How Often Should Asphalt Be Resurfaced?

How Often Should Asphalt Be Resurfaced?

October 30, 2019

One of the most frequently asked questions we receive from clients is how long they can expect their asphalt to last before it needs to be resurfaced. This is an understandable question, as people who have just put a bunch of money into asphalt paving on their property will want to make sure they’re getting a full return on that investment.

The accurate answer is “it depends.” There are a variety of factors that influence how long you can expect your asphalt to last before you need to resurface again. Consider whether it’s a brand-new surface or an overlay, the total usage of that asphalt surface and the weight of the vehicles likely to be driving over it. You can always extend the life of asphalt by ensuring proper installation, keeping up with your repairs and maintenance and preventing excessive loads from running over it.

Here are some issues to consider for specific types of asphalt surfaces that will give you a better idea of how long you can expect yours to last before repaving your asphalt in Kentucky:

  • Residential roads: Roads that are only subjected to residential traffic will be able to last a couple decades or more before needing to be repaved. Occasional resurfacing can double or triple the expected lifespan of the street before you need to repave. Because you’re only likely to have passenger cars, small trucks, vans and motorcycles on primarily residential roads, you don’t need to worry about heavier loads or heavy traffic.
  • Busy roads, highways and interstates: These types of roads see significantly more traffic than residential roads, and are also much more likely to have to bear the larger weights associated with semi trucks and heavy equipment. Their top layers generally need to be milled and resurfaced every 10 to 15 years, which can significantly extend the pavement’s life. Some highways might go 50 years or more without actually having to be repaved, as resurfacing can be more than sufficient in many cases.
  • Residential surfaces: Other types of residential surfaces, such as driveways, will last even longer than residential roads, because they will see much less usage and almost no heavy equipment. You can get a good 20 to 25 years out of your driveway if it was installed and maintained properly, and even more than that in some cases. If your driveway was installed over the top of an existing surface, though, its lifespan will be shorter, probably closer to 10 to 15 years.
  • Parking lots: The life span of a parking lot really depends on the kind of vehicles that are likely to use it. If it’s primarily passenger vehicles, you can probably get a good 25 years out of a parking lot. But if it is open to commercial vehicles and public transportation, it might be closer to 15 years.

For more information about how long you need to wait before calling for asphalt repaving in Kentucky, contact K.O. Asphalt today. We look forward to assisting with your project.

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