You just had your asphalt milled, or maybe you are looking at a recycled asphalt surface that is already laid down around your Canon City property. Either way, you need a plan to keep it from washing down the hill the first time we get a heavy monsoon downpour off the Wet Mountains. People often think milled asphalt takes care of itself because it is recycled material, but that is a quick way to turn your driveway or parking lot into a rutted mess.
How to Extend the Life of Milled Asphalt
Compaction is everything when it comes to milling. If the base was not rolled down tight, water is going to find a way in. You will want to make sure your surface has a solid crown so rain sheds off to the sides instead of pooling in the middle. Canon City's dry heat bakes the oils right out of asphalt over time, so giving your milled surface a good rolling during the hot summer months can help lock those aggregate pieces back together.
Keeping water away from the edges is your best defense. If you do not have proper drainage ditches or shoulders along your drive, water will undermine the whole setup. A little gravel on the shoulders goes a long way.
Regular Maintenance Routine
Maintenance on a milled surface does not look like standard paving upkeep. You are not sealcoating a recycled surface the same way you do hot mix. Instead, Coastal Asphalt Inc recommends managing loose aggregate and watching for low spots.
- Drag a grader or a heavy drag bar across the surface once or twice a year to redistribute loose gravel.
- Fill minor depressions promptly before they turn into holding ponds for winter snowmelt.
- Keep weeds sprayed along the edges so root systems do not break up the compacted base.
Warning Signs of Failing Milled Pavement
Keep your eyes open for trouble before it gets out of hand. If you start seeing alligator cracking returning through the milled layer, the sub-base underneath has failed and needs actual excavation. Soft spots where your tires sink in after a rainstorm mean the subgrade is holding moisture and lacks proper drainage. If large chunks start dislodging in sheets, the aggregate did not bind correctly during installation.
When to Call Coastal Asphalt Inc
At some point, routine dragging and minor patching will not cut it anymore. If you are dealing with major washouts from heavy spring runoff, or if the entire surface has lost its compaction and turned back into loose gravel, give us a call at Coastal Asphalt Inc. Coastal Asphalt Inc can bring out the heavy equipment, reshape the grade, re-compact the material, or talk about whether it is finally time for a hot mix overlay. Fixing drainage and base issues early saves you from paying for a total reconstruction down the road.