My Driveway is Already Crumbling After Just a Year, What Can I Do?
Asked by CuriousCactus92
I need some advice about my driveway. I had it redone just over a year ago, and it's already starting to crumble. I know wear and tear happens, but this feels too soon. I've tried reaching out to the contractor, but he hasn't replied. Are there any ways to save or restore the driveway myself? If I end up hiring a new contractor, will it mean having to redo the entire thing? Here's a photo: [https://imgur.com/a/hmkJH3K](https://imgur.com/a/hmkJH3K). Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Answers
Yikes! That's definitely concerning for a new driveway. My own driveway looks a lot better after three years. How thick is yours? Did they just layer new asphalt on top, or was there a full underlayment taken out?
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Yeah, I agree, that looks rough. If you got a good deal, you might just have to live with it. A pro once told me that cement is a good option for patching, but I’m not sure how it would work for a skim coat on asphalt.
CuriousCactus92: But, asphalt expands and contracts while concrete doesn’t, right? Wouldn’t it just crack and flake off?
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Did you happen to apply a sealer at all?
CuriousCactus92: I didn’t do it myself, and I don’t think the contractor did either since it’s not mentioned in the quote. I’m hoping I could get a new contractor to help out with that now. Would it make any difference at this point?
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That's a bummer! It looks like they might not have rolled it properly when they laid it down. Depending on your contract, the thickness of the new asphalt could be a key factor in whether it's covered. What does your contract say about how thick it should be?
DrivewayDilemma22: I found the contract, and it says it should be 3 inches of new asphalt.
UnsureHomeowner77: Honestly, he was recommended by a friend, but now I can't get in touch with him. I thought the price was reasonable but not dirt cheap. Am I out of luck? Does it need to be redone completely?
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CuriousCactus92: They tore out the old driveway and replaced it with all new material.
OldSchoolPaver: My parents’ driveway is 20 years old and looks brand new compared to this!