I’ve got a sloping driveway that is basically blacktop asphalt. The freeze/thaw cycles of Connecticut’s climate and growing tree roots are breaking up the surface. I just want to get a few years out of the current driveway before contracting someone to re-surface the whole thing.

Any tips, tricks or recommendations will be welcome!

If you pave over existing cracks, they will show up in the new surface in 2 - 3 years again.

quote:

Originally posted by 1967Goat:
If you pave over existing cracks, they will show up in the new surface in 2 - 3 years again.

I agree 100%. Unless you kill the trees that have roots under that pavement it will continue to heave or crack.

quote:

breaking up the surface.

Have you tried sealing the surface?
Or are we talking BIG cracks?

I've used this:

Latex-ite
4.75 Gal. Airport Grade Asphalt Driveway Filler Sealant
https://www.homedepot.com/p/La...lant-73066/100479155

I don't know how much you want to spend, but I have something you might try.

It is called Infra-Red repair. When I worked for a municipal utility when contractors had a road opening I would require they use Infra-Red repair.
In a nutshell, it is like a big heating element that is roughly 6'x8'. It is run off propane. They heat up the ground with what looks like a big hot plate. It binds the old black top to the new melting them together. Solid seal, as good a new.

I should clarify… “resurfacing” may be the wrong word.

I plan to have the entire driveway ripped up and replaced in a few years. Just want to put off that expense until 2026 or 2027.

The cracks are like fissures and crumbling around the edges of the driveway. I expect the next freeze/thaw cycle to accelerate this deterioration. I want to forestall this deterioration.

I have the same issue. I use a product called Crack Stix from Amazon. You need a propane weed burner type torch to melt it into the crack.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/prod..._title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/prod...n_title?ie=UTF8&th=1

We've had an asphalt driveway for 15 years now. This is what I have learned about it's maintenance.

Repairing cracks that will last requires heated asphalt to be forced into the crack. Just applying it over the surface is a waste of time and the crack will reappear in a year. This can be done with tools but is a lot of work for the average homeowner. We have the same professional asphalt company come in around every three to four years and do the job. They show up with a truck that has a boiler and only use a high quality asphalt repair base. They clean off the driveway and a guy walks the entire driveway with a special hose and manually forces in the asphalt into each crack. They then spray the entire drive with the same sealer. That will last about four years.

Tearing out your existing drive and replacing it altogether will really not solve anything if you plan on living there for some time. Most of those cracks are either caused by or exasperated by the surrounding trees. The only reliable fix would be to remove them.

quote:

Originally posted by frayedends:
I have the same issue. I use a product called Crack Stix from Amazon. You need a propane weed burner type torch to melt it into the crack.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/prod..._title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/prod...n_title?ie=UTF8&th=1

You mean I HAVE TO buy a flamethrower to use this product? Oooh, baby, now you’re talking!

This would be better than the time a 50 foot tree fell across my yard and I HAD TO buy a chainsaw.

Silver linings…

quote:

Originally posted by mttaylor1066:

quote:

Originally posted by frayedends:
I have the same issue. I use a product called Crack Stix from Amazon. You need a propane weed burner type torch to melt it into the crack.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/prod..._title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/prod...n_title?ie=UTF8&th=1

You mean I HAVE TO buy a flamethrower to use this product? Oooh, baby, now you’re talking!

This would be better than the time a 50 foot tree fell across my yard and I HAD TO buy a chainsaw.

Silver linings…

Absolutely you need a flame thrower. Its uses are many.