Whether your home still has a gravel driveway or the current paved one is severely damaged, you may have decided that it is time to install a new asphalt driveway. After researching the equipment and supplies needed as well as watching videos on how to do it, you may feel that you can take on the job of paving the driveway yourself.

However, there are many nuances involved in working with asphalt that require experience and skills to ensure everything is done correctly. Below are a couple of problems that you can encounter when you attempt to pave your home's asphalt driveway yourself instead of having a paving contractor do the job for you.

1. Improper Mixing Can Lead to Segregation That Causes the Surface of the Pavement to Be Rough and Uneven

One problem that you may encounter when you try to pave your own driveway is referred to as mixture segregation. When mixing the paving materials, the mixture of tar, rocks, and sand needs to be precise so that the pavement comes out evenly.

If you do not have any experience with mixing asphalt, the mixture will be inconsistent, with some areas having a high density while others have a low density of materials. This density inconsistency will result in rough, uneven pavement that will have sections more likely to crack and crumble than others. A professional knows how to ensure that the mixing of materials is done properly to minimize segregation.

2. Neglecting to Account for Proper Drainage Increases the Risks of Premature Damage to the Asphalt Pavement

Another problem that you will encounter when trying to pave your own driveway is neglecting to account for proper drainage. While asphalt is durable, it can succumb to water damage if exposed to it for too long.

If there is little to no drainage for the driveway, it will increase the risk of premature damage to the asphalt because water will break down the pavement and infiltrate the substrate. Since proper drainage depends on the contours of the ground and knowing what methods to use, installation of the driveway should be left to the professionals.

When you try to pave your own driveway, there is an increased risk of severe segregation of the materials that can create rough, uneven sections of pavement that are not as strong as in other areas. You may also neglect to account for proper drainage, which will result in premature damage to the asphalt caused by water infiltration. Instead of trying to install the driveway yourself, contact a residential asphalt paving service in your area to speak to someone about your options for having the job professionally done.