Since bituminous concrete is a liquid asphalt based product with a mixture of sand and stone your driveway may be "soft" until fully cured.  Bituminous concrete does not become fully cured for at least one year from the time of placement.  Direct sunlight and high summer temperatures may "soften" the driveway so extra care should be taken not to turn the wheels of your car while stopped.  Try to prevent parking in one spot, putting pointed objects on the driveway, motorcycle kickstands or metal chairs with sharp legs.  These indentations will not harm the functionality of the driveway but may mar the appearance.

Our climate also has an effect on your driveway.  We experience air temperatures from -20 degrees below zero to 95 degrees above zero.  These vast temperature changes put a driveway through stress.  Like many of the roads in Maine a driveway may heave during the frost heave season.  This heave may cause a crack.  Since the type of pavement that you have installed is a liquid based product many of heaves "go back down" in the spring.  A rigid pavement like concrete may crack and not "go back down" and leave a ridge in your driveway.  99% of all driveways and parking lots will have a crack.  This is normal and expected.  Crack filler should be used to help prevent water from entering between the pavement and the gravel.

Gasoline, diesel, antifreeze, and other automobile fluids may damage the new driveway.  To help prevent this type of damage you may place a small board between the leak and the driveway.  If you spill a large quantity of these material on your new driveway spread sand, sawdust or cat litter to absorb the spill.  Remove the material and dispose of it properly then do not disturb this area for to ensure that the area will cure properly.  Sealing the driveway will help prevent this type of damage.

We recommend that after the winter the driveway be sealed.  This will help prevent the driveway from being damaged by spills, and fill some of the smaller voids left by the stone and the asphalt.  This helps prevent water from getting into the "pores" of the pavement.  After the initial sealing we recommend that the driveway be sealed every 2 to 3 years after that, depending on wear.

Make sure that your new driveway has material placed around the edges.  This will prevent the pavement from breaking off when a vehicle gets to close to the edge.  We recommend that loam and seed be placed around the perimeter of the driveway within one month of the construction.  Take care to not drive heavy equipment across the drive on hot days until the drive has properly cured.  If an area off the drive is being driven on we recommend that good gravel be placed on the edge instead of the loam to ensure a stable edge.

Any other questions feel free to E-mail or call us at 207-856-9990.