new Commercial sites, the specification for the product is provide by the architect or engineering firm. We then formulate the product to match the specifications.

Old asphalt is returned to a recycle facility. At one time, old asphalt was used primarily to build temporary roadways in landfill sites. Now, all recycled asphalt and “crushed reclaim” is a valuable product. Used in various amounts and formulations, reclaimed asphalt is found in many of the asphalt mixes used by Chesapeake Paving. Municipal projects all require a percentage of recycled asphalt in the product. Addition of reclaimed asphalt has been found to improve asphalt mixes, extending longevity and enhancing performance.

Yes we do. We are equipped to handle any size striping job using the most modern spray equipment available. A newly striped parking lot puts the finishing touch on any commercial paving or sealcoating project.

The milling process is the controlled removal of asphalt pavement to a predetermined depth, slope and/or specified thickness. The milling machine actually grinds down the existing pavement, and the ground down pavement particles are hauled off to the asphalt plant to be used as recycled raw materials in the manufacturing of new asphalt.

An asphalt overlay is used when the existing asphalt is cracked and severely deteriorated. We use top quality product designed to retard reflective cracking. The mix design includes carefully sized aggregate and a combination of liquid bonding agents blended specifically for each job.

A part of a storm water drain system which collects surface water and feeds it into the main drain line system to deter any overflow of water.

The collection and disbursement of excess surface water on areas such as patios and driveways.

An underground structure that disposes of unwanted water, most commonly storm water runoff, by dissipating it into the ground, where it merges with the local groundwater.

A common drainage system, these are primarily used to prevent ground and surface water from penetrating or damaging critical structures while also moving unwanted standing water away from your home's foundation and other sensitive areas.

Updating the pitch or slope that is used to direct storm water runoff away from your home's foundation and other areas.

Repairs can be conducted on most cracked or broken drain lines. If your drain lines are irreparable, we will provide you with alternative solutions.